The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-04
The Lever ELI.

IL is curious that so much OF this
comment. in Northern and Western
newspapers. on tho Lever measure
for agricultural extension work, ha.
indicated lack Of understanding OF
the attitudes Of tho different sec
tions toward better agriculture. Ii Is
true that agriculture in some parts
OF the North Is more progressive
than in the South. But the dcca-
dcnce OF farming I'm many sections
Of the North. particularly in New
York and New England. has been
such as to make very plain that
other sections OF the country have
their troubles in this regard
The Lever measure looks to CO.
operation between the States and
the nation. the greater work of car
rying better farming methods di-
rcctly TO the farm. That there may
Pcs no unjust imposition on the Fed
al government. it provides that
very dollar OF federal money pro-
N~ed for this purpose shall he
matched by another appropriated by
the state. Moreover. the money thus
provided Is TO be handled in each
ate. through the agricultural coll
ses. which are maintained Jointly
ty state and national funds. No
ate Will be able TO draw it's alto, =
20 ent OF the national money until IL
snall have made provision for its ow n
ahare.
This plan Will make available q
fnnd with which to put dcmonstra-
tors OF modern and scientific farm
methods into the field. TO so to tho
farms and help the farmers improve
their methods. The whole fund Cf
Immensely valuable information
about good farming-p-oper man
aEcment OF soils. crop rotation. hand
lag OF stock. use OF fertilizers. and
the thousands of other intensely
practical subjects on which scientific
and practical experimentation have
gathered information--will be car
ried right out e. the farmer on his
farm. IL has been found that neith-
er the publication OF bulletins nor
the work OF the farmers Institutes
reaches quite the right spot. Per-
son0l touch and contact Is required.
An expert farm demonstration agent
to every rural county. and as many
more OF them as county needs may
indicate. Is the ultimate aspiration.
Under the leadership OF the late
Dr. Seaman y Knapp. the real be-
ginnings of this work were under
taken. and the greatest success was
met In the South. Indeed. thss far
tho South has been ;1stly tho most
aprpCciatlvc follower OF the Depart
mcnt OF Agriculturc's program foT
Improvement OF farming. PERHAPS
agriculture in the West has been .,c
frmly established and prosperou.
that u has been bit lofty in its at
tituGc toward book farming." while
Nht E0NNu nus ht'u NtltillE tp Itt'is-
ni<c frankly shat IT needs To learn
much. At any rate the south has
absorbed more thtn les share of thC
benefits OF department activities.
There Is no section uat canno,
greatly bench, o. adopting ~,
South's attitude of n-miudcdncs:
on these subjects. Especially Is this
true ot the region east or the AID.
ghanics and north of the Potomac
the country where. despite proxim
ity To the best markets ana surcs
demand. agriculture hpa made On.
poorest showing in tho last halr con.
tury. Tine Lever program offer
moro To this section, il tho pcopl'
will hut recognize iis possibiltic
for them. than TO any other.