TRUSTEE— LANDLORD AND THE FARM BUREAU. 



Lardner Howell, Esquire, 

 Assistant Trust Officer, Girard Trust Company, Philadelphia. 



Girard Trust Company appreciates the courtesy of the invitation 

 to join in the movement to bring to a better understanding the relationship 

 between the country and the city, and not only the privilege of taking part 

 in this programme, but the opportunity afforded to its tenant farmers by 

 the Corn Exchange National Bank to participate in the corn contest. Six 

 entries have been made by its tenant farmers. 



The company, in its fiduciary capacity, is steward of several farms, 

 of which fourteen are located in the immediate vicinity of Philadelphia. 

 In fulfilling its duties as steward, it has had Mr. John M. Okie, of its Real 

 Estate Department, co-operate with its tenant farmers for the past six 

 or seven years. Bulletins issued by the government and state colleges 

 have been distributed, and, by the able assistance of Professor Hayward 

 of the Delaware State Experiment Station, practical demonstrations on 

 several of its farms have been made, which have been of material assistance, 

 not only to the farms visited, but as well to the adjoining properties; and, 

 in addition, by these demonstrations a community interest has been 

 awakened. Last spring Mr. Okie escorted a delegation of six or seven of 

 the tenant farmers to the Delaware Experiment Station on Farmers' Day. 



With the advent of the county agent, it is felt that many vexing 

 problems may be met, and the farms further developed by the close co- 

 operation of the landlord, tenant farmer and county agent. 



The tenant farmer has many responsibilities, and has not at his com- 

 mand,, as has a president of a bank or trust company, the assistance of its 

 officers and corps of efficient bookkeepers to work out the problems arising 

 from day to day. He alone meets the situation. In his position he is 

 independent and, by the fact of his independence, is very dependent. 



Efficiency is one of the largest assets a farmer can accumulate, and 

 with the assistance of the farm agent this efficiency may be obtained-. For 

 example, much time and labor are lost in tilling small fenced-in fields, and 

 it may be shown that part of this work is unnecessary and could be avoided 

 under proper direction, and also that, by making conditions sanitary, the 

 dairyman may be able to obtain a higher price for his products. The 

 landlord, in co-operating with his tenant with this end in view, is thereby 

 not only more certain of the collection of the rent, but is, by this co-opera- 

 tion, aiding in the producing of the rent and assisting in making his tenant 

 of value to the community. 



(109) 



