The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-07-13

Association of South Carolina at its
recent meeting at Myrtle Beach on
June 22:
I shall discuss first what I con-
slider our largest and most perplexlng
AGRICULTURAL problem which has been
greatly magniffed,' and made more
acute by the presence of the boil wee
vii; namely, the fact that 81 per
cent. of our cultivated lands are in
the hands of an ignorant and shiftless
class. Second, T shall point out brief
ly some of the achievements within
the last thirty years of the scientific
man in solving the many problems OF
agriculture, that at this time Of our
perplexity and bewilderment are
making it not only possible but as
sure us that in a reasonable time our
agriculture will be on broader and
firmer basis for we will have gotten
away from the cne-crop system that
limits knowledge, narrows citizenship
and does not foster BODYBUILDING,
for we should remember that the
keystone of American civilization is
the home. Third, I shall undertake
to show briefly how we have within
the last thirty years been growing
more and more in sympathy with ag-
ricuture through legislative enact
ment. In conclusion, I shall COM
ment upon the potential agricultural
power of South Carolina.
Back to the Farm Movement and the
Increase of Tenantry.
Up to the last 25. years and posi-
bly, longer, the minds of the American
people were largely directed to the
development Of the country along in
dustriaI, manufacturing and CONNER
cial lines. Little thought was given
to agriculture other than to reap,
to cook and to weave. The problems
involved in agriculture were not con-
sidered of sufficient value and i'm
portance to warrant the scientific
study of the scientists; and the legis-
lator made no effort to study and in
vestigate and ascertain if there was
such aathing in existence as rural
problem, either of production or eco
nomics. Notwithstanding that, even
at so late date as 1880, when 70
per cent. 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 pro-
duce the necessary food and raiment
to feed and clothe the population OF
this country. AS an evidence OF the
great progress that has been made
in agriculture, 25 per cent. of the
people are now producing on the
farms more than sufficient food for
our consumption and use.
In this connection it is interesting
to note upon what basis the much dis
cussed movement back to the farm is
iustifable; 25 per cent. of our people
are now producing "a necessary food
supply and raw material for our
clothing along with a surplus OF
each, for export. If this movement
assumes any proportions the natural
result would be that the profit from
the production and sale of farm pro-
ducts would be greatly diminished.
The only alternative is revolutionary
reduction in farm living standards or
this vanishing return to agriculture
would manifest itself in the exodus
to industry and the further increase
of tenantry, so let us desist from this
cheap talk of back to the farm and
let us recognize that our great rural
problem grows out of the fact that
81 per cent. of our cultivated lands
are in the hands of an ignorant,
shiftIess class. We in the south, in
South Carolina, if you please, fully
realize that prosperous, intelligent
and contented rural population IS
therefore essential to our national
perpetuity. The worlds experience
has shown that the best way to Sc
cure this is to encourage the division
of all the lands into small farms,
each owned and operated by one
family.
We know the world'sfmost import
ant school is the home with the farm.
We know this philosophy to be true
yet, how are we to bring it about
with 81 per cent. of our cultivated
land in the hands of this shiftless
class? Shall we encourage them sto
buy our lands and endeavor to i'm
press upon them that there is dig
nifty in residing upon farm with a
fertile soil, modern buildings and an
environment of education Do we