St. Landry democrat., 1888-03-03
CAUSES OF FAILURE.
Conditions Leading to Poor Methods and
Principles of Farming.

That the farming in this country is
far from being good. is the common
statement of our people who 60 abroad
and of intelligent foreigners who visit
us. 1t contrasts very unfavorably with
the farming in England, Scotland,
Holland and Belgium. The land pro-
Guces smaller crops and the soil is gen.
orally losing it's fertility. The cause
of our poor farming is not to be found
| in an unfavorable climate, soil lack
ing in the elements of fertility or the
lack of intelligence among the farming
class, One cause of our poor manage
ment of land Is to be found in the cir
cumstance that we have too many per-
sons engaged in farming. In some of
the States and Territories producing
crops and raising stock are almost the
only industries people can engage in.
There is no fishing, mining, numbering
or manufacturing interests. Men who
rely on their labor for support must
work at farming, for the obvious rea-
| son that there is very little else to do.
1nere are no HSn 10 calcH, no luIlpNl w
be cut, and no mines to work.
In the countries previously named,
where the farming operations are most
excellent, there are many industries in
which men can engage. Only about
one-tenth of the inhabitants are en-
gagged in any branch of husbandry.
The consequence is that only such per-
sons become farmers or remain farm
ers as are adapted to the business.
Men of small mental ability and poor
Judgment are much more likely to en-
gage in mining than ia farming In a
coal or iron mine their labor, which is
purely mechanical, is directed by per-
sons of somewhat superior intelligence.
They can use pick or drill and earn
fair wages. Men who have a liking
for the water engage in fishing. Men
who have the taste and ability to han.
die tools find occupations in the vari-
Gus mechanical arts. Not many more
are engaged in farming than in prac-
ticing the various professions. They
| select farming or stock-raising because
they have taste for it-a decided in
clination-as others have for surgery,
preaching, matchmaking or writing
novels. One man in ten in any country
| is "cut OUT for farmer.
In the State of Nebraska and the
Territory of Dakota there is hardly
any industry in which men can engage
except farming and stock-raising.
There are no mines, no forests and no
waters Astounding in fish. The coun-
try has been too recently settled, and
is too poor to engage in many kinds OF
manufacturing. There is employment
for railway operatives, statesmen in
stores and builders. The great major
ity of the inhabitants, however, must
engage in farming for want of an oc-
cupation that is more suitable and more
congenial to them; that many of them
prove to be very poor farmers is by no
means strange. 1t is gen orally ac-
knowledged that there is better farming
in the Eastern and Northern States
than in the Southern and Western ones,
and the reason is doubtlessly to be
found in the circumstance that there
are more Industries in the former in
which the persons can engage. In the
latter States many devote themselves
to farming as last resort, or, rather
as. the only resort. They do not like
the business, and are not adapted to it.
but they engage in it because they must
do something, and there is little work
to do except on farms.
If the leading cause of poor farming
in this country is too many farmers,
another cause is too much land. When
a farm can be had for the taking tho
taker is not very likely to cultivate it
as it should be. Many have taken up
land under the presumption, homestead
or timber-claim acts, simply to obtain
a title to it without the payment OF
money. They complied with the law
as far as it was necessary to do SO and
no further. They broke some sod.
planted some crops, set out some trees,
and cultivated them after a fashion.
None of the work was we'll done, for
the reason that the settler did not ex-
pect to remain long on the land. II
was the intention to sell the gift farm
as soon as title could be procured.
Some improvements would help sell
the place, and the raising of some crops
would assist in supporting a family.
Few things are appreciated or properly
used that are obtained for nothing.
Only in places where land is scarce and
high is it generally cultivated as it
should be to secure the best results.
In most of the States that have been
longest settled land is SO easily ac-
quired that many farmers do not think
it is economy to use it in such a man
ner that it will improve under cultiva-
ton. If they want to raise more corn
or small grain, produce more hay or
keep more stock. they buy more land in
stead of trying to increase the product
iveness of what they have. They will
not tile low land so long rs they can
buy land in the vicinity that does not
red uire undertaking. Ihey will not
dig up stumps or remove stones while
4 they can purchase fields that are