The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-04-18
AGRICULTURE \

lOr the purpose Oh IuTHinS tiS SIedl
number of people who are leaving
the farms for what seems to them
the more attractive pursuits and pro-
ressions in the city, back to agricui
| tural pursuits, and where only few
years ago small effort was made to
assist the farmer and to make his
labors more agreeable and profitable,
to-day there is tremendous power
at work throughout the entire coun-
try to turn the stream of moving hu-
manity "back to the farm" Never
before has there been the attention
paid to every phase of farm life as
there is to-day, with the inevitable
result that the tide is being slowly
turned. and the farm, formerly held
so unattractive by the youth, is be-
ing made to appear as his salvation,
and he is entering the spiendidly
equipped agricultural colleges for
the purpose Of learning the science
OF agriculture.
And never was a better work done
than when the young man was lately
taught that farming was a business
and a science, in which to obtain
success, one had to master the prin-
ciples, and that success could not be
attained by working in the "hit-or-
miss" style prevalent until the i'm
mediate present.
Most of the Chambers of Com
merce and other business organiza-
tions throughout the state have
awakened to the necessity Of stimu.
lating greater agricultural activities
and are cooperating with the depart
ment OF agriculture. Clemson college,
the experiment stations and all other
agencies for the purpose of dissem-
mating needful knowledge among
the farmers and in every way to in |
crease their efficiency. The great
railroads have entered into the work
with zeal that is born OF the knowl- |
edge that increased earnings on their |
properties depend solely upon the
number and success OF the people liv- |
ing in the territory tributary to their |
lines.
For example, the Southern Rail- |
way has organized throughout the |
territory ii traverseS live stock asso-
Citations to stimulate progress along |
the line OF raising and breeding bet |
ter and finer stock, Auction sales |
and exhibits of live stock and all farm
products are encouraged. Farm de-
monStration trains are operated with |
the idea that II the farmer cannot
go to the school. the school will be |
taken to him.
The department of agriculture is |
to-day doing more than distribute /
garden and farm seeds. The various
divisions or bureaus OF the depart |
ment have finally become apprecia-
ted and, consequently, have their |
hands full supplying the demand
upon them for information, instruc-
ton and demonstration. The bu-
reau OF marketing is doing n great |
work acting, as IL does in the way
Of Il clearing house between the ia rm-
ers of one section of the state and
another.
1t is "A sad fact that the great ma
Ority of cities which, through their
business organizations are stretching
their resources to the limit in the
l.ad scramble for factories, pay very
little attention, If any, to the neces-
sity of keeping the rural territory
up TO as high a state of efficiency
Is the city. The farmer is the man
Who feeds us ALL" hence, every pos
;ibie assistance should be gisen hiu
Il his work
Agriculture has always b.scn ana
yll forever continue TO be the back
zone of the country, but il 1us beew
sadly neglected. as has ths: farmer
t.mscli. with the inevitable resufc
hat production OF farm products has
lot increased in propOrtion to tlr.
increase of population. Consequent
~. il is small wonder that Farm pro-
ducts to-day command very high pri-
ces. aud the cry Of the high cost |
Of living is heard frouI all sides. |
The oply solution is to assist the
farmer, "thc man who tiils the soil
TO properly and intelligently increase
production through intensive and ra
tional farming methods.