The Bulletin. 5 



The negro sang: 



"If I had a scolding wife, 

 I'd whip her sure's you born; 

 I'd send her down to New Orleans, 

 And trade her off for corn." 



The ballads which generally express conditions of the people and times 

 then recognized farming as a profitable business, due to the supply of 

 coni. 



The institution of the ISTortli Carolina Department of Agriculture 

 under power of the Constitution was authorized by the Legislature in 

 1877. The principal business from that time to 1899 was the analysis 

 of fertilizers, as a very poor quality of goods had appeared in the State, 

 the publication of bulletins, and exhibition of the products of the State 

 at national and interstate expositions. 



In 1899 the Department was by law reorganized, to be directed by a 

 Commissioner of Agriculture and a board composed of one member from 

 each Congressional District, with fourteen -different departments of work 

 stated. Shortly after this it was enacted that the Commissioner and 

 members of the board should be "practical farmers engaged in their 

 profession." The work of the Department was with the adult farmers 

 of the State, those w^ho were too old for school age and most of wdiom 

 had had but very limited opportunities for education. Neither the ora- 

 tor nor technical book could be used to advantage, but such measures as 

 would cause them to think were required : 



"To make men think at all 

 Is of all things the principal; 

 The second is of importance quite, 

 Make them when they think, think right. 

 The third, and then your task is through. 

 When 'tis done, think that is right which they do." 



The good book says that man should eat bread by the sweat of his face. 

 Some one said hrow. Many farmers seem to think that the brow is 

 located on the back and that the amount of sweat produced is the main 

 thing desired — use of the muscle, not of the brain. The brow is on the 

 head and near the brain and w^ould rather indicate work of the brain 

 than of the muscles. Let the farmer learn the location of and use his 

 brow and brain ; not be like the Irishman who having volunteered took 

 a piece of metal as a shield to the tailor who was making his uniform 

 and told him to place it over his heart. The tailor put it in the seat of 

 his breeches. In the battle Pat concluded to "fight another day" and 

 turned to flee. A bullet from the enemy struck the metal, wdiereupon 

 Pat exclaimed : "Faith, and ain't it a great thing to know wdiere a 

 man's heart lies." 



To use such means as would enable the adult farmer to locate and 

 use his brain was the object of the Department. The State could not 

 wait until the boys were educated but wnshed to use the grown-up farm- 

 ers, while giving the young people every opportunity for preparation 



