The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-04

recently dskeu Wuetubf TIE leuueuCk Vi
the times is toward small farms rather
than large ones and his answer was mo,
] think everything points 10 expansive
farming" The senator is described as a
man of broad ideas and student of all
questions relating 10 the agricultural in
terests of the country. As such his opin-
ions are worthy our most careful consider
alton. The subject is one of deep interest
to every farmer.
What does expansive farming mean?
All the government land OF any value is
now taken by settlers, and the expansion
can only come by absorption OF the hold
ings of small farmers. 1t means a reduc-
ton in the number of independent farm
ers, and the control of our lend by syndi-
Gates or large private owners. We often
meet with such views of late, and the rea-
son given for them is that combination for
the sake OF cheapening production is the
tendency of the age, and that farming can
be no exception. The claim is that the
small farmer cannot successfully compete
with the "bOnanza" farmer.
Proof is offered in the wheat production
OF the northwest at price far below the
cost on small eastern farms. The small
cost of this wheat, however, is not due in
any great degree to the magnitude of the
area. The soil has made it possible to
grow wheat continuously, and the machin-
erv used in grain growing has had full use
each year, and the cost of bushel OF
wheat on cheap land has been small, but
a change in the near future confronts
these farmers. The fertility can be re-
stored only by wise rotation of crops in
Guiding green manuring or commercial
fertilization, and then this cheap prOduc-
ton Of wheat will he a thing of the past.
Wheat is especially suited to "'expRn-
sive" farming, and few difficulties arise,
but after the first fertility of the soil is
gone, and the farmer is reduced to n ra-
tiOnal basis, based upon mixed farming
and restoration of fertility, every practical
farmer knows that each variety of soil
needs special treatment, and wholesale
methods 60 not bring good results. The
profits on many farms come from a study
OF the adaptation of the soil of each field
and special cropping to suit it. If thou
sands OF acres OF such land were thrown
together and handled alike as IN "expan-
sive" farming, there would be no profit.
We cannot forecast the future with GER
tainty. but many of Us DO not believe that
such views as those held by the senator
and others are in accord with the "logic Of
the situation" The tendency . rather
toward smaller farms and more intensive
farming. 1t is true that the census shows
an increase In the number of very large
farms during the past ten years. This is
due to the extent in area of cheap land
brought under cultivation. These large
farms do not lie IN the East in any consid-
cradle number. The laws OF inheritance
tend to division and subdivision.
Decrease IN acreage leads TO better till
age and large Yields, and indirectly to
cheapened production. The extensive
grain production in the northwest argues
nothing for the future. In the interest of
the people as a whole we hope and trust
that expansive farming Will be failure.
Homes ara the safeguard of our govern
ment The land should be owned by
those who till 1t, and the number of hold
ings should increase rather than diminish.
A few acres well titled make home, and
the future will dot our land with many
lens Of millions of them.
Winter Grain.
The April report of agriculture. giving
condition of winter grain crops, is always
awaited with much interest The average
condition this spring of the wheat crop in
the United States is placed at Sl.2 per
rent. Last year when we produced Gill;
100000 bushels, the April condition was
estimated at 800 per cent. In 1890, when
the crop was only 1000 900 bushels, the
April condition was 81 per cent. being
the came as this spring. In 1899, with an
April condition of "a per cent, we raised
100000 bushels. In 1883, with condi-
Son estimated at So, we produced 49,
100000 bushels.
1t viii be noted that the production of
the last four years was in striking proper
ton TO the percentage of good condition
Indicated by the spring report. Last
years yield was in excess of the amount
4he reported condition indicated, and this
was due In part to the enormous yield CT
the spring wheat region. q factor that does
not enter in the estimate made in the re-
port, as the seeding is not vet done. The
yield Of spring wheat and the weather
conditions affecting the winter grain are
unknown quantities as yet, as the April
report is in no wise decisive Of harvest
yields. Still, the history of the last few
years leads one TO anticipate a much
smaller crop than Was harvested last sum-
mer, and unless the acreage Of spring
wheat is greatly enlarged, conservative
estimates would place next haryests
yields under 100000 bushels, reduc-
ton of III. 100000 bushels from 1891.
Much now depends upon the weather in
1he great northwest.
FaIryisw Farm Papers-No by David.
am TO write some letters for THE SEN
IISEI., giving the method of culture of
crops found best for nv farm. The older
4 grow, and the more study my farm and
its possibilities, the surer 1 am that there
Is much yet to learn before nv income is
as great as it should be. In these letters
there will be a record of many mistakes,
but / hope to make it plain that we can
often profit by mistakes fully as much as
by little successes. No one has mastered
the science or the art OF agriculture and
set down infallible rules for our guidance,
and so we must coutinne to experiment
and to study. holding fast to that which
We prove by trial.
Ny farm was naturally fertile, but
when 1t came under my control il was
badly run down. The rule had been to
sell the stuff off the farm, and few acres
had ever had any barnyard manure or
commercial fertilizer. Much of the land
is quite flat and was lacking in drainage
As had no capital to begin extensive
drainage. the outlook was not very incour-