McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1915-02-19
Talks to FarmersNo.lS4
By T. F. PECK
Commissioner of Agriculture

For nearly four years as Commits
sioner of Agriculture have devoted
my time, my best energies and intel
ligence working for better agricul-
ture in Tennessee. Understanding
the conditions of the farmer, work
ing under conditions the same as con-
fronting him, contending with many
of the same problems that other
farmers were facing. | have tried
to make the work of the Department
of real service to the farmers of Ten
nessee and helping in the problems
confronting them.
Those engaged in agricultural re-
search work have accumulated much
valuable information the farmers
should have, but effort to disseminate
that information has not been made
in every case in way to reach the
farmers who need it most.
| knew that our farmers read their
county papers, also that if | could
secure space in those papers for arti-
cles on farm matters that affected
them directly they would read them,
and in this way would be conveyed to
them much information that would be
helpful to them. Two hundred and
forty papers gave space to Talks to
Farmers, and | am sure that much
good has resulted.
| have been assured by the pub
fishers Of many of the papers that
since they have added the feature
their farmer patrons take very much
more interest in their home paper.
The thousands of letters | receive
from farmers over the State assure
me of their aroused interest in better
methods of farm practice.
| am grateful to the newspaper
men of Tennessee for their coopers-
tion. | am soon to retire from my
present position, but am still inter-
ested in agriculture and want to see
the farmers of the country enjoy the
they can if they secure
and put in practice knowledge of
modern methods in farming.
That this information may be avail
able to every farmer, ! am planning a
Farmers Magazine section for the pa
pers of Tennessee that have cooper
ated with me 80 consistently in the
work for the past four years. This
section will supply the
farmers demand for a farm and
home paper, dealing with local farm
problems rather than those of sec
tions entirely different from those
confronting our farmers. Every de-
partment of the Farmers Magazine
section will be conducted by an. ex-
pert in that work. The newspapers
continuing the agricultural feature
will be ready to include the magazine
section by the first week in April.
| do not think the home paper in
many sections has been appreciated
and supported as it should have been.
But when the farmer understands
that his home paper is supplying him
with live dependable information that
he needs and which by putting in
practice increases his profits. he will
regard his paper more highly and
support it literally. Farmers know
the difference between live matter
and pot metal" reprints, and the pa
per that furnishes live reading mat
ter can secure his support.
Arrangements have been made to
furnish those farmers who do not take
a county paper, with this magazine
direct.
The object Of the Farmers Maga-
zine section is to disseminate helpful
information to the farmers through
their home paper, whose prosperity
is dependent on the prosperity of the
farmers they serve.