The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-10-04

Keep the boys on the Fsrm l. His
Advice.

Keep the boys On the farm T. His
Advice.
Agriculture, In the most intelligent
meaning OF the term. Is something
almost unknown In the United States.
We have light scratching of the
soil and the gathering OF all Il can be
made TO Yield by the most rapidly cx-
haustive methods. In manufactures
we have come 20 consider small econ
Omies so carefully that the difference
OF a fraction OF cent. the utilization
of by-product Of something formerly
consigned TO the scrap heap. makes
the difference between profit and
A bankruptcy. In farming we are sat
isfied with small Weld at the OK
pense OF the most rapid soil deterior-
alton.
When We have added to the nation
al export trade $500 600 900 year. the
country rings with INSTRUMENTATION,
and We ash the plaudits of the world.
III process for extracting metallic
wealth from bricks were discovered
Tomorrow. such as 10 assure the
country an added volume of 81 zoo, 900,
GOO In wealth every year. the nation
would talk OF nothing else Yet these
things would ue but trifles compared
with the possibilities OF agricultural
development in the United States.
The official estimated value OF all the
farm products of the country last year
was $6.4i5, 100000. Discount this for
high prices and generally favorable
conditions by 20 per cent. and over
50. 600 600 200 remains. II Is also off
cially recorded that the appropriated
farm area of the United States lit
tie less than one-half is under cultiva-
ton. Utilize the other half, and with
out any change whatever in method.
the output would be practically doubl-
ed. Change the methods only little.
not high class intensive farming but
TO 49, agriculture as far advanced as
that OF those other countries which
have made the most progress, and
without any addition whatever to the
existing cultivated farm area, the pro-
duct an acre would be doubled. We
should be able, by directing surplus
population 20 the land and by the
adoption OF system OF culture In full
operation elsewhere, greatly increase
this minimum present yield of $1,000
100000 per annum Of farm products.
That Is We may add $4,000, 900 900 or
$4,000 100000 every year TO the ma
Nt0lln We III GDOOSt4 AnU
this is only a beginning.
There are three essentials to any
agriculture worthy OF the name. The
first Is rotation of crops. Our low
yield is due to the antiquated system.
all too prevalent, OF raising the same
crop indefinitely on the same land,
until II has been worn out or so
reduced that the owner is In dan
ger OF poverty. Even without fertil-
izing, the yield OF given area may
be Immensely increased and its pro-
ductive diversion preserved from ex-
haustion merely by the restorative
variety of change which seems to be
a law of all living things. The secon
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 cattle are kept-gives
abundant evidence OF the extraordln-
airy results that may be obtained. The
third factor IN Improvement, better
Village, Is most interesting of all, be-
cause II opens up unmeasured posi-
bilities. We no more know what is
the maximum food bearing capacity
OF the earth or any small portion OF
It's surface than We do the rate at
which people will be able to travel a
century from now. But what has been
done is sufficiently startling. A pop
ulation of f5,000,000 people In japan
is supported on $4,000 cultivated
square miles, aided by the food pro-
ducts obtained from the sea. This Is
because cultivation in Japan Is truly
intensive-that Is Il Is no longer even
highly developed farming, but market
gardening. As We approach that sci
enee the shelter OF plants from frost