The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-03-02
FARMERS PROBLEMS
PAPER READ BEFORE THE BEACH
CITY FARMERS INSTITUTE,
FEBRUARY, 20, BY CLAY
TOM HOLL.


ToR HOLL.
OF all the varied occupations that
of the farmer confronts more prob
lens than any other. Yet it allows
more unsolved problems without bank
rupting the proprietor. ANY other
business would fail under the same
conditions. How many of us know
what our farms prosuced last year, Or
even the expense ac cunt? We know
how and what fertilizers to apply to
make our soil more productive. l
am aware, owing to changeable wea,
ther conditions, more of work must
be done on general principles and.
trust for results. Years ago the vir-
gin fertility contained in the soil
would respond even if only rudely
cultivated. With the removal of our
forests for protection and moisture,
the constant cropping without re.
: turning sufficient humus and fertiliz'
ing material, our soils have become
( depleted and the problem now con,
&frents us how to restore these eles
ments. Good catches of clover cannot
be- depended upon. Other legumm-
Ous plants must be called to the. res
cue. Commercial fertilizers are ap.
piled and may be depended upon to
some extent, and only then in con,
nection with barnyard manure can
/ it be used without detriment.
HELP ON THE FARM.
If could solve this problem l would
be the greatest benefactor OF the age.
One item of relief is that OF farm ma
ehinery. Yet this is not applicable
to all farm work, but is the nearest in
reach at present. The education of
the boys of the farm for farmers,
through agriculture in the rural
schools, and through our agricultural
colleges may give us relief later on,
but is at present unavailable from the
few that have so far taken the op-
portunity.
ANOTHER SOLUTION.
Just SO soon as conditions change
and the congested cities pour out
sufficient number of their inhabitants
who will gladly go back on the farms,
a partial remedy may be at hand.
Yet we are not desirous of such condi-
tions The price of our products
might also be affected. Owing to the
existing tendency in rural communi-
ties to congregate in small villages
and cities the depopulation may not
come. The electric trolley lines,
spreading out all over our land, may
be a factor in this problem.
THE AUTOMOBILE.
What has that to do with farmers
problems? The hardest TO solve on
hand at present. The rich city ma,
bobs, the law defying element, regard
less of restrictions or law, or your
rights on the road, pass right on re.
gardless Of your safety, and if damage
result depend on bathing you in the
courts for year or two and then
slip out at a nominal fine, if any.
Although if Senator Pollock's bill
passes our state legislature to allow
county commissioners to widen our
roads to 100 feet, boulevards will be
established by our good roads asso-
citation, SO we will have a public road
race track and street car line sll with
In the enclosure, and plenty of room
to pass each other in safety.
GOOD ROADS.
Everybody is in favor of good roads;
but the plan to build and who shall
pay for them is the problem. Tax
payers, / suggest we take hand in
the problem, who shall pay for good
roads? Let us see that all classes of
property pay their full share, and
that for 81 paid we get 81 worth of
good roads built.
Convict labor is the main pry used
at present. One our supposed can
didates for county commissioner has
already figured out that the taxes now
paid for road purposes in Stark coun-
ty and applied through Stark county
worli-house conyicts win build good
roads for Stark county without extra
cost to the taxpayers. No doubt he
expects under such plausible propo-
sition we will all vote for him. Let