Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-06-20
FARM and HOUSEHOLD.

What has recently happened in the
Oklahoma district, the wild rush to get
first entrance and secure possession OF
the best farming land in a newly
opened territory, is perhaps the best
evidence Of how fertility is now re-
garded. There are in Oklahoma none
OF the advantages of civilization. All
buildings, schoolhouses and cities will
have to be built up before they can be
enjoyed. All there is to arouse such
excitement is a virgin soil, probably
no better than hundreds OF millions OF
acres were in the older states before
being cropped, and that too in a
region OF two little rainfall in summer
to make a good farming country.
What will the new settlers do with
this latest bit of virgin soil when they
obtain possession of itP Probably they
will do as farmers In all new states
have always done and always Will
do. They will proceed to the
old work OF heavy cropping and
soil exhaustion. No attempt will
be made to farm with any regard to
other than present profit The land
has been pastured, but now it will be
plowed and devoted to grain growing
so long as grain can be grown on it.
After few years the country will be-
come an old settled region. Grain
crops will pay less than they used to
do, and after a few years OF unprofit-
able farming the work OF restoring lost
fertility will be resumed,
We are not finding fault with this
condition of things. 1t is the neces-
sary result OF circumstances, against
which the new settler finds it impossi-
BILE to contend. The great mass of set
tiers in new country have no capital
except their labor. When they take
up new land out of it must come their
own living, together with pay for build
ings, fruit trees, farm tools and stock.
These are got by selling crops, and this
means soil exhaustion. But the lesson
is as to the impolicy of putting ones
self under conditions where such re-
suits are inevitable. Farming in the
older states has at last got on a safer
and more conservative basis BY keep
ing improved stock, making as much
manure as possible, and sowing a
good deal OF clover, the average OF
soil fertility in most of the eastern and
middle states is increasing.
Without doubt some money will be
made, and quickly, by Oklahoma
boomers; but it will be mainly by those
fortunate or shrewd enough to locate
on or near the site of future cities, not
by the men who intend to work the
land. Most of the boomers understand
this fact. A farm claim is, however,
of value if nothing better can be had,
but, as rule, it is worth more to sell
than it is to keep. We speak not from
sectional prejudice, but from careful
consideration of facts, in saying that
the improvement OF land in eastern and
middle states is really more hopeful
experiment for profitable farming than
is its exhaustion either in Oklahoma
or in any of the western states. With
profitable system of cropping, COM
bined with good stock and liberal
manurl.sg, eastern lands may be made
to cona\ lntly increase in fertility, an6
il this s., true such course of farming
cannot TAIL to pay. Some OF our bes
farming lands have been made practi
cally richer than they ever were in ;
state of nature. There is no reason
why all may not be, with good manage
ment and close following of the lines
on which all successful farming mus
now be run. What will not these re
stored and improved farms be worth
located in eastern states, and possess
ing the advantages of near markets
and all the results of advanced civiliza
tion?-American Cultivator.
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