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item on which \vc would try our hand at get- "shucky beans" (green hulls and all being
ting some definite action. We then began to dried and used) in the winter. The ravages
scout around among our relief families for of the Mexican bean beetle have of recent
farmers who would promise to put up fifty years made bean raising almost impossible. I
cents or a dollar, whatever amount they could am of the opinion it would be easier, and
lay hands on and were willing to stake on the equally satisfactory as a food crop, to substi-
enterprise, to buy lespedcza seeds. We didn't tute this particular variety of peas rather than
know where the money was to come from, try to stamp out the bean beetles—which,
hut we decided that so unfamiliar a crop fortunately, don't eat peas!
would need some cash stimulation. Individuals
would, we thought, catch the idea and he will- Rut as I have already intimated, more is
ing to contribute something; more could prob- involved in these little experiments of ours
ably be secured from the merchants, who, than just the potential material returns for
more than any other group, have profited the few farmers directly interested. I think
financially from the operations of relief in the we may discover something as to how one
county. With these possibilities in mind, we should handle his teaching, for it is really
had the audacity to launch forth on the ex- teaching that one undertakes in this realm,
periment of promising to match with an equal so that he actually does succeed in getting
quantity whatever seed a given farmer would effective substitution of new, workable, hope-
promise to buy. Almost at once the proposi- gencrating ideas for the out-worn ideas that
tion began to assume large proportions, and are entrenched by tradition, habit, resignation
after a week we had to limit the fifty-fifty and non-scientific thinking. I have great,
agreement to the commitments already made. though untried, faith in the efficacy and de-
Then, by a lucky accident, we found we could sirability of teaching by demonstration. Even
get at once two tons of first-class seed at a greater faith have I in the idea of helping
very reasonable price, so we took it on. A farmers to become their own demonstrators.

large part of it is disposed of, most of it I have a suspicion that teaching new farm-
at cost price. We aren't "in" terribly deep ing methods to mountain farmers involves
either and are making headway with collecting even more than proving these methods, how-
funds to cover the fifty-fifty commitments. ever vividly the proofs may be presented. For
one thing, mountain farming, by new methods
My interest in farming and gardening isn't or old, calls for a lot of hard honest work.
by any manner of means limited to work with Nothing short of good substantial food and
the field staff of the relief office. In fact. I plenty of it will support that kind of work.
don't see how a social worker in this situa- Literally hundreds of farmers that we per-
tion can escape a very active interest in the sonally know start their farming operations
way people farm and garden, for thereon every year with practically nothing on hand
hangs the answer to how well they are going to feed them through crop time. I feel posi-
to live or whether they are going to live at tive that much of what is sometimes described
all. With practically every family in the as shiftlcssncss, laziness, half-hcartedness in
county suffering from a seriously inadequate the mountaineer's work habits might better
income, and with the land as the only avail- be explained as the effects of long-time mal-
able source of income, for the present at least, nutrition. Wild greens, a bit of corn bread
it isn't surprising to see a social worker evolv- and white gravy simply do not make for either
ing into an agriculturalist of a sort. physical or moral backbone!

In addition to concerning myself with the Then there is the matter of the cash outlay
problems of seeds, tools, even land, for a few required for the change from the old to a
families in which T can take a more detailed new farming scheme. New crops, fresh seeds
interest and responsibility, I have two or three to replace those that have "run out," better
small experiments going on my own. These equipment—these things, even on a small or
will very likely add to the food or feed sup- piecemeal scale, call for money. Even if the
plies of the farmers with whom I am sharing farmer has the cash, and practically none of
the experiments, but they are aimed primarily them has, it is needed for so many other
at teaching the farmers and myself some basic things that they hardly dare risk it on a new
facts about important crops. One of these enterprise. But there is risk quite apart from
little private enterprises has to do with the the question of the initial cash outlay. The
way to grow potatoes. According to my ob- mountain farmer knows that the family's liv-
servations, results under the usual mountain ing for the year depends entirely upon his
methods of potato culture are so small and so few acres of land and his own labor. By
uncertain that unless a better method can be habit and precept his corn crop is fixed in his
found and "sold" to the farmers, a potato mind as the foremost essential in his farming
crop isn't worth the investment in seeds, labor, operations if his family is to escape starvation.
use of land, et cetera. I have little doubt These new farming ideas postulate the drastic
that the current method can be improved redtiction of corn growing, as the prime req-
upon; the problem is replacing set, genera- uisite of a new day in mountain agriculture.
tions-old ideas with new. 'Tis a poor sort of living the mountain farmer
makes under the old system, but at least he
Another idea I am experimenting with is an knows what to expect of it. Given the terrific
attempt to popularize black-eyed peas as a pressure exerted by economic necessity, I can
possible substitute for string beans. Beans conceive that for him to use even a part of
have always been a very important food crop these few acres of his and part of his labor
here, being used green in the summer, canned,
as "soup beans" (dry shelled beans), and [CONTINUED ON PACK 59]