The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-03-12

Has Farming Made The Same Pro-
gress as Other Business Enterprises? Pr
Inls was the subject discussed at the last meet
ing OF the Deer Creek Farmers Club. We
append the views of some of those present:
mr. Jonn q. Rouse said "RecogniZing as do
tne progressive spirit of the Deer Creek Farm
ers Ciuo 1t seems to me that this is good sub
yeGs Ior you to discuss. Progress don't mean
Oniy riches Of wealth, for the same avenues are
not open to the farmer as to others, but think
tnat the farmer should be credited with open
ing up the avenues to success for himself. 1t
progress of the farmers. They have made such
enterprises possible They produce and bring
0 Quincy .ne wealth of the country. They are not
progressive in one way. They have as yet
I Ia no trust. But they have made progress.
we an remember when the milestone made
primitiv Un Ine cradle ana the scytae. In4se
Jeremy age has set in and the scythe and fail
nave oeen superseded by the moving machine
anu a Ine separator-just as the quill and pen and
tne sand box of the merchant have given away
" .ne stenographer and the typewriter. Farm
s e,o, ~ rule; are not as methodcal as they
snouio De. They should keep accounts-a CASH
D1ok az least-so as to know where they stand.
1ney would then know how to avoid mistakes.
hnsnes sningtheZ are too careless with their
WORK their personal supervision. That is the
prime mover to success, and when it is neg
iecte9, an important measure of success Is neg
iected. congratulate the Deer Creek Club on
its progressiveness. The banks of Hartford
county are due to the club. The churches and
scnooi houses which dot the county are due to
sne farmers, and taking it all in all, think they
naxe made equal progress with other enter
Mr.. ]. Edwin webster said: 1.-THE invention
ana use or new implements are an exhibition of
progress. 1t may appear that they are not pro-
as much money as they formerly ID did, but live
more extravagantly. Cash accounts should be
kepI oy those who can do SO. l never had the
nerve TO DO it. The farmer has certainly made
Mr.. H. B. Bruins said 1.-THE farmers of Har-
lord county have certainly made great progress
during the twenty years that have been farm
Ing Their crops per acre are many times larger
tnan they were. Once they were satisfied with
zen barrels of corn per acre. but that has chang
ing can now be done in one-half the time that it
required in the old days. The chief drawback
and another serious problem which confronts us
is that of labor. No farmer can afford to pay
from 81 to $1.50 day and get 1t of of the farm.
believe that the farmers OF Hartford county
never had better chance than at present."
Col. Otho 8. Lee said II do not think they
have progressed in proportion. The invention
of machinery has brought down the expense of
farming to minimum, but the farms are no
better and the farmers do not live any better
oaey a1G IN Inc oid Gdys snere were no
asking at any time. Since the invention of ma
chinery about three hands can do the work
which formerly took eight or ten. The young
upon them and while farming is the most in
dependent of all lives, the young men prefer
going to the city to work as motormen and con-
ductOrs on street cars
Mr.. James Lee said: 81 can see that great pro-
gress has been made in farming. # we have
not progressed 1t is our own fault. We now
have the benefit of agricultural colleges, schools
and experiment stations. The question is
Have we done our part2 Do we use our advan-
Mr.. Frank H. Jacobs said: 1.-THE farmer has
certainly progressed very much The difference
in the living is due to difference in economy.
If the farmer of the present day lived as eco
nomically as his grandfather did he would make
and save money. 1t is business that requires
good farm for from $1,000 to $1,000. What
would that amount to in any other business
Farming has progressed"
Mr.. w. Beatty Harlan said I'VE should look
at farming as business and note the improve
ments. Compare these days with those of the
scythe, cradle and fail. Farming has progressed
in many ways. In stock-our hogs are no lon
ger the razor-backs of thirty years ago, our
cows yield twice as much butter as they did
then and our horses are greatly improved. We
have delved into and learned the secret of ma
ture. The modern use of ensilage is great ad-
vance in economy. We have acquainted our
selves with bacteria. We have developed the
creamery. The gross returns of farming today
are about the same, or greater than they were.
The net results depend upon the individual.
We must remember that living has been raised
to higher grade and what were once consid-
cred extravagances are now necessities"
co uugG anu not iarmer and new oocD u
patton is not progressive one. The relative
cost of living is apropos to the question. The
cost OF farming mas r EARNING mas
Mr.. William B. Hopkins said: mo industry in
Hartford county has made more progress than
farming. We are using improved methods.
Stock has been improved in wonderful man
ner. Our crops have increased in quality and
trebled in quantity: Wornout lands have been
brought to a high state of fertility and we have
learned to feed scientifically and probably"
Mr.. Thomas H. Robinson said 1.-The condition
of our farms speaks forcibly , for them In our gu
provements in our horses and cattle and in the
condition and appearance OF our farm houses
and other puiidngs tne progress mas oee a1 won in
creased, but our homes are far more attractive,
desirable and pleasant. Our population has
towns teen IN the eonnty we have decreased in the
number of our inhabitants from 500 to ZOO
within twenty years, but one man can do with
reaper the work which required six men then.
farming has kept pace with it. By skilled labor
and improved machinery there is less drudgery
than ever before. One thing speaks potentially !:
There are less failures among farmers than
among any other business classes"
Mr. William II. Harlan said 1T seems to me
that there are separate views 70 De taRea'
Second-Farming has progressed scientifically.
Neighborhoods have progressed, but farming is
not as profitable as 1t was forty years ago; that
is under the present conditions. One reason is
that more and greater attractions are necessary
to keep young men and women on the farm"
Mr.. j. Lawrence mcCOrmlcK SAID: 'Tnoro mas
been a great advancement in farming. Our So
cial life has progressed and our farms are much
more attractive than they were. For the
amount of capital invested there is no more re-
munerative employment. We do not make
enough use of our advantages. think that
the experiment stations have been of great
benefit to us, especially in some lines"
Mr. John Moores agreed with the majority of
the club that farming has made equal progress
with other enterprises and in some instances
greater He said: 1.-The tanneries. fulling mills
and iron furnaces which at one time were nu-
merous in this county have all disappeared.
Larger enterprises have crushed out the smaller
ones The farms, however, remain"