November, 1911.] 



445 



Agricultural Education. 



while in Alabama each farm labourer 

 has three-fifths of a mule, works 15 

 acres, and earns $143*98. In the case of 

 tenant farmers the earning capacity 

 (which is the total product of any crop 

 in the State divided by the number of 

 workers) should be divided approxi- 

 mately by two. 



One of the conditions of securing a 

 greater net income is to stop buying 

 food products and live on what the 

 farm supplies. If greater variety is 

 wanted, produce it. Another condition 

 is to accomplish more in a day. 



Effect of the Work on the Farmer. 



Every step is a revelation and a sur- 

 prise to the farmer. He sees his name 

 in the country paper as one of the 

 farmers selected by the United States 

 Department of Agriculture to conduct 

 demonstration work ; he receives in- 

 structions from Washington ; he begins 

 to be noticed by his fellow-farmers ; his 

 better preparation of the soil pleases 

 him ; he is proud of planting the best 

 seed and having the best cultivation. As 

 the crop begins to show vigour and excel- 

 lence his neighbours call attention to it, 

 and finally when the demonstration 

 agent calls a field meeting at his farm, 

 the farmer begins to be impressed not 

 only with the fact that he has a good 

 crop, but that he is a man of more conse- 

 quence than he thought. This man that 

 was never noticed before has had a 

 meeting called at his farm ; he concludes 

 that he is a leader in reforms. Immedi- 

 ately the brush begins to disappear 

 from the fence corners and the weeds 

 from the fields ; the yard fence is 

 straightened ; whitewash or paint goes 

 on the buildings ; the team looks a little 

 better, and the dilapidated harness is 

 renovated. Finally, the crop is made, 

 and a report about it appears in the 

 county papers. It produces a sensation. 

 A meeting is called by the neighbours, 

 and the farmer is made chairman ; he 

 receives numerous inquiries about his 

 crop, and is invited to attend a meeting 

 at the county seat to tell how he 

 did it. 



He made a great crop, but the man 

 grew faster than the crop. There can 

 be no reform until the man begins to 

 grow, and the only possible way for 

 him to grow is by achievement — doing 

 something of which he is proud. He 

 is a common farmer. What line of 

 achievement is open to him but doing 

 better work and securing greater 

 results on his own farm? As soon as 

 the man begins to grow he will work 

 for every rural betterment. 



In the Southern States nearly one- 

 half of the farms are tilled under the 

 tenant system. In South Carolina, 

 Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and 

 Louisiana more than 60 per cent, of the 

 farms are worked by tenants. The poor 

 equipment of such farms and the low 

 earning capacity of the tenant appeal 

 strongly for help. 



The tenant is urged by the demon- 

 stration agent to make a better crop 

 and raise everything necessary for his 

 support. He is shown that as soon as 

 he proves himself to be a progressive 

 and thrifty farmer it will add to his 

 credit. He can then buy upon better 

 terms and will soon own a farm. The 

 landlord is seen and urged to look more 

 closely after his farm ; to improve his 

 farm buildings, because this is necessary 

 to the securing and retention of the 

 best tenants ; to furnish better imple- 

 ments or assist his tenant to purchase 

 them ; and to insist tnat good seed shall 

 be used, and that there shall be better 

 tillage of the crop. Many proprietors 

 take the deepest interest in having their 

 tenants taught better methods. They 

 call meetings and scatter farm liter- 

 ature, thus creating a sen timent favour- 

 able to the demonstration work. 



Rural Improvement the Natural 

 Result of this Work. 



The agents of the demonstration work 

 are thoroughly drilled in progressive 

 steps. When the rudiments of good 

 farming are mastered, the farmer secures 

 a greater income for his labour. An im- 

 portant part of this greater net earning 

 capacity is good farm economy and 

 greater thrift. Farm economy dictates 

 the production of the largest crop 

 possible to the acre at the least expen- 

 diture of money and without impairing 

 the productive capacity of the soil. It 

 also includes the planting of crop of the 

 greatest value to the acre, provided the 

 cost of production is not proportionate- 

 ly increased, and it teaches a more 

 economic support of the family, team 

 and stock, which is based upon home 

 production of all the food and forage 

 crops consumed. For the family more 

 use must be made of milk, eggs, the veget- 

 able garden, and fruits ; for the stock 

 there should be better pasture and hay, 

 especially the abundant use of legumes. 

 Thrift demand the proper housing of 

 family, teams, and tools, and the more 

 economic expenditure of the greater 

 gains of the farm arising from greater 

 earnings and more economy. The only 

 way to successfully attack such problems 

 is by an example. 



