The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942 Page: 43

The Life of Colonel R. T. Milner

From the date of this letter to Mr. Alford, a leading
merchant of Henderson as well as large landholder in the
county, was published, the Rusk County farmers became more
interested in the production of peanuts, judging from the
numerous articles, letters, and questions which appeared in
the Rusk County News. As one farmer-contributor expressed
it: "It [peanuts] is a crop that is easily cultivated and land
never gets too poor to grow from 25 to 50 bushels per acre
when properly cultivated."'"'
During July 23, 24, and 25, 1907, the Texas Farmers' Congress
was held at College Station. About 800 delegates were present.
Part of the duties of the Commissioner of Agriculture was to
publish and distribute papers and addresses delivered at the
Farmers' Institutes, which were of a character "to promote
the welfare of the farmers."" When he appeared at the Farm-
ers' Congress, "He was introduced as the first real Commis-
sioner of Agriculture Texas has ever had."s"' In an address,
He reviewed the history of the Bureau of Agricul-
ture, created in 1887 and attached to the Department
of Insurance, Statistics, and History, described its
work, as reflected in these annual reports of the
bureau; touched upon the enormous cost of the annual
reports--over $100,000 for the first one, and from
$22,000 to $25,000 for subsequent ones-and of their
small practical value to the practical farmer, they be-
ing of use to the homeseeker chiefly.
He gave an account of the careful preparation of
the bill creating the present Department of Agricul-
ture, and outlined the work the department proposed
to do, work that is eminently practical. He referred
to the publication of the proceedings of the Farmers'
Congress and expressed the opinion that it was most
fit for the department to do this work and in this
manner being in contact with the progressive farmers
of this Congress who never attend.
He requested the cooperation of the members of the
Farmers' Congress in doing the work mapped out for
the department, and particularly in organizing farm-
ers' institutes and in pushing other efforts to reach
the less progressive farming elements for the purpose
164G. N. Dickenson, "Growing Goobers," Rusk County News, October 9,
1907.
165Department of Agriculture Bulletin No. 1, 3.
166General Session of Farmers' Congress, Bulletin No. 3, 41.

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