The Elbert County tribune., 1916-03-10

tBy G. H Afford. Extension Division
Maryland Agricultural College.)
vE think we are facing a
AA new condition OF affairs in
the drift OF the young peo-
pie from the country to
the cities, in the steady rise in the
cost of living. and in the decline of
our food exports. 1t is true. for US.
this is a new situation, but for the
world it is as old as civilization.
Plutarch thundered against the de-
population of the rural districts JUS
tinian, the great lawmaker, was in
favor of legislation designed to keep
people on the farm. The great Ro-
man emperor, Augustus. before the
Christian era, saw that his empire
was being undermined and called to
him the poets OF the nation and com
manded them to sing of the beauties
and profits of country life.
The young people OF this country
have been taught in their homes, in
the schools, and through the literature
placed in their hands. largely to over
estimate the advantages of city
life and they have not been taught
correctly to comprehend its disadvan
tages. Likewise, the people of both
city and country exaggerate the diff
culties and drudgery of country life
and fail to appreciate fully its great
and peculiar advantages.
Low City Wages.
One middle-aged man in New York
city, in answering the question. why
young men leave the farm, says: II
wish to say that 1 speak from expe-
rience, for 1 am one of the army of
deserters. and like thousands OF 9TH
ers, am now too poor financially to
go back to the farm, and too proud
to go back broke. / know great
number here in New York city who
are in the same position as / am.
While 1 know many country boys. l
know but very few who do not wish
they had stayed on the old farm, and
everyone tries to make his friends up
the state think he is happy and very
dollars per week, when, at the same
time, he is trying to make both ends
meet and still live respectfully"
Probably the best way to convince
boys that 1t is best to remain on the
farm Is by such methods of farming
as will yield the necessary profits to
provide the necessities, comforts, and
some of the luxuries OF life. There
are thousands of small farmers culti-
waiting farms with labor-saving tools
and keeping plenty of good live stock
who are making the work OF their
own hands bring them in more than
fifteen hundred dollars annually. Com.
paratively few men in towns and
cities get as large salary. The farm
er grows his living on his farm and
pays no house rent. The larger part
of his fifteen hundred dollars is net
profit. The fifteen hundred dollar
town man can hardly make both ends
meet
Demonstrations, lectures, bulletins,
books and contact with men trained
and paid to advise and help him are
now his privileges. He has chance
with tremendous odds in his favor to
be a man-and a successful farmer.
Permanent Prosperity Sure.
1t is unquestioned that we are now
entering a permanent era of high
priced farm products and high priced
land. This being true, it is advisable
for farmers boys to buy land and
grow high priced foodstuffs.
The country schools and churches
are rapidly being consolidated, and
made the equal Of the best in the
towns. Our industrial and CONNER
cial affairs will soon be adjusted so
that farmers will receive their full
share of what the consumer pays.
Farmers will soon have an equal
chance with other men in securing
capital to supply their farms and
homes with labor-saving and wealth
producing equipment. The business
world expects food of the right kind.
and az prices commensurate with pro
gressive living and is joining the
farmers in advocating the establish
ment of financial institutions that
will afford capital to meet the legiti-
mate needs of farmers.
The farmer and his family many
now have all city conveniences. Wa
ter, electric lights. telephone, fireless
cookers, gasoline engines, automo-
biles, and SO on, can be obtained for
comparatively small outlay of
money.
The time has come when county
agents, agricultural specialists, prin-
cipals of agricultural high schools,
and, in fact, agriculturists for all