The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-05-23
Diversifying Products of the Farm

The great increase in grain production
by farmers OF our country, suggests to the
thoughtful mind whether a portion of this
industry would not be better rewarded, ey-
entually, if it were turned to some other
channel. True, for a few years past there
has been good foreign demand for our sur
plus grain, one reason for which is found in
the diminished product abroad, caused in
part by political disturbances, as also in
other sections by unusual unfavorable eli
matte influences. Once let things resume
their normal state, and we shall find with
our vastly increased area and production a
depression in prices which will soon spread
distress and panic throughout the whole
country; and very soon different state of
things would exist among all classes. Cut
OIL the revenue accruing from grain sent
abroad, and one branch of agriculture is
crippled, which it will take time to heal,
There is an immense immigration of for
elgners, who are at once set in competition
with our producers cheapening our staple
products, while corresponding foreign de-
mand is withheld. At the same time there
is large home demand for many foreign
staples which might well be produced at
paving rates by our own people, saving the
necessity OF sending abroad for The same,
draining our country of its wealth, which re.
tanned at home would produce greater
PiooPolC' "A penny sdVeu is TWO pence
earned" is as true to-day as when first pro-
mulgated by 'Poor Richard" Whatever
We can produce, which we here ofore de
pended upon getting from foreign sources,
is just so much saved.
There is constant demand for and i'm
portatioh of vegetable fibre, as well as vari-
GUS other productions of the soil, which it
has been proved we can produce in various
sections OF our country ar well as the same
can be done in foreign lands. Any new in
dustry gives an impetus to all others. No
country is our peer in cotton production,
and for long years cotton was" king" be-
cause it was the main agricultural product
exported, but later it gives place to grain as
of more Importance. Why may we not
profitably include in our products some of
the Lany other fibre plants besides cotton?
l am fully peruadad that if farmers would
turn their attention to the production of
flax, hemp, jute, ramie and like fibre pro-
ducing plants, we might soon supply our
home markets with the raw products which
we now mainly obtain from foreign sources.
Flax can be proftably grown in nearly all
the states, in quality equal to that imported.
Hemp may also be produced in much larger
area and quality than heretofore, also other
plants requiring a special climate, may be
added, which will prove success eventual
ly, If not at once. Why pay $500, or $500
per ton for fibre, to foreign producers, when
we can produce equally as good, at paying
rates? Our farmers are constantly asking
what crops they can grow to make farming
profitable.
That there are difficulties to surmount in
the introduction and successful culture of
any new fibre or other plant l am well
aware. No business can be made success
except by unceasing practice. Some prod
ucts require less skill in their culture than
others, but there are plenty of farmers who
will take up some speciality, which requires
years of practice for ordinary success, and
instead of large profit, find, if not actual
loss, small returns for their time, expe nse
and trouble. How many acres of grain are
grown which do not pay profit or even cost
of production? 1t would be better to ex-
pend the time and labor in diversified in
dustries, or the production of some new
product of which there is fair prospect of
eventual success, especially where the pro-
duct is grown for home market. Accord
ing 70 the statistics of 1870, the three States
of Ohio, New York and Illinois produced 81
per cent. of all the fax grown in the United
States. Ohio alone produced over II, 100000
pounds of the p, 49,, 034 pounds grown in
all the States. Of this, large quantities are