The Daily News THURSDAY, JUNE 25. SCENTIFIC FARMING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 158, 25 June 1908, Page 2

The Daily News THURSDAY, JUNE 25. SCENTIFIC FARMING.

It is intmating to turn to records of the United States to the Mibject of making nn.jl life profitable. The '"fanners' co-operative demonstration work" going on iu the Southern Slates, under tbi* direction of Dr. S. A, Nnapp, K ' cultural Department at Washington, is declared to l>o as important as any other work going on in ihe l/nited States. The n Work static tliai supported iu pail by the AgiicitUura! J)epartniciu ami in part by tin* (initial Kducaiion I'oard. MS agents, or travelling teachers of goud farming. go to t b»* farmers an.! demonstrate on tlie hitter's own land the henelits of right method-;, the farmers doing the work under ihe direction ot the agents. They prove that theohscrvaiife of certain simple rules will result in an enormous and unexpected incrca-e ot' yield. The magnitude which this system lias attained ran be judged when i* is mentioned that from Texas la Virginia (inclusive), tiic»v are over oi.HOO of these demonstration fmins. The practieal farmer will at once empiire as to the results shown, and these are nio-t j of corn iji was 17 bushels, the demonstration a\crage is bushels. In Alabama the general average was I.V/. bushels, and the demonstration average :i7V;. bushels. Virginia has a much higlier general average { *2") bushels), winch is still ten bu<heU short of the Mississippi demonstration average. while the Virginia demons! ration averag" reaches as high a» -lo l~>th bushels, The yield of lint cotton shows ronally surprising results when the scientific and the iniscicntilic methods are contrasted. The Stale of Mississippi shows a general average of -~Blbs per acre, while the demonstration average is shown to be -U-) lbs. in Alabama the comparison is Kitllbs and 4281b5. Taken individually, the results faithfully bear out the averages over «'aeh Slate. For instance, a cotton plant of the average size from a row worked by tlie old methods was found to be 14 inches high, and to weigh :{ ounces. Another plant grown from seed planted oil the same, day as the plant previously referred to, but cultivated by the new method, was 22 inches high, and weighed just double. It is claimed that if this work is continued long enough to reach the mass of the fanners it will make that part of the Union one of the richest agricultural regions in the world .The "demonstration'' work had it- beginning in the necessity id' showing how best to combat the t-oUon-boll weevil. The work therefore was only intended to be temporary, but it is anticipated that the S'ate and county (Jovernnients ami organisation* of individuals will continue the work until every fanner who has brains has had the opportunity of proliting by it.' and the farmer who lacks brains will ulii inaUdy have to give up the land to one who has. is the blunl expression of opinion given by one writer on the ;>nbjc\t. There is a Furnier-,' I'nion wit l ) an c:\ten.-ive membership iu (. In--•• Slate-, and p'eognising 'he value of the work done, is giving its aid ill many localities. while several communities have provided money by private subscriptions lor the earning on and extension of the wok, and i( is hopvd ;ha! State legislation will be emo-tl'd io enable the i;;>-i----inllural departments to make the work continuous a- long as necessary, "(hie of our fumhuueiital tasks." declares the World's Work, "is to make rural lj(v as protitable for the average man a* work in towns and cities. As soon a* we haw done that the social and intellectual building up of rural life will follow so fast, that the country will cease to be drained by the towns of much of its best brains and character. This work, therefore, goes to the very bottom of our national well-being. It brings quicker and larger direct result in money than any form of education that you can natne." In New Zealand the Agricultural Department has the necessaiv power to initiate and keep going a wor\ that even the Americans, convinced as they are of its ulilitv. can only carry on by th" aid of special legislation. In that respect we are already well in advance of the people of the I'nited Stat »s and the Minister of Laftds has given practical proof (hat Ihe Department is to Ik- run tm the most progressive lilies that the funds at it" disposal will permit.