Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-04

ing of the term, is something almost "un-
known in the United States. We have a
light scratching OF the soil and the gather
ing Of all that II can be made to yield by
the most rapidly exhaustive methods. In
manufactures We have come TO consider
small economies 90 80 az snt thf ab ne na
zion of'as bysproduot of some thing formerly
consigned 70 the scrap heap, makes the DIFF
ference betweennai profit and bankruptcy.
In farming We are satisfied with a small
yield at the expense of the most rapid soil
deterioration.
port trade $600,GO0.000 per annun.
the country rings, with self congratulation
and we demand the plaudits OF the world.
IL process for extracting metallic wealth
from the rocks were discovered tomorrow.
SUCH as e q assI Wy So ne country an added
year, the nation would talk of nothing else.
Yet these things would he but trife when
compared with. the possibilities Of agrlcul-
tural development in the United States The
official estimated value Of ali farm products
Of the country last year was Sc, 900
Discount this for high prices and generally
and over 5000 coo, 900 remains, 1t is also
farm area of, the United States, 4 little
Ttiue 1 the other haf S Snder without smy
change whatever In method. the output
would be practically doubled. Change
methods only little. not to high-class In
tensive farming but TO an agriculture as
far advanced as that of those other cour-
tries which have made the most progress
and without any addition whatever r. to the
existing cultivated farm area, the product
per acre would be doubled. We should be
able. by directing surplus population to the
land, and by the adoption Of system OF
culture In full operation elsewhere greatly
70 Increase this minimum present Yield OF
That is. we may add $40, 900 900 600 or $4,000, :
OlO,cOO every year to the national wealth IL
we so choose. And this is but beginning.
... Essentials of system.
There are three essentials to any agri-
culture worthy OF the name. The first is
Is due to the antiquated system, all too
prevalent, OF raising the same crop in
been worn out or so reduced that the owner
Is In danger OF poverty, Even without
ferfilizing, the yield OF a given area may
diversion preserved from exhaustion merely
by the restorative variety of change which
seems to be law Of all living things. The
second method of Increasing Yield and pre-
serving soil productivity-the more liberal
use of fertilizing material, such as is
possible where farms are Of small size and
the extraordinary results that may be OBJ
tanned. The third factor in Improvement.
better tillage. is most interesting of al.
because II opens UP unmeasured possibil-
ties. We no more know what is the maxi
mum food-bearing capacity Of the earth
we do the rate at which people may be
able TO travel century from now. But
what has been done Is sufficiently startling.
A population of 100000 people in Japan
is supported on 1900 cultivated square
miles, aided by the food products obtained
from the sea; This is because cultivation
no longer even highly developed farming,
but market gardening. AS we approach
purposes. the shelter Of plants from frost
and unfavorable elements and the treat
ment OF grains and vegetables by separate
planting and Individual nurture. all limi-
bounty
cede afar. From two and seyen-tenths
acres in the suburbs OF Paris there have
been grown in a single season 10000 pounds
Of vegetables. A market gardener OF Paris
declares that all food 2 animal and vegeta-
BILE required for the $500; 600 people OF two
methods already in use, on the 3, $50 square
miles OF gardens surrounding the city.
Needs of the People.
II can be shown that an average OF two
persons or mere may be sTRRPobed on e SoT
of Intensive farming. But dismissing this
as unnecessary. II has been shown that a
an Oriental race accustomed to a standafd
Of, living and OF labor inapplicable to US.
not living ia virtual serfdom, like that OF
Russia. but an Industrious, fairly intelli-
gent and exceedingly comfortable agri-
cultural community, raised from the soil
food enough for the needs OF $50 persons 20
that ratio as point OF departure; though
the actual ratio OF area 70 population gives
a ngure CONSIDERABLY nighef even thah thls;
the az A9S, a6 acres of-improved farm land
in the United States on the date OF the
last official report, an area materially en-
larged by the present time, would support
in comfort sl7.35O. 40 people enabling them
at the same time TO raise considerable food
for export and 10 engage IN necessary
empioyments. Applying the
same ratio 10 the entire acreage OF farm
lands within the Upited States. both iHl-
proved and unimproved, which was At the
safie date $50 5ei.57f the population indt7
Gated as able TO 1--we with comfori and
prosperity on the actually existing agricui-