The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-02-16

u agriculture and stock-raising gen.
orally, state that instances of poor farm
ing are much more common here than
in most countries in Europe. They es-
pocially refer to the fact that the land in
many sections has been so managed that
it has lost its fertility and is now so poor
that it no longer produces paving crops.
Such is the case in many of the Eastern
and Southern States where large crops
were once raised. Most of the land in
these sections is now devoted TO grasing
purposes and if cultivated crops are pro-
duced they are raised by the employment
Of commercial fertilizers. The farms no
longer produce food for their owners.
In many cases the farms would not sell
for what the improvements ON them cost.
Such is the case Notwithstanding the
fact that they are located in the vicinity OF
large towns that afford excellent markets.
One cause of poor farming in this
country is doubtlessly the very large
number of farmers. In some States
three.fourths of all the pe1 are farmers.
Farming Is almost the only occupation
in which people can engage, and nearly
all of them enter it. Men who have no
taste, inclination, or capabilities for the
business engage in farming and continue
in it principally for the reason that there
is little else to do. 1t would be strange
indeed if many of them did not turn out
to be very poor farmers. In Great Brit
ain and many of the countries on the
continent of Europe only about one man
in ten is farmer. As consequence,
M ona anon rra, thc Inns, ~ rs, Iaoo
not have liking for it. Persons there
adopt farming from inclination and not
from necessity. The industries are so
diversified that there is better oppor-
tunity to find an employment congenial
to one taste There are manufactures
in nearly every town, there are mines
within short distance of the home of
every person, and great demand for
sailors. No one need engage in farming
for want of other remunerative employ
ment. As consequence, few engage in
farming except from choice.
The cheapnsss of land and the ease
with which it can be obtained from the
Government have had a great deal to do
in making much of our farming poor.
Little attention has been given to keep
ing up the fertility Of the soil, which is
the first requirement of permanent pros
perity in agriculture. Many of our
crops, as tobacco, cotton and wheat, are
very exhaustive ones. Some farmers
who have given the most attention to
producing them have been in the habit
Of moving on to new land as often az
they have been cultivating for some
time has become measureably unpro-
ductive. The production of the three
crops mentioned has been moving west
since the first settlement of the country.
Men have found it cheapert to move on to
new land than to keep up the fertility Of
that which was being gradually impoy-
erished. What was to their interest was
detrimental to the condition of the
country, however. 1t was a system of
land robbery. Many persons, have be-
come nominal farmers simply for the
purpose of acquiring land under the
Homestead or Tree-claim act. They
found that they could obtain quarter
section of land by moving on and max
ing a few improvements. They raised
some crops from necessity, in order to
obtain support. Their object, however.
was not to become farmers, but to obtain
land for nothing which they could dis
pose of for money, which would enable
them to 60 into some other business.
The great amount of land in this coun-
try has had an injurious effect on the
proper care and treatment of that under
Lack of sufficient capital has also had
IN injurious effect on farming in this
Many have engaged in farm
ing with no capital except the land they
occupied. They were obliged to support
themselves and their families, to erect
make other improvements,
and purchase necessary machinery and
:ools out of the proceeds of the crops
hey raised. A great many commenced
'arming with no capital whatever. They
ook land under, the Homestead, Pre-
,mption or Tree-claim acts, or bought it
If some corporation or Spectator on time
md sought to make their Improvement
md to support their families on what
hey could raise. All the land grant
'ailway companies have sought to dis
BOSE of their grants by showing to settlers
hat they could easily make the payments
N their purchases besides supporting
heir families and putting up buildings
md fences out of the crops. they raised.
Not a few succeeded in doing it, but in
the result they exhausted
he fertility of the soil they occupied.
Many borrowed money to meet their last
payments or to make improvements. and
,aid ruinous rates of interest for it. The
more money they..hsd to raise the harder
hey used their land. In many cases the
and was improved in the manner the
ioths and Vandalsimproved Rome; val
liable trees were cut, down and sold for
Inything they would bring; the crops
we're raised that would bring the most
money; everything was taken from the
oil that it would produce. and nothing
vas put back-in short, practices were
ollOwed that would not have been al
owed in countries where the welfare of
he land is looked after, by the proprie-
,apital a farmer has he is very likely tG
lraw it all out and to become bankrupt.
Another cause of poor farming in this
,ountry is lack of knowledge on the part
# farmers. Many have started out as
armers without experience and with
title theoretical knowledge. They en-.
aged in farming because they thought
'revious training was unnecessary. They =.
new that long course of study was
ecessary in order to enter a profession.
nd that it was necessary to spend sew
raj years in learning trade before one
ould find occupation as a journeyman.
hey knew that knowledge, skill and
experience were all necessary for carry
NJ on the business of master mechanic.
or brakeman, but they
oncluded that none of them was essen
Ial to success in farming, Having en-