The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1917-01-26
BUSINESS MEN CAN
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.

a closer relation between the farmers
preciated by nearly everybody. Mr..
G. H. Afford, State Agent, College
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 eff
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 a 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
encourage more business in their cities
and towns. They are willing to give
bonus to manufacturing plants to come
| to the city. This policy is all right,
and 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,
| diversifcation 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
| which, if properly developed, would
pour many thousands of dollars an
nually into its industrial channels. It
| 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
| er in the contributing territory were
induced to adopt scientific methods Of
| 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.
come of the farmers, and the means
| will be at hand to provide the better
| ments which this progressive c1viliza'
| tion demands.
| There are some places where this
| problem, among others, is being work.
ed out. But on the whole, our people
| are more or less Indifferent to the i'm.
| portance of the work. If 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-manufactu 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.
triAute to the prosperity and uplift OF
the whole people?