Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-26
Fat and Lean Years.

We have had several fat years
lately in the Mississippi valley. In
fact, they have been increasing in
fatness. This years crops are better
than last years and last years were
considered bumper crops, SURPRISING
all previous years and expectations
How long this series Of fat years
will continue no one knows. If the
history of the past is any guide te,
the future, they will be followed by
more Or less lean years.
Whether years be fat or lean, SO
far as production is concerned, de-
pends on the temperature and rain
fall, and if anyone will examine the
maps furnished by the government
showing the distribution Of rainfall
this year he can see just why this
year surpasses all others. The dis
tribution Of rainfall has been very
remarkable. The corn belt has had
precisely what it needed-less than
the normal rainfall up to July, con-
siderably more than the normal
amount for these months during
July and August, and then dry
fall. These are the conditions for
the making of a bumper crop Of corn
provided the temperature is normal,
and it has been near enongh to the
normal in the corn belt or in the
seven corn surplus states.
West Of the corn belt where
there is usually a shortage of rain,
the rain fall in many places has been
twice the normal amount, as though
nature had intended to give the new
settlers in this section every possible
encouragement, and bring in the ut
most capacity OF that country to
swell the bumper crops of the year.
Along the eastern portion of the
United States the rainfall has been
little more than normal, thus fur
nishing larger amount of pasture
and forage than usual.
Inasmllch asthe only certain thing
about the seasons is that they are un-
certain, we must not expect this an
other year nor as permanent con-
dition. Lean years are quite likely
to follow in the near future. When
series Of fat years occur farmers
are likely to forget thai lean years
may follow. and are quite liable to
be caught unprepared, as no doubt
the Egyptian people were when the
seven years Of famine came in the
time of Joseph. 1t is well, there
fore, for farmers, and all others as
well, not to spread out too much, nor
make obligations which they can
not meet in case a lean year should
come. Pay off debts as far as pos
sible and keep everything shipshape.
Our observation is that farmers
usually contract debts in good times,
in fat years. and pay them off with
much self-sacrifce in lean years.
Prosperity is not always deter
mined by the size Of the crops.
Farmers are aiming not to raise
bushels but dollars, and the price
depends very much on the stability
Of the industrial conditions. Dur
ing the years just past we have had
a combination of good crops and
good prices, because all other in
dustries have been prosperous.
Laboring men have been fully en-
ployed and at reasonably fair wages.
Hence they have large consumptive
powers and it is the laboring man
who furnishes the market for the
farmers products.
1t is to be hoped that we will
have the same stable conditions in
the future that we have had in the
past, and yet one can readily see
from the trend of discussion that
there may be change in the next
two years that may throw labor out
of employment, thus reducing its
consumptive power and seriously in
terfering with the farmers prosper
ity. This is another reason why
there should be no useless sails
spread out, but everything kept
trim and close hauled, SO that if
trouble should come the craft may
be in the best condition to weather
the storm.-Wallace's Farmer.