The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-04-12

Editor, The Times-News:
Wednesday was a red-letter day
for Henderson county. Since the
new deal began relief measures,
probably the most practical prof.
ect undertaken in this county is
terrac:ng to prevent soil erosion.
Wealth comes from mother earth.
The fertility of the soil deter.
mines the degree of prosperity OF
the family and of the rural COM
munity. A poor rundown farm
means q delapidated farm home.
1t means underpmvileged children.
It means privation and debts that
cannot be paid. 1t means poor
schools and inadequate churches.
A poor farm does not mean that
Ia dishonorable farmer lives on 1t.
1t simply means that no farmer
can rise above what nature has
to give him.
The government is now trying
to help the farmers solve one OF
their most serious problems-that
of soil erosion. No one is trying
to tell the farmer what he must
do, but suggestions as to what
he might do to good advantage
are being offered freely. For ex-
ample, the government is sug-
costing that the mountainous,
hill-tops and all the steepest
slopes grow timber and wood.
Then put the next sleeper slopes
in grass and pasture crops. Then
terrace the gentle slopes and the
low lands for field crops. A few
fertile acres will produce all the
food and feed stuffs that man
with an average family needs.
1t was a thrilling sight to see
the terracing machinery at work
at the county home Wednesday.
Let us express the hope that
our county commissioners will
make a model farm out of those
old wornout hillsides. Then we
have 10 other farms selected
for demonstration work. Each of
these will serve to show what can
be done and how to do it.
These demonstration farmers
and the agricultural teachers in
our high schools will cause to be
born some new ideas with rela-
ton to the soil and its vast pos
sibilities. Of course, there will be
opposition. Every new idea has
had to fight it's way into exist
ence. People once thought that
the earth was flat: that a horse
shoe or a rabbit foot would bring
good luck; that blood vessels
were for the air to circulate in
and that a bullet hung around
the neck would keep the nose
from bleeding. Let every think
ing farmer put his shoulder to
the wheel and see to it that this
soil erosion program is carried
out.
Now, one more word about
these city COWS. No sane man
wants to rob baby of his milk;
but there is a way for every
baby in this city to get milk
without turning the city into a
cow pasture. We can't expect to
attract tourists, who know the
danger of insanitary milk, flies
and fifth, to stop in cow pas
ture. There was time when
people would eat while a servant
fought off the flies with brush.
gentlemen, that day has gone
never to return. The onward
march of progress has forced us
TO change some Of our methods.
now II a man must keep a cow in
the city, let him keep her on his
own dirt. Certainly the curb
market should not be compelled
10 serve as hitching 55posts for
other peoples cows. / am not
tne mayor; l am not the city
council; / am not the police force.
l. am the boy who drives the cows
ana dogs out of my garden and
who listens to the, tourists COM
ment on our city pasture lots.
NOW having gotten this cow
business uta out of my system, 1 feel
better and this is nv last saw On
the subject. '', soy oii
VICTOR E. RECTOR