Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-12-14
BUSINESS 'NFEHCAN
HELP The FARMER
Should Become Active In Work
Of Organizing Farmers Clubs.
TO GET FARMERS TOGETHER
Cooperation Between Commercial
Men and Farmers is Mutually
advantageous.

College Park, Dec. 14.-The fact that
a closer relation between the farmers
of community is good thing Is ap'
preciated by nearly everybody. Mr..
G. H. Afford, State Agent, College
Park, Nd, tells In the following arti-
Gle how the commercial business man
may serve the farmer:
Just as human efficiency is the basis
of national strength so the earning
power of our farmers Is the basis OF
their prosperity, and that means the
prosperity of every person and every
business. The task Of augmenting
that earning power, making possible
the building up of the farmers eiii-
cheney, Is the supreme one before
Maryland today.
The difference between the average
yield of wheat and corn per acre
and the largest yield in the
State is about five-fold The average
cost of growing an acre of wheat or
corn Is double its most economical
cost. We have, therefore, between the
average and the best In farming in the
State, an attainable one thousand per
cent. This difference of one thousand
per cent against the average farmer Is
due wholly to conditions which he can
easily control with the necessary
knowledge.
The County Agent, the Department
of Agriculture in Washington, the
State Experiment Station, the Agricul-
tural College and the Agricultural
High Schools are giving the farmers OF
this State much valuable information.
We are supporting these institutions
through our taxes, directly or indirect
ly. They are doing noble work, but
we should all assist them in accom-
plishing their purpose by becoming
more interested in the business OF the
farmer.
In almost every city and town in
the State, the business men, bankers.
merchants, editors, lawyers, and even
clergymen belong to Commercial
Clubs. The duty Of these clubs is to
and towns They are willing to give
bonus to mar ufacturing plants to come
to the city This policy is all right,
ard should be encouraged,-but the
same Commercial Club usually over
looks the fact that the farmers In Its
trade territory are not obtaining the
results they should. The producing
power of the farmer can be greatly in
creased by the Commercial Club be-
coming active in the work OF organ
iZing Farmers Clubs. These clubs
could take the lead in employing an
able. scientific and practical farmer TO
give advice relating to soil fertility,
diversification of crops, live stock. the
marketing of crops, and so on. They
could cooperate with other forces and
organizations in bringing the farmers
tagether at Fairs, Farmers Institutes,
Farmers Short Courses and Picnics.
The business men can assist the farm.
ers to buy pure bred males, buy better
farm implements, build better barns,
and to obtain better prices for their
farm products.
Every city and town has an asset
pour many thousands of dollars an
nually into its industrial channels. II
Is easily conceivable that one million
dollars could be added to the produc-
ton of the country surrounding town
of five thousand people, if every farm.
hut N
induced to adopt scientific methods ct
farming. Such an addition could not
be made without touching every bank
er, every manufacturer, every store
keeper, every doctor, every lawyer,
every newspaper owner, and In fact,
very person in town. Increase the in
cen'e Of the farmers, and the means
will be at hand to provide the better
ments which this progressive civiliza.
ton demands.
There are some place. where this
problem, among others, Is being work
ed out But on the whole, our people
are more or less ind fferent to the i'm
portance Of the work II the develop.
ment of our agriculture means the
greatest wealth creation within the
State, and If educating the farmers is
the key to the situation, why do not
our people-amanufact bankers.
professional men, business men and
intelligent farmers-rise en- mass and
help the farmer to larger production
and to larger life, and thereby con-
tribute to the prosperity and uplift of
the whole people?