The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-03-08

10000 farms. or per cent OF the total
number, OF less than ten acres; $50, 600,
or 25 per cent. range from nifty TO one
hundred acres 1.092. COO or % Per o cent.
range from 100 to 500 acres: 42OON. or
about 2 per cent, contain from 500 TO l.
600 acres.
In the year 1900 the thousand-acre farm
showed a gross value OF products per
acre Of only $1.1S: the farm OF lOO 70 lin
acres made an average gross return oI
Sh.32 per acre. AS the farms decrease IN
size there Is proportlonate increase "
acreage crop value. The tiny plot Of
three acres or less showed an average
value OF products per acre OF s3lx-W.
The logic Of 1t Is clear enough. me
small plot is properly Cthat is 20 say, IN
tensiyely) cultivated. while the larger
unlntelligent use. In the one case there
Is selection of the most valuable crops
and thorough and continues use ot me
land throughout the farm season; ~ tne
other. the very magnitude of the farm
prompts the growth OF those crops which
are easiest of cultivation-mostly. wheat
and corn.
AS there IN a vain pride in the mere big
ness OF the farms, SO there Is a boastfui
way 81 talking OF the volume of particu-
lar products In certain regions or states,
Nebraska. for instance proclaims her
self the banner corn state; vying with
Iowa in piling up veritable mountains oI
this grain. Kansas, Minnesota ana tne
Dakotans carry on spirited rivalry IN
rue IIOQuctOn OF enormous Wutdt eiVpss
Each OF these communities swells with
Importance when the statistical reports
show how large are the annual export
shipments OF the standard crops. There
Is false glamor over figures which run
into the hundreds OF millions.
II would be a thankless undertaking to
try to convince the average corn or wheat
raiser that he has too much of good
thine-that he is strenuously keeFing
hinS IL roor through his idolatrous rev.
ere We ~ mere volume There is never
year when every Western state Is not
compelled to export millions of dollars
worth OF its few main crops. as surplus
at whatever they Will bring, only to spend
these dollars for less plentiful necessities
crown elsewhere by wiser nnspandnen
who have lcsrned to regard the law or
supply and demand.
Instead OF being a blessing, as is fondiy
imagined, the mountainous surplus OF a
single product II rather q curse. lhs ~
farmer who must sell of his surplus OF
one thing, IN order to buy something else
Of which he IS short, pays the cost OF ex-
change In both transactions.
Nebraska will serve as an illustration
of n general Western condition Nebraska
farms yield annually about 4O.0OOW0
bushels OF wheat and 200 100000 to 225.-
MU,WO bushels q corn. Only. a small frac-
fion Of this yield Is consumed within the
state. the greater part goes abroad On
tho other hand. Nebraska buys from her
neighbors most Ct the orchard fruit she
consumes. ns well as trainlnads 9f pOtn-
toes ard an enormous auantity OF mis-
ccllaneous garden and other stuffs; all Of
which her own soil Is as capable OF pro-
ducing as any And this I'm the face of
the thoroughly proved fact that ten acres
ot pntato-patch or orchard, or modern
garden Will nut To shame. in point OF net
profits. a half section OF wheat.
To the same point: The average value
Of All NebrasSa farm crops. per acre. in
the year 1900 was Sd.07. while the average
value per acre of garden products, even
with the Indifferent methods practiced on
the prairie farms. was So 80. Where in
tensivc culture obtains. the increase in
crop values may be said 10 be almost In
geomctric ratio 10 the increase OF intelli-
gence employed il full use is made OF
the land. with scientific culture ten acres
Of prairie land soil will maintain a family
Of five In plenty.
Nebraska. with a populati ton OF approxi-
matcly iOoOOO0. has total area OF 40
W0,sn acres. or this total. not more than
~ 100000 acres Is improved" in the COM
monty accepted meaning Of the word
Probably 25CW 600 acres are cultivated
to farm. gardel. and orchard crope or
twenty-five acres er CAPITA The re-
malnder iE verviceable an rwazine land.
As population increa ses. and as agricul-
tural science progresses, the soil or the
state will beyond a doubt be found ca
pablo OF supporting i5.000.00O people. Yet
IL you please. the understanding has
gained currency that the lands are all
occupied" and used.
Don't worry: There Is land enough.
and TO spare. as there always has been
and always will be.-Wiliiam r. Iighton
In Boston Transcript