Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-16

than 50 per cent of all the exports of the
whole people, be making less profits in
their vocation than those whom they feed
when the latter supply less than31 per
cent of the exports of the country? 4.
For the purpose of illustrative com
parison transfer the $1,000 agrculturslly
invested In each farm of 1877 acres to the
choicest Wall street Investment. Risk
that money in railroad first mortgage
bonds, in bank stocks, or any other allcg
edly safe security which may be found a
favorite among shylocks, brokers', pluto
Gratis, monopollsts, money power mani
pulators, and multi -millionaires, and if it
returns per cent it is Il remarkably pro-
fitable investment in the eyes Of capital
lists. Therefore $24O is the annual in
come.
Follow the transfer of the farm money
with that Of the farm family to urban
residence Now, with the same labor in
the city or village can they attain by hard
work every day in the year, adding their
wages to the $40 income, as much of in
dependence, wholesome living, and real
comfort as the same amount of money in
| the land and the same heads and hands
working ON the soil generously and
BEAUTIFULLY bestowed upon them, in the
sweet quiet of home, amidst flowers,
trees, fruits, and abundance on the
farm"
The value of farm lands, being governed
by the relation of the supply of those
lands to the demand for them, will there
fore steadily increase. The area or supply
remains stationary. or from careless
tillage decreases. But the added millions
of our population augment and intensity
demand. Therefore the prices of farms
must in the next twenty years, and pos
sibly in ten years, advance more markedly
than those of urban real estate. The
owners Of fertile fields however, must
| understand now that agriculture is swift
" becoming a scientific profession.
We believe the secretary touches the
key note for successful agriculture in this
country, in Maine, in these few calcula-
tions. 1t Is exceedingly gratifying to note
that a large proportion of our farmers are
more and more approaching the necessity
for more scientific knowledge This
fact is apparent in the increased demand
for speakers having scientific training
for our Institutes and the larger number
of subscribers to our agricultural papers,
as well as in the increased demand for our
reports and other publications of the
board.
The season Of 1895 has been "a some.
what peculiar one from an agricultural
standpoint. Although there was severe
and portracted drought in the earlier part
OF the season our crops appeared to suffer
but little, and rapidly pushed forward
to full and abundant harvest This was
true with all except the apple crop, which
with but few exceptions, was very light.
The year of 1895, will pass into history as
one in which Maine produced the largest
potato crop known which has proved in
some cases, a source of poverty in the
midst Of abundance. 1t will also, we be
lieve, mark new era in our agricultural
progress, for the reason that the lessons
which it has given the farmers will if
needed by them tend to intensity the de
sire to produce more Of the finer products
of the farm to put more skill into the
work. and to more diversity our work