The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1906-03-29

A couple of years ago Mr.. Paul
Latzke, prominent writer on agri-
cultural subjects wrote book entitled
''The Predicament of Minnesota.
The purpose of this book was to
accurately portray the agricultural
situation of the state as a whole. The
author told some plain truths but he
was in no sense "knocking." Every
where, in every chapter, and on almost
every page, he holds up the greatness
of the natural capabilities of the state
in every line of agriculture, while he
regrets the fact that the farmers do
not make a greater use generally OF
their great natural advantages. The
facts as given by Mr.. Latzke and the
conclusions drawn from them, were a
surprise as we'll as a disappointment
to most Minnesota readers. 1t was
something of shock to be told that
while such states as Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Michigan, New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were
producing from S. to So per acre
Minnesota was producing less than S..
Many comparisons were made which
brought home to the people of Mime
sofa the humiliating realization that
as state we were away down near the
foot of the list of agricultural states.
But it was refreshing to learn that
although the condition as it existed
was not pleasant to contemplate, it
had some very encouraging features.
The trouble was not with the state but
with ourselves. We had not made the
most of our opportunities. Our
farmers had been content to 60 along
in the "same old way" year after year,
getting only Indifferent results, when
they might have had the best, for as
the author truly says: "The ground
work is therein the soil, in the
climate, in the environment. All are
unexcelled. No state in the Union
offers such opportunities to the pro-
gressive and intelligent farmer. Min
nesota has made her people enormously
wealthy in spite of their frequent
misuse of her natural richness.
Minnesota lies today a great gold
mine at the feet of her p9yple, the
surface scarcely scratched; stimulate
the people into real digging, and the
harvest will amaze the world" A
careful examination of the numerous
instances of remarkable results OBJ
tanned by few of the most progressive
farmers in different parts of the state,
abundantly justify this glorious
prophecy. To be told that our grand
old Commonwealth now limping in
the rear agriculturally, could take her
place at the very head of the
agricultural column was encouraging,
but to be told, and upon authority
that cannot be disputed, that all that
is needed to bring about so great an
achievement was to stimulate the
people into real digging" was inspir-
ing. 1t is sup to" the people to make
the most of the inspiration.
The merchants of the state, both
wholesale and retail, have aSlarge and
direct interest in this subject. The
more prosperous the farmers, the more
prosperous the merchants. Anything,
therefore, which tends to this end
should receive the merchants support.
If the retail dealers of the state, for it
is the retailers who come in contact
with the farmers, would become
thoroughly aroused on the subject of
better and more profitable farming and
talk it to his farmer customers, in
season and out of season, keeping we'll
informed himself on the latest de-
velopments in agricultural expert
ments, and then inform the farmers
and urge the adoption of the latest and
best methods of cultivating and
cropping the soil, good beginning
would be made. The wholesalers of
st. Paul will be found right back of
retailers in every way they can assist
in this important agitation.
In series of articles on this subject
the Trade Journal hopes to interest its
readers, and possibly point out a
practical way for merchants, both
wholesale and retail, to aid in q
movement for ''more bushels to the
acre. and 'smore dollars for the
bushels" More farms and better
farmers. We know of no way the
Trade Journal can better serve it's
patrons.
Grain Growing and Seed Contest
1t was singular coincidence that
just as the editor had finished his
article on the s'Predicament of Min
nesota" Prof. D. D. Mayne, Principal
of the School of Agriculture, at the
Agricultural station, should drop in
on the Trade Journal to acquaint us
with Rural School Agriculture,
Bulletin No. 2, and the County and
State Seed and Grain Growing con-
tests which are being arranged for