New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-11
THE AGRICULTURAL PROBLEM.
WISE METHODS NEEDED TO RESTORE THE
FERTILITY OF LANDS.

TO the Editor Of The TIL puhe ,
Sir: The remarks Of DR.. Collier in your issue OIL
April open question OF great Importance " '''
American people. Already the land OF the oiuer states
has been exhausted in the haste to realize uht, WIN
~ axcentions Il is not practicable to raise profitable
crops and the question comes up, "Where Is lls I'M
poyerishment to stop?" In America the existence OF
new fertile land in the West has enabled our people 10
teen nm an abundant supply of grain and PROVISIONS
but already this Western tide has met inc hOcS
Mountains and the Pacific and Is Deglhh'ug " I"l
hack upon itself. Not only have we eNpOc~u our
food products and our materials, but the Ier'HS
of the soil has gone with them, and cHihse hlus'
now be made. The development OF agriculture III
America has been too rapid Too many people went
TO the farms and produce has been TOO cheap IL may
he good thing for the railroads to have great guam
uv nj farm products 10 be shipped to seaportS ior
ovnort and TO have all the manufactures Imported DuC
HE inevitable result of imp0yerishinG the SOIL anu
the country follows. The expense OF re1ernAAins '
soil is sure evidence that the products OF the iar
are TO be higher in value While tle eAitusVio" Vi
cheap lands is going 10 turn more attention 10 sre"e
diversity of products. MoTc cattIe anu ''ceP' iO9
horses poultry butter and cheese, etc, are no" 10
,lo tho nlace of so much wheat and hlxseed and
cotton The $500 900 900 of manufactures ANNUALLY
imnored will more and more be made at home t0 inc
reason Of better regulated tariff laws and because VIC
shall have less produce to ship away to pay TOT tne
Tho result Is to be an increased manufacturing popa
ton and an increased demand for raw material anu
nrovisions AT home. The tide Of cheap lands ana
mrroyed machinery left New England and the Eastern
states 81 high and dry" upon the haIupah anu sdhu
Hills Int il Is now to be noted that signs OF etuile
nrnsDrrlty TO New England are apparent: FrVduA
Tho EAST can compete with the West IN butter anu
cheese fat cattle mutton, poultry, eggs, etc. anu ts
isl win steadily increase unl it Will pay 10 reIeru!Ae
and restore the tllabe lands of tie Eastern STATES
The West is filling up with industries OF varied eIiar
acter while the south has little produce bcyohu ies
own needs Iiec manufactures are Increasing III
ratio beyOnd that of her agriculture, and the QUE
comes M with double force to now the lmpoVerI9I
lands of the country TO be recovered. supply anu
demand will force an increase IN each Instance VI
short supply but intelligent comprehension Va Si.e
condition and effort to prepare for the luuie us
crepancies will be better. ,,4 + ,..osort
There are many more people in agriculture al pesens
than are needed. A great many articles are hV1 PIu
duccd which might be to profit. imported law
material and manufactures much too heaVy part
Of 0nr commerce. We should grow our own sugar.
iute AN fibre, hemp, ra!Sns mohalr ana many o'ier
lesser articles like OPIUM chicOry, plants Tor essences
ext,qcts perfumes etc. The tendency or AMERICAN
develo pmcnt I'm this direction TO-DAY, but the WoEk
NAV he accelerated by earnest discussion III tilo
subject suggested by Dr. Collier in ms reply U ule
pmarLs of The st. Louis Globe Democrat" .,,<,,
New York, April g. 1891. D. D. boiNr'