The March, 1939, issue of the Carolina Co-operator had a supplement focusing on “Enriching Rural Life.” With input from the experts of the day, the magazine addressed the question “Just what can we do to boost rural living standards, thus provide for a richer rural life?”
When radio’s No. 1 speaker and the U.S.’s No. 1 orator refers to the “more abundant life,” he means a life based on economic well-being, with an opportunity for religious, social, intellectual, and recreational activities. That U.S. citizens in general and Southerners in particular are not enjoying such a life was apparent last summer from a report submitted to the President by the National Emergency Council.
But long before the NEC report was prepared, Southern leaders were well aware of the disparity in income of the South and other U.S. geographical regions. With income at the poverty line, no people can hope to enjoy a more abundant life. Hence, the first essential in the enrichment of life in North Carolina is a means to boost income.
Since North Carolina is essentially an agricultural state (second largest rural population in the Union), its problems are largely those of agriculture. With this thought in mind, the Co-operator set out last month to find out what North Carolinian leaders in their respective fields would do to raise N.C. rural living standards, thus enrich rural life.
Government
No one’s personal life or property can be secure without good government. In addition, progressive governments attempt to go much further. Governor Hoey outlines briefly the part good government can play in enriching rural life:
“Schools, roads, public health service, and similar agencies are a direct result of the government administering to the needs of the people. That government is best which most fully provides the character of service which stimulates its citizenship and enriches its life. These agencies bring to rural life the advantages and conveniences of the urban centers, while retaining the benefits and blessings of country life for those who are permitted to enjoy its freedom and share its privileges.”
Co-operation
Few North Carolinians are better acquainted with North Carolina’s rural life than Dr. Frank Graham, president of the University of North Carolina and chairman of the NEC, whose 22 members prepared the report on Southern economic conditions. Dr. Graham believes that “Co-operation means more income for the farmer, a better chance for his wife and children. We live in a world of organization, and in this world there stands often alone, unorganized, the farmer, and I for one would like to see the idea of co-operation go even further than that of selling and buying, and include the churches, the schools and colleges, and the farm home.”
General Improvement of Agriculture
Goal of a general improvement of agriculture in North Carolina is economic production. Dean I.O. Schaub of the State College School of Agriculture says that “When we secure economic production, we increase the price of farm products. As long as we make only 15 bushels of corn to the acre we have no economic security. Each of the 308,000 farms in the State supports an average of five persons, with less than four cultivated acres supporting each person. On this basis we cannot make enough in a year to maintain a decent standard of living.”
Dean Schaub sees two alternatives: Clear more land, which will lead to further production, or combine two or three farms and displace rural families, which, of course, will involve serious social complications. Some years ago, Dean Schaub observed that about 103,000,000 acres were in cultivation in both the South and in the Midwest’s Corn Belt. But there were 2 ½ times as many farm workers in the South as there were in the Corn Belt. For this reason, he declares that 500,000 farm families in the South must leave the farm. Economic pressure will force them off.”
The individual, he says, must strive for economic security. “A man who farms to make a living with a cash crop on the side will not only make a good living but get ahead, but the man who depends on cash crops will not make a good living or get ahead.” To illustrate his point, Dean Schaub says that the cultivation of cotton requires only about 100 days during the year. “A man who works only 100 days during the year,” he contends, “doesn’t even deserve a living. A farmer must plan to occupy himself all during the year.”
Poultry
Great possibilities are seen for poultry in rural North Carolina by Dr. R.S. Dearstyne of N.C. State College. “The place of poultry as an aid in enriching the rural life of North Carolina must be viewed as a means to an end. Generally, social progress follows economic progress, and the poultry industry offers one of the means by which such progress may be secured. As yet we have not scratched the surface of the possibilities of poultry work in North Carolina. It is basically a sound industry which has stood on its feet without subsidization. It presents opportunities for interest as well as for profit. We need, however, a ‘new deal’ as far as thought it concerned, if our poultry flocks are to make the progress which should be made. The mongrel farm flocks should pass out of existence and be replaced with purebred flocks. Our feeding, housing, and management programs should and must be improved if the small total egg production of the farm flocks is to be raised to its true possibility. If only one chicken is to be maintained, it should be a good one and should be well cared for. If our poultry flocks are to be given a real opportunity, there is no question that they will prove their worth and make a distinct contribution to our rural welfare.”
Schools
More and more, schools are becoming identified with the home and community. Clyde A. Erwin, State superintendent of public instruction, says that “We believe that the public schools are making valuable contributions to the enrichment of rural life. Particularly through the medium of home economics and agricultural education we have made substantial contributions in this respect. I believe that the farms and homes of this State are reflecting more and more the cultural influence of the splendid consolidated buildings which have brought educational opportunities to rural people undreamed of a few years ago. The bed rock of our social, cultural, and economic advancement is still our rural life. If North Carolina is to be a really great and progressive State we must place more emphasis upon the enrichment of this life.”
Dairy Animals
North Carolina still produces far less butter, Milk, and cheese than it consumes. There is not only an opportunity for profit, but absorbing interest as well in growing dairy animals, says Professor R.H. Ruffner of State College. “the man or woman who chooses the growing of dairy animals to contribute to his or her livelihood has chosen a project which will greatly enrich rural life. Such a citizen has an absorbing interest, which will necessitate a well planned life. This visioning will encourage home ownership, through which will be acquired a healthy and wholesome life and contentment.”
Seeds
North Carolina, one of the leading agricultural states, produces crops valued at more than $200,000,000 annually (gross). Seed to produce these crops thus assume vital significance. “It requires more than 6,000,000 bushels annually to seed the crops in North Carolina,” according to Professor J.B. Cotner of State College. “The breeding of the seed will determine the quality of the crops harvested because superior germ plasm can only be found in superior quality seed.
“There are six essentials of good seed. They are as follows: good breeding, adaptation, good seed condition, purity of variety, freedom from disease, and freedom from weed seed.”
Vocational Study
Vocational education in agriculture and home economics as a part of our public school systems is making a positive and direct contribution to both the economic and social life of the people by enriching offerings of public education. T.E. Browne, State director of vocational education, says that “Vocational agriculture taught in 395 high schools to approximately 30,000 boys and men is enabling them to reorganize their farm practice in the light of modern needs and in keeping with the findings of science.
“The vocational home economic departments, now maintained in 261 high schools, giving instruction to about 17,000 girls, are proving that public school education has a definite contribution to make the most fundamental and important areas of human existence the making of a happy home and the rearing of a family.”
Marketing
Anyone can grow crops. The profit lies in growing them economically and then marketing them under favorable conditions. Commission of Agriculture W. Kerr Scott declares North Carolina is undervaluing the importance of marketing. “With $2 being spent annually for production, control, and all agricultural purposes just a nickel is spent for marketing. State and national farm leaders must turn their attention to the need of helping farmers better prepare their produce for sale if we expect to continue our farm program on an economically sound basis.”
Organization
Rural organizations can play an important part in the enrichment of country life. Master Harry B. Caldwell of the State Grange declares that “it can be the medium for uniting rural people for civic improvement, the dissemination of information, the development of leadership for a better social life, and at the same time it gives them a medium through which they can work together for those objectives necessary in lifting the level of rural standards.
“The Grange has weathered the storms of time for 72 years and it is today better qualified to meet the needs of rural community life. It is impossible to estimate the benefits that have accrued for country life form Grange activities. They include such things as regulation of public utilities, rural free delivery of mail, improvement of rural roads, better school facilities, agricultural research, the development of farm co-operatives, more equitable distribution of the tax load and numerous pieces of farm legislation—these are but a few of the great contributions made to life by the Grange.”
Hogs and Sheep
No more tasty farm products come to the table than those at hog-killing time. But Professor E.H. Hostetler of State College finds that many farmers lose their meat through a disregard of available information. “Too many of them,” he says, “attempt to cure their meat too hurriedly, before the animal heat has passed off, which always results in spoilage. Others hang their meat up in places unprotected from flies and rodents.
“The biggest factor in hog production,” he says, “is sanitation. Give your pigs a clean pasture and clean quarters. Pigs are already a superior breed in the State, but we still have a long way to go. Most farmers should attempt to raise at least a small amount of pork for market in addition to their own needs. But there is a definite need for more sheep on North Carolina farms. No other farm animal will return more money. Sheep are low in initial cost and live largely from waste feed and fence corner grass. Small flocks should be kept on every farm. The double crop of lambs and wool will more than pay for their keep.”
Year-‘Round Gardens
In a large part of the state, year-‘round gardens are not only possible, but profitable. Horticulturist Robert Schmidt of State College advises gardeners in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont to utilize their garden space in the winter as well as other seasons of the year. “Winter gardens,” he says, “are limited to the more hardy green or leafy crops, such as kale, collards, turnips, spinach, and in some areas, cabbage. All contain large amounts of health-giving vitamins and can be supplemented by vegetables grown earlier. A few vegetables can be grown during the winter without much extra cost in cloth-covered cold frames. Those particularly suited for cold frames are lettuce, carrots, and beets. The year-‘round garden is advantageous from both the standpoint of better health and the family pocketbook.”
Farm Management
Farm management deals with the way in which the farm cropping and livestock systems are planned and put into effect. Dr. G.W. Forster, head of the department of agricultural economics and rural sociology at State College, describes the objective as “the best use of the farmer’s time, land, equipment, and capital. In North Carolina our cropping and livestock systems are defective in that they do not use adequately all of the farmers’ resources. If this could be done the farmer’s income would be higher, which, in turn, would tend to raise his standard of living.”
4-H Clubs
Group training received by rural boys and girls in their 4-H Clubs also has an important bearing on enriching the State’s rural life. State 4-H Club Leader L.R. Harrill says that “I think that every young man and young woman who has a desire to be any type of farmer or homemaker desires to be the very best type farmer and the very best type homemaker that is possible for them to be. Training for those objectives constitutes the work of our 4-H Clubs.”
Fertilizer
North Carolina farmers buy about one-fifth of the Nation’s fertilizer. Thus, for every $5 worth they harvest each year, $1 goes back into the ground in the form of fertilizer. That fertilizer is no inconsiderable item of most North Carolina farmers’ budgets is apparent.
However, Professor C.B. Williams of State College believes that “The intelligent use of fertilizer should lead to a larger net return from the production of crops, which, in turn, would afford more things that are essential for a richer rural life on the farms of the State.”
Research
North Carolina stands 44th among the states in the amount spent for agricultural research. The endless probing and searching in laboratories and on field plots for new facts and improved knowledge about the mysteries of plant and animal life, the soil, insects, diseases, and related subjects affecting life on the farm. Administrative Dean John W. Harrelson of State College believes that “Every cent put into research has been returned a thousand-fold and it is this force which is constantly allowing agriculture to move forward, enriching the lives of North Carolina farm families because it shows them how to do the job a little better than it has been done before.”
Home Beautification
Interest in home beautification is growing rapidly in North Carolina. Ruth Current, State home demonstration agent, says that “I do not know of any project that leaders could push that would enrich rural life, make for pride and satisfaction, lift them up more than home beautification.
“First, see your place as others see it. And then, when you have a mental picture, why not be guided by it? At this season of the year most premises need to have a general cleaning up of the front yard, back yard, barn lot, all around the outbuildings, the entrances, and on the highway in front of the home. There are many slight repair jobs that can be done at little cost, such as mending steps, windows, porch floors, etc. Someone has said that our characters are judged by the picture the exteriors of our homes make.”
Health
Back to the independent life on the farm seems to be the predominating desire in the nature of mankind. Most men and women who have left the rural districts did so because they lacked the physical conveniences they knew existed in the cities.
“A new day has now dawned,” says Dr. Carl V. Reynolds, State health officer, “and, through sanitation and modern conveniences, rural life can be made just as attractive physically as urban life—plus that inherent charm which verifies the old proverb: ‘God made the country and man made the town.’ Modern sanitation now insures healthful conditions in the country. Adequate and safe water supplies may be had and, through drainage, screening, and other precautionary methods, danger of the prevalence of many diseases formerly attributed to lack of such facilities has been greatly minimized, or eliminated altogether. This means a richer rural life.”
Family Life Training
Homemaking may create, or lack of it destroy, rural or urban homes. Dr. Jane S. McKimmon, assistant director of Extension, things that “the freedom of women, the love of pleasure, changed economic conditions; all may play a part in the wreckage of homes.
“But,” she adds, “I am wondering if it is not true that at the foundation of the whole thing lies the fact that we have done so little through the generations to consciously train the boy and girl for family life. We train a boy to earn a living and give him every opportunity within our power to be the best mechanic, the best farmer, or the best professional man, but we have not very generally provided courses in his schools and colleges to train him to be a good husband or a good father. Neither have we trained girls for wifehood and motherhood.”
Young Farmers
The teaching of vocational agriculture contributes in many ways to the enrichment of rural life. Roy Thomas, State supervisor of vocational education, observes that “the Young Tar Heel Farmer organization, composed of agriculture students, is doing much to develop initiative, leadership, and resourcefulness on the part of the farm boy. Earning and learning is the motto of the students.”
Rural Churches
No institution or agency other than the home plays a more vital part in rural communities than the church. Rev. Leon Russell of Raleigh’s Hayes-Barton Methodist Church terms it “the institution that specializes in the enrichment of human life.”
“North Carolina’s rural life can be greatly enriched,” he says, “as the rural people of every community recognize the power of their local church to help. By attendance upon its services, support of its program and loyalty to its purposes, people can make the rural church more efficient, and thereby make it become the greatest single institution for the enrichment of rural life.”
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