SELECTED SAYINGS 



of the best fanners and the leading merchants and bankers. Gen- 

 erally a committee is organized of three of the best progressive 

 farmers and three merchants and bankers of standing, who hold 

 monthly meetings at the call of the traveling agent, and greatly assist 

 in carrying out the reforms. It is a good policy to insist that a 

 small demonstration be taken by the most noted dry goods box 

 whittler in the village, if he does any farming, and if he has a garden 

 induce him to make a test on a few feet or rods square; if he suc- 

 ceeds, he is one of the best advertising mediums known, and will 

 take more pains to show his success than ten business men. About 

 the poorest cooperator for our purpose is the stock man with a very 

 large farm. He has too much to do and does not generally give the 

 demonstration personal attention. The intelligent small farmer is 

 the best cooperator." 



"There are many farmers who are well informed on agricul- 

 tural subjects; they have been well educated; they are intelligent, 

 progressive and thrifty; but they are widely scattered and not suffi- 

 ciently aggressive for the public good. They must be sought out, 

 organized, and their influence used to the limit. It simply requires 

 leadership." 



"There are other helpers. Convince the owners of farms who 

 reside in town that there is a way to get more rent; drive home the 

 thought to the merchants that low earning capacity limits purchasing 

 power; circumscribes trade and casts the constant shadow of uncer- 

 tainty upon the day of settlement; awaken the banker to the fact 

 that it is unwise to loan to men who farm the best land on a fourth 

 of a possible crop, and poor lands on a tenth; it is banking on un- 

 thrift and discounting doubtful paper with poverty endorsement; 

 convince and arouse this land proprietor, this merchant and this 

 banker, and they will not only give their influence, but will insist 

 that all their tenants adopt the new methods. Country papers want 

 something to talk about and they will open their columns to the 

 gospel of agriculture." 



"Human society in its organization presents this peculiar phase; 

 some of the primary groups appear to be attached to no system of 

 influence and hence cannot be reached influentially except by direct 

 contact. Rural society in the South is largely upon this plan. There 

 is a public opinion emanating from and molded by the limited num- 



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