The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-06-19
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Horticultural Work at Auburn

To the Editor of The Herald:
 It was with much satisfaction that I read an announcement of the cleo tion of MT. Spright Dowell by the board of trustees of Auburn as pres- dent of that institution. The alumni of the institution are to be congratu- lated that the presidency of Auburn is retained in educationa circles and not placed in political circles and that an experienced and progressive edu cator will succeed pr. Thach who has done so much to make Auburn the great school which it is today. I am a graduate in the agricultural course at Auburn. 1911, and feel deep inter- est in it's welfare and that of the state of Alabama. l was born and raised at Montgomery and still retain my cit izenship there.
 Since 1911 I have been engageds in agricultural development work in the south. most of which time was in the agricultural service of the Southern railroad. I came to the Erie recently as chief agricultural agent from Spar ranhurg county, South Carolina.
 My close contact with state agricul- tural colleges in every state of the south, and in many other states, has given me an insight into the good and bad qualities of each. The trouble with Auburn and with most agricultu- ral colleges. is that the college is kept too close to the campus and does not reach enough farmers. A good ef- fective agricultural extension force can help all departments iof a state col lege more than anything else. Missis- sippi has the best agricultural exten- sion force in the south, and there are only few equal to it in the entire United States. South Carolina ranks next to Mississippi.
 Alabama's agricultural extension work has been very badly managed and lacks constructive leadership. They have good county agricultural agents, but each agent is working on his own resources. Auburn serves him very Ii le, and sometimes seriously inter- feres with his efforts to do good. and to carry the college to the people in lis county. I speak from much per sonal experience in Alabama about this matter. Some of the men in the work in Alabama do not realize how inefficient the agricultural leadership is. because they do not have oppor- tunity to see what is being done in other states and how it is being done.
 There are greater opportunities fov developing the natural resources in Alabama than any other state in the south Its mineral waterpower. water and rail transportation, climate, and various types of productive soil can ''pN p~ StheeANo AT o4AS SNotC III ehS union.
 Tn Alabama I have found that busl- ness interests doing much more com paratively. to develop the agrieultu- ral interests in Alabama will get out and do more, will go deeper into their pockets and have an appreciation of the value of better rural life Au- burns activity in sound organized plan of promoting increased produc- tion. and better distribution of farm products has not by any means kept pace with the business interests ani farmers of the state. This is not due to lack of the qualifications of the men engaged in the field, or county agricultural agents etc, but is due primarily to an inefficient. slow. ultra conservative leadership in Conner Hall at Auburn.
 The county agricultural agent can be the backbone to make the Alabama Polytechnic Institute a better institu- tion to serve the great old state Of Alabama in a higher capacity. Some people will of course disagree with me about my opinion but many. espe- cially those who are engaged in this kind of work. will agree In fact by mary agricultural extension men in the state and out Of it, the leadership of the Alabama extension forces is considered joke. There are men con nected with it who are trying to do all their conscience dictates in serv- ing the good agricultural interests Of the srate but they have their hand, tieS<
 The county agents of the south. and especially Alabama. are underpai1. Experience with county agents in many parts of the United States has shown me that those in the south have more pep. get up and drive. and have more enthusiasm in their work. than in any other section. The average county agent in the south could come