The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-10-08
DOES FARMING PAY?


sion of DR.. Golfers Paper-Mg.
r. L. Ragland's Opinion Of
the SStuation-ReasonS
Why agriculture IS
Not Profitable.
Major R. L. Ragland, of Halifax
county, Va, a farmer of forty years
experience, discusses in the following
paper the question, "Does Farming
Pay?" begun in the Weekly Sun sew
eral weeks ago:
This subject has been extensively
and ably discussed in recent numbers
of The Sun, and as it is evidently
growing in interest, the writer begs
attention to some points which, al
though heretofore touched upon, have
certainly not been extensively elabo-
rated. The statistics and comments
thereon by DR.. Peter Collier are by
far the most elaborate yet published,
and furnish much interesting data on
which to found a correct opinion.
And yet the conclusions drawn there
from are too indefinite as regards a
clear and unambiguous decision of
the question, Some of his points,
verified by statistics, are, l think, not
only irrelevant, but absolutely mis-
leading. Take for instance his sum-
mary, as follows:
~. There has of late years been a
relative increase in the number of
farms and of farmers.
20. There has been a steady de-
crease in the average size of farms in
this country.
SO. There has been a steady de-
crease in the relative amount of unim-
proved land in the farms.
"a. There has been a great increase
in the purchasing power of farm
products.
rs. There has been a great increase
in the producing power of manual
labor through the introduction of
farm implements and machinery.
"6. There has been an enormous
increase in the aggregate value of
farms, buildings, stock and imple-
ments Of husbandry.
"7. The Indebtedness of farmers is
apparently not increasing, and has
probably diminished very appreciably
the past few years.
s8. There has been a wonderful
advance in the intelligence of the
farming population, an increase in the
demands of rural life, and the means
found for the qualification of such de-
mands and desires as this changed
condition in the average farmers life
imposed and awakened"
On the other hand, it appears clear
ly established that Of late years there
has been a decided tendency to
81. A decline in crop production.
"2. A decrease in the value of the
crops produced"
We will first notice his points num-
bered l, 2 and 8 in support of the
affirmative side of the question, and
while admitting all the claims, we
submit that they prove nothing as
regards the solution of the question
at issue except an ~inferential bearing
In the negative.
THE GROWTH OF POPULATION.
1t is notorious that population is
growing so fast through immigration
and natural increase by reproduction
as to necessitate room for the in
crease, especially since the public do
main has so far filed up, as to offer
no advantages over the older settled
States. Hence, the division and cut
ting up of farms, and the utilization
of idle, unimproved lands. Besides,
in many instances, farmers have been
compelled, by pressing debts and to
raise means to support and provide
for their families, t dispose Of a per
ton of their farms. Then, too, farm
ers dying leave their lands to be di-
vided among their embarrassing
often three, FIVE or more farms of
one. Moreover, the changed system
of farming, especially in the South,
during the past twenty five years,
necessitates the division of the once
extensive plantations into smaller
farms, either to facilitate renting out
or cultivating to better advantage.
To any one, therefore, who thor.
ougnly understands the situation as il
rsany exists, points l, 2 and 3 in DR..
OoAaer's summary bear more than in.