The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-03-02

Along with the sale of our timber
has gone the fertility of the soils;
and, too, the money raised by mort
gaging the lands themselves. So, our
people, in the cities, towns and coun-
try alike, are confronted with the very
serious may say imperative
necessity of rebuilding our entire
system of agriculture.
This industry must be made not
only remunerative, but attractive and
desirable, and certainly the only way
these results can be obtained is by CO.
operation-combined effort-on the
part of all available forces.
The one great incentive back Of all
human endeavor-work- the hope
OF desire for reward. No man, woman
or child need ever be expected to put
forth his or her best efforts without
having something definite and tangi-
BILE to work for.
Since the American Home is the
very foundation of our National life,
is it not, therefore, logical to begin
our pregnant of reconstruction by
considering the farm home?
Let us, then, consider for a moment
the average home on the average farm
in our territory. Can anyone, who
has ever travelled over our country
roads, who has observed the living
conditions, the homes (so-calledD and
the surroundings of the homes, wonder
for moment why the women want to
leave the farms?
Don't ignore the fact that it is the
woman who is the heart of the home
1t is she who is the home-maker, and
If she is dissatisfied and insists on
leaving the farm, then it is safe bet
the man will so arrange that she can
leave, and he will go, too. If you want
to keep men and boys on the farm, see
to it that the women and girls want to
stay, and then you could not drive the
men away.
The life Of the farm women in the
Memphis territory is one continual
round of drudgery. Why, Professor
Sooates, of the Mississippi A. and NJ
College, after a three years study
and survey, announced that the aver
age farm woman in this section walks
one hundred and fifty-two miles per
year, carrying water into the house
and then carrying it out again, when
for about fifteen dollars mechanical
arrangement can be provided that will
do the work and save her those steps
Suppose the farm homes were pro-
vided with the modern conveniences-
water, heat and light--don't you know
the women would then feel more in
clined to live in such homes and stay
on the farm? Don't you know that
she would appreciate not only the les
sening of her burdens, but would APP
preciate the possibility of improved
health and appearance of her
children?
1t is perfectly obvious that the farm
woman wants the modern home con-
veniences, and that she is more than
willing to work to get them, but she
does not know how to 90 about doing
the work that will bring the reward
the conveniences she needs and wants
Hence this plan is offered:
The question of providing the money
is the one the farm woman cannot
answer alone, so this plan Of CO.
operation is submitted with view OF
answering it for her. The sugges-
tons are based on facts, not theories
Every one of the things that | pro-
pose to do has been done, but not
perhaps, in an organized, correlated
way In this plan we are calling into
play the assistance and functions OF
the Home Demonstration Agents, the
local Commercial Bodies, and the
Bankers.
The plan is to make money-earn
it-primarily for the farm woman
but in rendering real service the other
factors are sure to be remunerated in
exact proportion to the share in the
service each is contributing.
Statistics show that the "Hen Crop
in Missouri averages larger returns
than the cotton crop brings in Missis-
sippi. We know by experience and
example that poultry Nthrives in Mis-
sissippi, just as well as it does else
where--wherever proper attention is
given to it. So, in the old hen | see
way to get the reward for the farm
woman which she, for the benefit of
the community, should have.
In every county where a Home
Demonstration Agent is employed
(God help the county where the short
sightedness of the authorities fails to
provide County Agents, both men and