M. C. (Morris Cotgrave) Betts

M. C. Betts, short for Morris Cotgrave Betts, was an American agricultural writer and government author born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on January 24, 1875, and he died in Philadelphia on December 22, 1936.

He is associated with a series of practical publications for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including Planning the Farmstead, Suggestions for the Improvement of Old Bank Dairy Barns, Wind-resistant Construction for Farm Buildings, and, with coauthors, Rat Proofing Buildings and Premises. His books and bulletins focused on useful problems farmers faced every day: where to place buildings, how to improve sanitation, and how to build structures that were safer, stronger, and more efficient.

Rather than writing literary works, Betts wrote in a hands-on, problem-solving style. That makes his work interesting not only as agricultural history, but also as a window into an era when public writing was meant to help ordinary people build better homes, barns, and communities.