The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-25
PLAIN TALKS WITH FARMERS.

fLAIN IALkN WITH FAkllEkN.
To CORRESPONDENTS: I am greatly obliged
for the suggestions of topics to be treated
and l hope to receive more. In due time
most subjects suggested will be taken up if
The CALL thinks it worth while to continue
to devote space to these Talks. Just now
am engaged upon the far more important
work of seeking to induce farmers to get
knowledge for themselves and at their own.
expense. What newspaper can do in this
way THE CALL will do If [ know anything
of value | will tell it. But my own knowl-
edge, like the knowledge of any one man, is
necessarily limited, and such accurate de-
tailed information as am trying to show
that farmers must have is expensive stuff.
One man has asked questions that would
cost The CALL not less than $1,000 to
so answer that the correspondent could
safely base business investments upon the
replies. | am moved to urge farmers to
greater knowledge. not because L know so
much, but because l know 80 little. l my
Sc If feel the need of it. l am unable to
plan my own farming because am ig-
norant of many essential facts which can
not afford the cost of obtaining. | want to
unite with others in the expense OF finding
some of these things out. The first step
toward knowledge is the consciousness OF
ignorance. | have taken that step. When
farmers generally have done the same
there is some chance of our going further.
So l will keep on IN this strain until / see
whether or not any practical result will
come of it. II there does not, there has
been time and money thrown away. But
l continue to invite correspondence, and
all who write-and sign their names-shau
have reply of some kind.
The newspapers which do me the honor
10 comment on these letters, for the most
part express their approval. Here and
there, OF course, some clown makes mani
fest his folly by flppant remark, and
there is a little honest dissent. The OBJ
vious fact that the farmer lives in far
greater material comfort than formerly is
assumed to be evidence of his satisfactory
progress. This is correct if the comfort is
habitually paid for from income from the
farm. 1t is not my observation, however,
that this is the case. think it is lily
being paid for from accumulations acquired
otherwise than by farming or by
| debt. This condition has developed
within the past few years. The
| standard of comfort is relative. There
may be great power of survival
with low standard of comfort. Witness
| the Chinaman. l do not think it is SO
much high standard of comfort which
| indicates power of survival as freedom
from habitual worry. 1t is my observa-
| ton that the farmers of California are in
state of habitual worry that no temporary
depression can account for. My knowledge
of farmers is not obtained at second hand,
| but from personal and confidential inter
course with all classes of farmers in all
parts of the State. In my early farming
| experience at the East young man OF
orally safe in buying farm at
| the current price if he could pay
down one-third and had team, tools
and little stock. He would pay off the
balance sooner or later, according as the
| Lord did or did not bless him with large
| family. He was pretty sure IN time to pay
! off his debt from the sale of farm produce
AS | do not think this could usually be
now done in the same way while raising
family, think the farmer has relatively
refrigerated. | am not a pessimist. The
pressure OF population upon subsistence is
sure ultimately to make agriculture the
| most desired and most honorable of occu-
| pations, and l do not believe it will be
| carried on by lords and serfs, because do
not believe that the majority of the race
| will consent to be serfs. | can only recon-
cile my belief in the ultimate out
| come with my observation OF present
! tendencies by assuming that the pressing
necessity for knowledge will in time in
| sure the acquisition of knowledge, and
that those who know will gradually crowd
out those who do not know, who will be-
| come extinct as farmers. But nothing IS
| gained by shutting our eyes to present
conditions and tendencies. Competition
compels the cultivation of specialties; this
invites the increased use of capital, which
| h,a lly QUO
large areas. The small wheat farmer is
gone because he cannot compete in cost of
| production. The small fruit farmer is
I threatened because he cannot stand the
risk of production. Risk is lessened by in
creased knowledge, which the small farmer
can only obtain by organization.
have already stated that what I mean
by "knowledge'' is definite, well-authenti-
Gated information concerning methods and
| cost of production and marketing and &C
quaintance with such principles of eco
| Monies as underlie the subjects with which
farmers deal by their votes. Perhaps a
| paragraph illustrating portion of my
meaning will be useful. There are doubt
| less farmers in California proposing to
engage in the culture of the new tannin
| plant canaigre. | believe it safe to assume
| that not one of them has the knowledge
without which no trained business man
would think of engaging in any such ven
| ture. Before such man would put his
| money into such an enterprise he would
Notwithstanding that he could produce the
root successfully-in what form the prod
uct must be put for marketing and the
| cost of doing the work; whether the size
of his plantation justified the cost of the
necessary appliances and, if not, where he
could get the root manipulated and at
| what cost; whether or not the product is
suitable for making the best feathers: its
cost as compared with other tanning
preparations; whether or not there would
| be home market in the face of our sup
! plies OF tanbark and, if not, where there is
an established market and at what price,
and the cost of delivering it there, includ-
ing probable duties; what competition is
! to be expected and what are his chances
against that competitions and the proba-
bility of an immediate large increase in the
supply and the effect on prices and profits
of such an increase. Upon his summing
| mn r his l-ra laAr Af hor 70 otS 4