The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-03-10

selling value of the property. II land
is valuable it also is valuable when
it is turned into cash. 1t seems ridicu-
lous, but these things frequently are
overlooked by the average layman
when he is inquiring into prosperity
conditions on the farm.
+ Statistics show that mortgages are
disappearing from the farming COM
munities, that outward evidences of
prosperity are appearing as mortgages
disappear, as the land becomes more
productive, as the result of the ener-
gies of the state and federal depart
m Jnts of agriculture become more
manifest, and as the farmer applies
more modern methods to his work.
The children at college, the automo-
biles which are displacing the buggies
of the olden time, the improving, slow
ly improving as yet it is true, condi-
lions in the rural schools, the marked
improvement and extension of the
country roads and dozen of other
things show not only increasing pros
perity in the country, but the means
of increased comfort and happiness.
Many Farm Opportunities.
The opportunities on the farm are
growing daily in number and attrac-
tiveness. Already there have been
for year or two evidences that the
leave-the-farm movement has been
checked, and there are further evil
dences that later it will be stopped and
that the return movement will set
in. There is a reason for the objec-
ton of Agricultural department Off
Gals to the cry of Back to the Farm
They have made it "Stay on the
Farm" They know that If the young
men stay by the land that with things
as they are, they will be everlasting
ly glad Of it within a few years, and
that as farm life grows more attrac-
tive and prosperous the back-to-the-
farm movement will take care of it.
self, for men go where lies the lure of
comfort and prosperity.
| Under the Smith-Lever act the
United States government aids the
states in cooperative demonstration
work on the farms. The total amount
| set aside for this work for the years
1856 is $4,7S2,000, of which $1,OS0,-
| 900 is from federal Smith-Lever funds,
$925,000 from appropriations to the
United States department of agricul-
ture for farmers cooperative demon
stration work, and $4,000 from other
| bureaus in the department. These
amounts make the total from federal
sources Of $2,115,0O0<
State and Federal Aid.
| OF the funds contributed from
sources within the states 100000 is
from state SmithLever funds made
up mainly of direct appropriations Of
the state legislatures. In addition to
funds used under the Smith-Lever act,
$62S000 is appropriated by the state
legislature for extension work, $685.
600 by colleges from funds under their
immediate control, 1921 900 by county
authorities and $4,000 from mis-
cellaneous sources.
1t is said in Washington by the Off
Gals that the interest in the co-opera-
tive agricultural extension work is
nothing short of remarkable. At the
outset there was some little objec-
ton to the appearance of instructors
in the field. The thought in a few
cases by individual farmers was that
it was presumptuous for the scientific
fellows to come along and attempt to
teach them their work. This feel
ing never was widespread, and it has
virtually disappeared.
Children Much Interested.
The boys and girls of the country
have shown an admiration and a won
derful interest in the instructive work
of the agents of the departments The
canning clubs, the corn clubs and
other clubs which have been estab-
lished have added to the prosperous
conditions of the farm, but as yet
there is only beginning. The promise
is great for the future. The interest
that has been aroused in the young
and the increasing assurance of sue
cess makes the boys and girls DESTROYS
of staying where they see success is
certain.
In the agricultural colleges the re-
suit of federal and state action in the
work of increasing prosperity on the
farms of the country is manifest.
Young men and young women are TAX
ing courses, the men as instructors in
the actual farm work and the women
as instructors in household economics.
Prosperity is increasing on the farms
in the United States. Under recently
quickened government aid and gen.
eral interest in the subject, and I'M
der the improved conditions of coun-
try life, it seems certain that the pace
of prosperity is to be greatly accel-
Grated. Stay on the farm.