Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1894-04-12
AGRICULTURAL WORLD
The Rapid Advance in Scien.
tific Husbandry.
AN AGGRESSIVE IMPROVEMENT.

New Methods That Have Been Adopted
by Progressive Farmers-A Higher
and Better System OF Agriculture is
Generally Displayed.
J. F. Elsom in Orange Judd Farmer.l
The agricultural processes as ordina-
rily observed in this country-in fact,
have been followed since we became
known as an agricultural peOple-have
had very exhausting effect on the soil,
and could with the utmost propriety be
denominated the old system OF agricult-
ure in contradistinction to the new sys-
tenn to be seen in many places, especially
where poverty and illiteracy. the former
handmaidens, have been superseded by
intelligence and wealth, the present as
sociates OF no mean proportion of our
food producers.
1t is indeed gratifying to read the re-
ports from farmers in SO many parts of
the country, in some instances in sections
which have'suffered from the old system
of impoverishment of the land, showing
that farm operations have been brought
into increased value and profit by this
aggressive and progressive improvement.
reduced farms having been reclaimed
and enhanced in value while supporting
the family and adding to the wealth OF
the farmer, in some instances the prod
ucts having been raised even above the
amount produced in the days when all
natures elements were in the soil undis-
turbed and uncalled for.
AS positive as | am that this condition
of things is becoming more and more
apparent, am equally positive that ag-
ricultural departments of our papers
stand second to agricultural societies
in fact as well as name-in furtherino
this improvement. They have set forth
the principles and practical details of
the new system of agriculture in all its
varied conditions, departments and sur
roundings. They have demonstrated the
advantages resulting from the judicious
application of new principles as well as
manures, from good tillage, from proper
rotation of crops, from the assistance to
be derived from root culture, from the
substitution for naked fallows OF clover
and other fallow crops.
All these means are to be considered
as new methods, and have become gen.
orally adopted in connection with ample
drainage, together with the mechanical
advantages to be derived from subsoil
plowing and the chemical results of sys-
tens OF artificial irrigation. Notwith-
standing all that has been achieved al
ready, | believe that the improvement
has but fairly started. Many of the
processes which may and will be resorted
to in carrying out and practically dem
onstrating the new system OF agriculture
are yet to great degree mysteries to
large proportion OF the farmers of the
United States-farming in other coun-
tries | am not interested in, only in a
general way and in so far as their failures
may serve as guides for our own people
although familiarly known and long en-
ployed by their more enterprising neigh
bors, often ostracized by them merely
because they farm by rule and not in ac-
cordance with the phases of the moon or
signs Of the zodiac, who with less nat
ural advantages perhaps are better re-
warded for their labors. Such has been
the agricultural improvement noticeable
in many sections that the surrounding
country shows the effects by better roads,
better buildings, better fences, better
stock, aye, and better people.
The great States bordering on the five
Great Lakes have increased their pro-
ductive capacity as shown by statistics
20 per cent during the last decade, 2 per
cent per annum by virtue of reading and
protiting by what others have done or
failed to do. The system inculcated by
the new principles has, wherever fol-
lowed up, increased the productive ca
pacity OF the farms everywhere, some-
times more than double. This means an
enhanced value OF at least 100 per cent.
1t has in short made every acre of land
upon which it has been practiced ten
years, lying contiguous to markets OF
transportation facilities, worth much
more for agricultural purposes.
The zeal which apparently pervades
this entire country for higher and bet
ter system of agriculture is displayed in
all geological and other departmental
reports published by the government, in
the agricultural surveys OF several States,
together with the liberal concessions
made by some of the agricultural socie-
ties for the encouragement OF everything
tending to improve and advance agri-
cultural interests. All have borne the
desired fruit.