The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-26

Mr.. Terry of Ohio is one of the best
known farmers in the country. He is
specialist, potatoes being his money crop.
In a lecture before the students of the
agricultural college in his state he under
took to give a remedy for the hard times
which he believed. and which all know,
do exist. Combinations to affect the
prices of farm products he rejected as both
wrong and impracticable. The remedy,
as Mr.. Terry sees il, lies in one OF two
things or both. These are that We in.
crease the amount We receive and de-
crease the amount We expend. The for
mer is attained by more careful farming
and better crops.
This proposed remedy is always met
by the objection that our products are
now 30 great that a surplus exists to de-
press prices.
The objection has force, because if all
took Mr.. Terry's advice the wheat. corn,
potato, barley and oat crops would go
begging for a market. But for the in
dividual farmer the advice is good, strange
as il may seem, that advice bad for the
masses can be good for the individual.
This is due to the fact that few will make
practical use of this fact The farmer
who can double his WELD of corn with
small additional expense is profited there
by. although he would not be if all farm
ers did likewise. The advice is good be-
cause few will follow it.
His second remedy is that we decrease
the amount we expend by reducing the
cost of production. This may be done in
two ways: First, by adopting better
methods, and second by growing more
bushels per acre, thus decreasing cost per
bushel. He illustrated the change from
poor to better methods by an account OF
his own practice in his own specialty-po-
tato growing. He had abandoned the one
horse shovel pillow for marking out the
ground and uses the planter instead. BY
careful culture no hoe work is required,
aud the digging is done by machinery. In
this way he saws be has reduced the cost
of growing an acre OF potatoes % per cent.
But it is by increased yields that his
best profit is obtained. While the average
yield per acre in this country is 100 bush
els he gets 200 bushels If the average
price be 40 cents per bushel instead of
getting $40 an acre he gets $50. In this
way his net profit is very great. 1t is
quite evident that if all would follow Nh.
Terry's advice and example the yield in
this country would be doubled and prices
DalVeQ, Out ne KNOWS ne Is 6ale IN RECON-
mending such a course, as few will adopt 1t.
Ii is further true that very many could
not double their yields OF any crop as
easily as it is done on some farms. The
subsoil plays a most important part in all
such undertakings. If it be naturally
very fertile. so that clover roots feed in it,
and bring mineral msnures to the surface,
the task is com paratively easy. Much de-
ponds upon the land. Still. is it not true
that more depends upon the man? II we
are determined to increase our yields. the
way can be found easily.
AS farmers We have close competition.
Thousands are neither reading nor study
ing, ard their chances of success are not
fltatering. With all, times are hard enough,
but Mr.. Terrys advice is safe TO those of
us who are willing to do our best. AS in
all kinds of business. we, as individuals
must etudy TO reduce cost OF production
per bushel, and this is largely accom-
pllshed by increasing yields per acre
Those who do this Will succeed, and if
they do not do so they will. like other
men, fall behind in the race. We don't
think Mr.. Terry has mentioned al the
remedies but so far as he goes the advice
can safely be taken by every SENTINEL
reader.