The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-25
SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 1905
GOOD ADVICE TO FARMERS

The people of Marshall county, of
this state, will probably not relish the
criticism passed upon their methods in
the results of a special study made by
the department of agriculture and
about to be published. They have this
ground for sensitiveness to COM
plaint-that they are not especially to
blame. The methods found fault with
are not In any sense peculiar to Mar
shall county, but they are indicative
of farming methods generally through
out by far too great a portion of Min
nesota; and they account for that rela-
lively slow rate of increase in Mime
sofas development of agricultural
wealth, as compared with states in
finitely inferior in natural opportuni-
ties, which has recently been estab-
lished by careful investigation and
statistics not open to dispute.
The department finds that too much
confidence is placed IN a favorable
season and too little in intelligent cul-
tivation methods" 1t says that the
famous richness of the soil in this IA
Vored region has been relied upon to
produce crop whether cultivation is
thorough and intelligent or haphazard
and careless. The result is the draw
ing from the soil annually Of only
about one-half the wealth product
that it might yield. The repart saws
that farmers who have learned to plow
deeply are raising twice as much
wheat on the same area as they once
did, but that only a small proportion
OF the soil is properly fitted for plant
ing. The departments representative
finds that expensive machinery is left
exposed to the weather through the
whole winter, that the soil has been
overcropped, that rotation of crops is
partially ignored and partially carried
on in such an unscientific way that no
benefit is attained from it, and that
therefore, there is far lower degree
of prosperity than should obtain in
view of natural conditions.
We think that these structures annlv
unfortunately, to some extent to gen.
eral agricultural operations over a.
great portion of Minnesota. 1t is true
that our agricultural product is not adj
Vancing at an even rate with that of
other states less magnificently dow
cred 1t is true that neighhoring COM
munities are making greater advances
as measured by the increase in the
census reports and as shown by com
parative statistics of railroad business
at the various local stations. All this
has been proved with great wealth Of
detail in recent volume issued bv
Mr.. Paul Ladzke, which has attracted
general attention and comment.
Naturally Minnesota is one of tho
richest states in the union. If her
people do not secure for themselves
the largest possible share of this
wealth. they must have themselves TO
blame. 1t can come primarily only
from the soil. We have rich iron
mines. but they are limited in extent
and their product affects but a small
number of people. Our forests are
practically gone. From the soil and
from it alone can We procure wealth.
and it is there in abundance. 1t is
true, however, that agriculture is not
adVahcing either in the quantity or the
quality of results in proportion to our
hopes or our opportunities. All the
evils which this department report re-
AA'' :" q" AVisf and they are to be