The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1922-03-29
THE COUNTY AGENT

nouncement of the appointment of a
county agent for Abbeville County.
The delegation in the General AS
,sembly has done it's part for the
farming interests of the county.
The authorities at Clemson College
have been for several weeks looking
for a first class man for the work
here, and now it is believed that a
good man has been found. It re-
mains for as to profit by what has
been done for US.
We have had an era in this Sec
tion Of growing cotton. The cotton
planted grow in spite of all the ne
eroes and most of the white people
in the county. In other words, none
of the negroes and very few of the
white farmers were progressive in
their methods. They planted, plowed
a little, hoed a little, got in the
grass, and got out when frost
came, gathered what little grew and
waited for the next year. A good
while ago The more progressive farm
ers found out that this kind of farm
ing got US nowhere. The building of
Clemson College and its gradual ex-
mansion and help to the agricultural
interests of the state has helped to
produce better farmers in this and
other sections. The people have been
learning.
And we have been trying to tell
them for several months that there
is much to be learned But telling
people is not enough. Those who de-
sire to better their conditions want
somebody to lead in the work Of i'm
proving methods, or somebody to
show them how to do this, and for
this reason the plan Of employing
county agents has come about. It is
not a perfect plan, but it is believed
to be along the proper lines. Certain
it is that these county agents have
done a great deal of good in all the
counties. They r capable Of doing
a>great deal more good if the people
will cooperate with them.
The people should not, however,
expect the county agent to be of
benefit to them unless they seek his
advice and help. If the county agent
undertook to go around and get &C
quainted with everybody in the
county and talk over the affairs of
every farmer in detail it would take
him about a decade to get around
the county. We must 60 to the
county agent and not expect him to
go to us. If we have problems in our
several communities send delega-
tions to him, seek and obtain an ap-
pointment when the agent can visit
the community and give such help
as he is able. A man will never get
anywhere who prefers to stay at
home and complain that the agent
does not visit him. Let him rather
think of the agent as n employed,
like a lawyer or doctor is employed,
to give advice in certain emergen-
cies. When the crop is sick or threat
ened with sickness, go to the county
agent just as you do to your doctor
and get the necessary assistance.
The county agent is here to help
the county, not one individual, nor
a few individuals, but the people of
the whole county. II we shall take
advantage of his coming, hold meet
ings in our meeting places, invite
him there, give and seek informa-
tion, and undertake to profit by it,
the county agent will be of great
service to all the farmers of the
county.
The name of the new agent
sounds good. 1t is an honored name
in this county, and we are hoping
that the new agent will do as we'll by
the farming interests Of the county
which he comes to serve, as have
those of the same name in this
county done in the places of re-
s~ponsibility where they were called.
He uS1l if tho naop1. do tbo;r por4