The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-07-15
address Delivered by wv.
Long Director Of Extension
of Clemson College, Before
Press Asso ton Of South
Carolina at Myrtle Beach

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rfenlture will be on a broader and
frner basis for we viii have gotten
away from the one-crop system that
limits knowledge, narrows citizen
ship and does not foster home.
bnildIng, for ne should remember
I that the Keystone Of American civi-
Ration is fhe home. Third, shall
nndertake TO show briefly how we
have within the last thirty years
been growing more ana more in
symspafay with agrieuIutre through
s Legislative enactment. Tn conclu-
sion shall commend upon the poEs
aenriaI agrica ltura1 power Of South
earo1in s, s, =:
Raca UI the Farm sIoyelnert and
me Increaseso Tenantry
to the last 25 years or pos
sibly longer, the minds Of the Ans
seriean people were largely directed.
10 the developm OF the country
along Industrial, manufacturing and
commercial lines. Little thought
was given TO agriculture other than
to reap, to cook and to weave. The
problems involved IN agriculture
were not considc dcved of sufficient
value and inportahce to warrant
the scientific study Of the scientists
s non Was there hope OF profitable
reward sufficient to interest the
capitasiats. and the legislators made.
no effort to study and investigate
and ascertain If there was such q
thing in existence as 8 rural prob
lem either OF production or econ;
.omics Notw It flstandin ing that even
~ so late date as 1886, 5 when 10
per cens Of our people lived IN the
$ country and 80 per cent in the
towns and cities. It then required
the efforts Of these 20 per cent to
prodHce the necessary food and
+ rairnent to feed and efethe the
population OF this country. AS an
eSidenee Of the great progress that
Has been made in agriculture, IS
percent OF the people are now pro-
dneing ON the farms more thar suf-
hcient food for our CONSUMPTION
and use 81
IN this connection iL is interest
ing to notcSupont what basis the
nlucfa discussed movement back to
: the farm is U st5ii Fl a b 1e;; S25
percent of our pecpIesare now pro-
aacing the necessary food supply
and raw material for our clothing
along witha surplus of each for ex-
port IF this movement assumes
any proportions the natural result
NoJld be that the profit from the
production and sale OF farm pre-s
ducts would be greatly diminished.
The onsy affirmative is. revolution
aTy reduction III farm living stand
ards or this vanishing return to
Sgricultnre would manifest Itself
IN the exodus to industry and the
fnr..her Increase OF tenantry, 50 let
as desist from this cheap talk of
back to the farm and let US rec
ognize that cur great rural prob
lepa grows out of the fact that 81
percent of our cultivated lands are.
In the hands OF an ignorant. shift
less class. We IN the south, IN
South Carolina, if you please, fully
realize that a, prosperous, intell-.
gent and centented rural popula-
ton IS therefore essential to our
rational perDetuity. The worlds
experience has shown that the best
way to. secure this is to encourage
the division of all the lands into
email farms, each owned and op-
Grated by one family.
we know the worlds most inn
portant school is the home. with the
farm. We know this philosophy to.
Be true yet, hoM are we to bring
It about with 5 percent Of our cul-s
tivated lands in the ands of this
shiStIess class. Shall we encourage
them TO buy our lands and endeav-
or 60 impress upon them that there.
IS dignity in residing upon
farm with a fertile soil, modern
buildings and an environment OF
earcation? Do we believe that
they VIII ever be able TO develop
that ideal country life so beauti-
fully pictured by DIR. Knapp when
he said:
.eI4et it be the high privilege of
This great and free people to es-
fabfish a republic were rural pride
is equal to civic pride. where men
OF the most refined taste and cul-
tire select the rural villa, and
where the wealth that comes from
the soil finds its greatest return in
Developing and perfecting that
great domain of nature which God
has given to us as an everlasting
estate.
The basis of all civilization is the
ownership of land. If we are not
willing to sell them our lands then
to whom arc We going. to sell? Are
We going to drift appreciating the
fact that in 1910 they owned and
controlled Of our farm lands to the
Value of s92. 600. 600 90. and in 1920
. ss97, Oct. 10000. We can't get away
from the fact that our old agricul-
ti,ral system of necessity must be
readjusted. The boil weevil prob
Iem is largely an economic prob
lem. There is no certain direct
method of control. Under old con-
ditions the growing Of cotton was
afool-proof a. operation. Under boil
weeviI conditions the growing OF
cotton becomes highly specialized
undertaking. The shifsless, dole
Tess. thriftle.s farmers day is over.
The large landed estates are in very
Great danger. comprising as they do