The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-03-21
deed starvation in the warning coun-

deed starvation in the warning coun-
tries.
The spring is here and with it
garden time. Every backyard ana
lot in every town and city of Florida
should be in cultivation, growing
something good to eat Every posi-
BILE acre on the farm should be put
in staple crops. Neglect amounts
almost to crime. Every farm too
should have its garden. Many
things can be quickly grown.
Record crops from small areas, now
in the public eye and thought, by the
work of corn club boys and canning
club girls, were produced by inten-
sive cultivation of the soil. Corn
was grown in our state from eight
to ten times the average production
per acre for the whole of the United
States. Girls produced in tomatoes
and vegetables at the rate of from
$500 to 81 200 to the acre. l could
give you multiplied and remarkable
instances of what has been done by
careful and intensive cultivation in
European countries and in China and
Japan.
Intensive cultivation of the soil
seems to be the one solution of at
least a large part of the human
problem of the farn-the cure Of
loneliness which drives the boys and
girls to the city, where life is inten-
civ Of
Florida fell off in population during
the last census period. This should
not be. Proper advertising, under
state supervision could have obviated
this by bringing in new people, and
/ the stimulated growth and activity
would have kept many of the young
people at home.
The government at one time pro-
tected and developed manufacturing
interests, and the result is contested
cities, with want and misery when
over production or panic closes the
factory and thousands of idle men
and hungry children throng the
streets. The farmer can feed himself
whether the factory closes or not.
The government now sees that the
source of all prosperity is the farm,
and vast sum of money-millions of
dollars-is now annually appropriate
ed to be used in many ways to pro-
mote farming interests.
The farmers too are being aroused
to their opportunities, privileges and
rights. They are beginning to or
ganize and study and compare.
/ Our state has an effic.en corps of
institute lecturers and instructors.
We wish there could be more frequent
meetings. Let the farmers of Es-
Gambia and neighboring counties
write to Prof. P. H. Rolls, or Prof.
c. K. McQuarrie, Gainesville, for
particulars, and arrange for meetings.
The farmers institute has several
sides to it.
The social side of it enables some
! one to get better acquainted with his
neighbor. and to find that the
neighbor is a good fellow. It creates
the spirit that promotes a man to
get out of his wagon and pick up q
Z BIOhGl BOLI4S VI q AGLl III Ll4e IOdI
which might iniure a horses foot OF
ruin an automobile tire.
The educational side related to adj
vice about how to make the soil yield
as it should; how to judge stock ant
the value of animals on the farm
! and in general make the most out Of
farm opportunities.
The financial side is seen when re-
suits are obtained by having crops II
sell, and butter and eggs for home
use, with a surplus for market to hell
keep down the H. c. of L.
The recreational side is experienc
ed in the taking part in the proceed
ings and realizing that the meetins
is for all who attend. Every man i
made better by meeting his fellows
and discussing matters of mutual ant
common interest.
] Yours very truly,
Z w. A. McRAE,
Z Commissioner Of Agriculture.