The farmer and mechanic., 1915-04-20

ladt the method he intends following
will not only prove profitable. but
Will build the soil up, and unless the
farmer agree TO keep accounts Of his
operations and follow the advice Of
the agent.
Thus they have taken the big stick
IN their hands and are swinging il in
the interests of better farming And
when the banks do that it is an as
sured fact that better farming Will
De the result, for when the farmer
finds that he cannot secure money
unless he follows what has been de-
terrnlned 10y those W:lo know To he |
the best methods. he is pretty likely |
| to follow the best methods. Contrast
| this with the situation which exists |
| today in the South where the farmer |
is hopelessiy chained to cotton cul- |
| ture because cotton is considered by
| the bankers and the merchants the
| only sale security 20 make loans
| against.
| Closer cooperation between the
| bankers and these county demonStra-
| ton agents and the Government and
State experts, is one Of the things
| this Association is advocating as d
| means OF break ktng the vicious circle
that is tying tne bankers and the
merchants and the farmers to the cul-
ture of cOttUf.
But the solving or the rural credit
problem is not the only necessary
step to better rural conditions in this
State. The educational problem is
quite as important, for unless the
farmer knows how TO farm properly
and how to make money from his
operations, he is not going to find the
banks very willing To loan him
money to operate with.
2 DIR. Joyner has repeatedly and
rightly said that agricultural success
depends on mixing brains with mat
! ter. Every county in the State
should have 2 county demonstration
t agent to spread the knowledge OF
more practical farming and these
y men should cork l., closer touch
: with the STATE ARD Government ex
!, perts.
e Every county should have q farm
e life school, for If rural education
c trains country loys fer city l;f:, which
for the most part it does in t.ti~ State
e it fails Of its purpose.
= Therefore it is u matter q grav'
S concern to YOU. gentlemen, that rura
C education should 1t country boys 20
y country lie, ana teach ;ham how t,
r produce larger crops and produc
e them more economically. OF infinite
e ly more importance is :hjs to yo7
st than to bring more non producer
V, into your towns. swell their pOpula
,r ton, and diminish, thereby. the op
portunities in those towns.
p The country IS levitalized. It need
- your help TO get back on It's feet
~ in matters Of social life, in matters {
"a education, in the matter of a bette
"a system Of rural credit. 1t is to YOU
20 interest TO help it get back on i
~ feet. in fact, you face q future fu
;r Of disaster unless you do SO, and
81 therefore, commend the following e
ts your very grave attention:
20 First, that as bankers, you shoul
~ aid the farmers to diversity the
M crops, assisting them particularly
" the tutelage Of the County demonstrs
~ ~ tit.n agents, or State or Goy-rn1nel
experts.
Secondly, that as bankers and cit
or zens Of the United States, you shou
er aid in the upbuilding Of country iif
or particularly in the matter of sos
IL roads and better social condition
on and education, bearing in mind I'll:
os to teach the country boy TO produ
more and more economically, and Il
IL country Girl to live more and to Ii
ey better, you are giving them the XII
&C. Of education that will make them Il
ol most independent and vitality usef
! citizens your country can posses
lat producers Of strong, fresh blood +
an the Nation, and an anchor VIII,
Of will hold the Ship of State safely
.Se times Of great crises.
TN "a Self Supporting Asricu!tu"e.'
1.a Dr. Knapp's remarks were strais
,,d from tue shoulder, true TO the MAJ
t,a In any big problem which affes
af the masses, he said. every man l.
W his opinion or attitude Of mind: cit
,aa er "A sy,npathizer with q real de.si
10 to Eelp. Indifferent, or who cal
e. only as II offers opportunity +
81 sian. IT IS, therefore. 4 healthy 81
A. 20 note the growing tendency
eIS '!lNI" 60 t 80
Zen 0''> -
- And this brings is to the profit.
Of 'diversitication, and right here
ca want to say that we would Drobai
be het.ar Oft if we Abandoned I
nat word ar5 sail i,,ste3d-a self.
i've ro,1;no ae,ri,,i7,,re-for that is vi
the ai,,arcit;raticn means Going ont