Newport daily independent., 1919-01-10

in turning the minds or the farmers 70 the diversified farming and stock raising by planning systematic mar kets, by training negro labor, and providing information as to methods. It is no light task to undertake change in lifetime customs of peo- pie, but this work was shouldered by several Commercial Organizations of the South and reports indicated sur prising results already. Whirlwind campaigns were made throughout Texas, Arkansas and Alabama; scores of speakers, men of expert knowledge were sent out all over these states. Their work was given enthusiastic support by all the news papers and business men and was followed by carefully prepared pam phlets and booklets, treating of grain-growing, cattle, hog, sheep and chickens. In many counties, perma- nent organizations were perfected.
 Another result of this campaign of education is shown in the fact that packing houses, flour mills and grain elevators are being established at hundreds of the Commercial Centers of the south. Commercial Organiza- | tions, more notably perhaps in the larger centers, have and are blazing the way for the new conditions. A distinct service has been performed by the Chamber of Commerce in the way of developing and improving ru- ral life, and in cultivating closer re- lations between the city man and his country neighbor. Rural communities have been organized for social devel- I opment, excursions have been made into the country by business men, far mers have been invited to join com mercial bodies, and rest rooms and market exchanges have been provided at Commercial Centcrs.
 The biggest problem confronting l the farmer of the richer agricultural Il sections is that of over-capitulatlon 4 The man who has inherited $20O per
 acre farm from father who home,
 staaded 1t, or bought it many years
 ago at few dollars per acre, realizes that he, in common with all other farmers, ought to figure no profit o1 his own time and labor until his entire investment, at least per cent of 1t: present value; and investigations conducted by department of expert: and county advisers show that n' small per cent of our farmers have { minus mark before the Tabor in come item in their years statement. There are so many angles ant phases to the subject of agriculture development, and the part Conner cial Organization may take in promot ing same, that one hardly know which is the most interesting, but l
 one were to attempt to sum up ever
 briefly, statements contained in man. Ireplies to the questionaires that sen out to over two hundred secretaries in all parts of the county, 1t would
 probably be: "The Commercial Or
 ganization which does not concern il local agricultural development, i
 asleep at the switch"
 .I The replies to the questionnaire in dicate that there are few subjectl connected with agriculture which th' l -to-date secretary does not consid
 CT worthy of attention. The replies
 almost unanimously state that more
 CT less difficulty was encountered il 1 enlisting the interest and cooperation of the farmers, and they also indicate that no Commercial Organization
 should attempt very much in the way l of agricultural development without l.active management of the agriculture.
 organization, largely if not entirely ir l the hands of the farmer. Some or ganizations are doing splendid work l. in the establishment of agricultural high schools; others are getting be
 hind commercial clubs, pork clubs dairy testing clubs, potato clubs, poul-
 try clubs, cooperative market 1 schemes, cooperative purchasing SO cieties, the establishment of rural loan associations, the keeping of state
 and governmental experiment farms and laboratories, extension schools
 demonstration schools in the use oi ] hog cholera serum, etc.
 | To my mind, the greatest factor 1T f the success of Farm Bureau, is the
 character and ability and personality
 of the farm agent. He must be
 walking encyclopedia of information
 on all subjects; must be at his work from early to late; must be dipio- mat of the first order, with pleasant
 smile for everybody on all occasions, and mixer Of the highest grade ls,,ch Q man is often hard to fin and