o N p LA 370 0? UC-NRLF Dfifi 9 CVJ o W si LO o o V. 33 1914 BULLETIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OFJTEXAS ( No. 286 FOUR TIMES A MONTH EXTENSION SERIES 35 JULYS, 1913 TEXAS' NEED OF THE SERVICES OF HIGHER EDUCATION PRIZE ORATIONS IN THE STATE ORATORICAL CONTEST, 1913, HELD UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE HOGG ORGANIZATION PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN, TEXAS Entered as second-class mail matter at the postoffice at Austin, Texas LA^o, PREFACE This bulletin contains the three prize-winning orations in a State oratorical contest for prizes offered by the Organization for the Enlargement by the State of Texas of its Institutions of Higher Education. The contest was open to all Texas colleges and State normal schools, the awards consisting of a first prize of $100 cash, a second prize of $60, and a third prke of $40. To the col- lege whose representative wins first place was also awarded a silver loving cup valued at $50. For the purpose of prelimi- nary contests the State was divided into six districts, each with a district director. The contest was held at the University on the night of April 25, 1913, the six districts being represented by delegates from Abilene Christian College, Baylor University, Blinn Memorial College, Burleson College, Clarendon College, and the University of Texas. Mr. D. C. Hobbs, representing Baylor Uni- versit}^, won first place; Mr. R. L. Skiles, representing the Univer- sity of Texas, second place; and Mr. C. Q. Smith, representing Clarendon College, third place. As this bulletin goes to press, it is not known if the Hogg Organ- ization will be able to renew the offer of prizes for a similar con- test. In any event, a State oratorical contest, with similar rules and organization, will hereafter be held, under the auspices of the Intercollegiate Peace Association. Address inquiries to E. D. Shurter, State Chairman, University, Austin. M272867 TEXAS' NEED OF THE SERVICES OF HIGHER. EDUCA- TION FOR THE SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT OF "THE MAN WITH THE HOE." BY D. C. HOBBS. (The following oration was awarded first prize in the Hogg State Ora- torical Contest, held at the University of Texas, April 25, 1913. Mr. Hobbs represented Baylor University.) The first man born into the world became a tiller of the soil. From that primitive time until this glorious age the farm has bten the basis of all progress and the bed-rock of every civilization. It has ever been and will ever remain of supreme importance to all mankind. It produces the food that nourishes earth's toiling mil- lions., and forms to-day the foundation of America's national pros- perity and power. The farmer was destined to bear the burdens of the world; and though chance and fate have combined to wreck his fortunes, he has survived the tests of time. From his skill and energy, from his success in reaping bountiful returns from nature, is drawn the life sustaining power, which, circulating through the channels of every other industry, vitalizes them into agencies of happiness and wealth. Upon him depends directly or indirectly every industry, and upon his tanned shoulders of brawn rests the burden of feeding and clothing the world, while at the same time, he is chief customer for products of all industries. Back of all progress, back of every forward movement in the march of man, stands this "Hard-handed son of Labor", earth's most modest but worthy prince. And a careful study of existing con- ditions in Texas proves that nothing will more surely promote the welfare of the commonwealth than an intelligent application of scientific methods in her agriculture. To-day serious and vital problems are confronting the Texas farmer. The land which has been yielding the food that has sus- tained his people for three generations is losing its humus and futility; the rapid migration of the boys and girls from nature's garden of wealth to the cities of vice and corruption has left the country without sufficient leadership; and the supremo need and value of scientific education among the farmers is the pressing -qaestion of the hour. The only hope for the prosperity of genera- 6 tions to come is to revolutionize and make a complete change in the present system of wanton devastation and impoverishment. The farmer should build a great agricultural foundation, to reclaim his depleted farms, by restoring the fertility of the soil ; to find and transform the farmers into closer social relations; and to establish farming on a broader and firmer scientific basis than ever before attained by the skill of human industry. The lack of scientific education among the farmers is costing Texas millions of dollars annually. The lands unguarded by the skilled hand of science are rapidly coming to depletion, exhaustion, and devastation. Each passing year adds numerous farms to the thousands of unfertile acres. The careless impoverishment of the soil is due to depletion by erosion, exhaustion by single cropping, and devastation by the great loss of humus. The farmer, ignorant of the economy in controlling the waters of flooding rains, has per- mitted the most productive part of the soil to be carried off into the small streams and rivers. His ignorance of the disastrous effects of single cropping has robbed the soil of its nutritive ele- ments and more especially of phosphorus, the most expensive ele- ment and the one hardest to replace. This destruction of the essen- tial source of nutriment for the plant has greatly increased the price of food products by lessening the supply, and if continued, will lead to poverty. Destroy the virgin soils of anv state, and you strike at the very foundation of its wealth and prosperity. How to check the migration of the youth from the country to the city is another grave problem which Texas must solve. One of the most unfortunate phases of modern civilization is the drift away from the farm the drift of country youth to city. The rural districts of Texas, as elsewhere, today are constantly paying a tribute to the city in the sacrifice of their best blood, their best brain, and the finest physical and moral fiber in the world. Chaf- ing under the lack of good schools, good roads, and proper social environments, and being repelled by the hardships, excessive toilrf and meager gains of farm life, the strongest and most promising youth leave the farms to seek better opportunities, to acquire wealth, influence and position in the city. Thousands of those who flock to the crowded cities ultimately pay the price in the loss of health, of honor, and of life. Led on by the resistless force of temptation, they become wrecked in physique and warped in char- acter, contaminated with vice and crime. Texas should provide the 7 ~ test known methods for the scientific training of the youth in the field of agriculture, not only for the conservation of her greatest natural resources, the soil, but for the conservation of the boys and girls her richest product, The Texan is beginning to understand that farming is a science as well as a business, an art as well as a labor. He is awakening to the cold fact, that lands which have had thousands of years in making are destroyed in a single generation, and that he must care for the tremendous issues which are involved in the permanent prosperity of agriculture and the maintaining of a high standard of education among the rural people. Through the operation of agricultural schools and colleges*in the state, the farmer is learn- ing the principles of scientific industrial education, and in them he creates a love and appreciation of country life. Give to the farmer every accessible truth of science to the same degree that the mechanic commands, and there will be found in the rural world men with scientific knowledge producing the finished product, a full harvest. One great phase of modern methods of farming, perhaps at pres- ent the greatest in Texas, is the farmers' cooperative demonstra- tion work. By this system the simple and well established princi- ples of agriculture are directly taught on the farms. The people, b} demonstrations, are persuaded to believe that the tilling of the foil through applied scientific knowledge will revolutionize farming into a new industry, and raise the standard of rural life to a posi- tion of comfort and efficiency never before known. The demon- stration work creates in the youth a love of the farm, and instills in his nature a new hope by showing the real value of the soil when properly managed, and the ease with which wealth and dis- tinction are gained in rural life when science and art combine, lie is forced to grant that "Only solvent people are tillers of the soil" and that the unscientific farmer is fettered by bonds more difficult and enduring than those of the "Chattel Slave". A significant feature in the development of Texas agriculture is the change in the attitude taken towards the farmer. A genera- tion ago farming was regarded by many of our best people as an undesirable occupation suitable only for those who lacked brains and education to enter a profession, but science has revealed in it possibilities hitherto unknown. The successful farmer of the future must recognize that farming in a scientific manner is an honorable occupation, for it requires the greatest industry and skill of man. He must know how to deal with the enemies of all farm plants; select seed for future crops; realize the value of liberal fertilization and better tillage; restore the fertility of the soil; make fruitful his untilled acres and produce a bounteful crop with a minimum of labor. The n.iiural productivity of the soil is only half developed and the land simply awaits more careful and intelligent farming to double its yield. When the farmer applies scientific methods in this great work, then and only then will the soil produce its best, and farming be recognized as Texas' great- est industry. As the farm is the producing hope of the consuming state, Texas agriculture must make a wonderful development in the future, if it is to nourish starving humanity. Four millions of hungry souls awake every morning to be fed. Year I} 7 , thousands of immigrants flock to Texas ports, settle down in the cities and add to the present high cost of living by consuming without producing. The mil- lions toil, are cold and hungry, Texas moves forward, yet Texas stands still. The same cry that has resounded down the centuries of time, "give us bread", is yet to be heard. What 'then must be done? The age was when "Man furrowed his brow, bended his back and crumbled away before his time, all in an effort to scratch from earth a few grains of wheat with which to keep the spark of life flickering within his starved and shivering body." But the