The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-05-25
FARMER AND PLANTER
ARE FARMERS ALL HoNEsra
Is the Farmer Who Robs Rgs SOIL,
Leaving IL 10 His Children Inn
DOverfshed, Hsneatf

The term honest farmer" has been
applied to agriculturists for so many
years that some OF us have really come
TO think Of ourselves as almost models
for people engaged in other trades and
professions 10 follow. We try to make
ourselves believe that We would not
steal If We had all the opportunity in
the world; wLile the fact is. that as
class we are. In a way, the biggest
set OF thieves allowed to run al large
to-day.
A bank robber is looked upon as an
enemy TO society-or used TO be at any
rate before such business became the
style. And. even now, there is prob
ably not one banker in hundred who
appropriates for his own use the funds
OF the institution over which he has
control.
Every farmer is a banker In
seLse. His farm is his bank: the fer
tllity Of his soil. his deposits. The use
he makes Of his deposits determines
whether he is. or is not, an honest
banker.
TO get at this matter in the true
light, We must determine what the
farmers true interest is In the farm
he controls. Is he the owner Of this
soil or rather is he not simply stew
ard having charge of certain portion
OF the Creators vast domain, holding it
In trust for the use of his children and
children's children?
This looks to the writer 10 be the
true situation. Man created nothing.
never can create anything; was given
power to change the form but not TO
create. Now, If man created nothing.
what right has he to rob his soil OF
the plant food that has been deposited
therein? And is be not a robber to
the extent that he allows himself to
deplete the store of plant food entrusted
TO his charge and appropriates the pro-
ceeds OF such depletion to his own pSi-
yate use?
This is exactly what is happening
in nine cases out Of ten. all over our
great land. on farms whose owners are
selling raw products in one form or
another. A great many farmers fail
to gasp the fact that to the extent that
they reduce the fertility of their soils
just to that extent have they reduced
their capital.
Let's look at the matter further, and
see II this be not the truth. A non
productive acre Of land is worth moth
ing to the agriculturist. An acre that
will produce 10 bushels Of corn, we
will say is worth So; while an acre that
will with the same labor) produce 80
bushels. is worth at $50. If we have a
100-acre field. say that will produce
but 10 bushels per acre. the price would
be worth only $500: while II. by good
management, we bring that field to
produce so bushels per acre 1t will be
worth (actually worthy $500.
And the rule will work in the oppo-
site direction as we'll Can we not see.
on every hand. evidence Of thls-farms
that. 30 years ago. were producing we'll,
depleted by mismanagement?
This subject Of soil value is Of vital
Importance TO land owners Of the south |
at present, as everything indicates that
there will be. In the near future. a
great Influx Of land buyers. And those
who have their soils In good condition /
will reap the benefit Of the higher value
that will be placed upon these improved |
farms; and II they be not for sale. we
will have the satisfaction Of knowing |
that We are leaving to our children as
good a value as we were given to be-
gin with at least. So let us get through |
being soil robbers and become soil pro-
tectors.-A. L. French, in Progressive
Farmer.