The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-09-15

States The official estimated value OF all
farm products Of the country last year
was S., AIS. OOo, 900. Discount this for high
prices and generally favorable conditions
by 20 per cent. and over 5000, ZOO re-
mains. 1t is also officially recorded that
of the appropriated farm area Of the
United States little less than one half
is under cultivation. Utilize the other
half, and without any change whatever
In method the output would be practically
doubled. Change methods only little
not to high class intensive farming, but
to an agriculture as far advanced as that
Of those other countries which have made
the most progress-and without any addi-
ton whatever to the existing cultivated
farm area the product an acre would be
doubled. We should be able by directing
surplus population to the land and by the
adoption of a system Of culture In full
operation elsewhere greatly to increase
this minimum present yield Of IS ZOO, 100000
per annum OF farm products. That Is, We
may add 80 CO., 900 900 or sl5, 900 900 900 every
year to the national wealth II we SO
choose. And this Is only a beginning.
We no more know what Is the max
imum food bearing capacity Of the earth
or Of any small portion Of ITS surface
than we do the rate at which people may
But what has been done Is sufficiently
startling. A population Of 100000 people
in Japan is supported on 5000 cultivated
square miles. aided by the food products
obtained from the sea. This Is because
cultivation in Japan is truly intensive
that is, ii Is NO longer even highly devel-
oped farming, but market gardening. AS
we approach that science the shelter Of
plants from frost and unfavorable ele-
ments and the treatment of grains and
vegetables by separate planting and in
dividual nurture, all limitations upon
earth's bounty appear to recede afar.
From 27 acres In the suburbs of Paris
there have been grown In a single season
10000 pounds Of vegetables. A market
gardener of Paris declares that all food,
animal and vegetable. requirfa for the
could be grown, by methods already in
use. on the $3.50 square miles of gardens
surrounding the city.
1t can be shown that an average OF two
persons or more may be supported on ev-
cry acre of ti1able land by the highest
form Of intensive farming. But, dismiss
ing this as unnecessary it has been
shown that a people like those of Bel
GUM today. not an oriental race. accus-
toned to a standard of living and OF,
labor inapp1icable to US, not living In vir-
tual serfdom. like that Of Russia, but an
Industrious. fairly Intelligent and exceed
ingiy comfortable agricultural community,
raised from the soil food enough for the
needs Of 400 persons to the square mile.
Adopting Professionally that ratio as
point Of departure. though the actual
ratio Of area to population gives a figure
considerably higher even than this, the
IA, 4S8. 4S7 acres Of improved farm land in
the United States on the date of the last
official report, an area materially enlarged
by the present time, would support In
comfort 81, $50, 405 people, enabling them
at the same time TO raise considerable
food for export and to engage in neces-
sary manufacturing enployments. Apply
ing the same ratio to the entire acreage
Of farm lands within the United States,
both improved and unimproved, which
was at the same date S3S. 5gl, IA acres, the
population indicated as able to live with
comfort and prosperity on the actually
existing agricultural area Of this country,
under an Intelligent system and fairly
competent but by no means highly scien-
tifc method OF culture, rises to 642,046,S2
The conclusion is that II not another acre
were to be redeemed from the wilderness,
II the sou were treated kindly and intelh-
gently and il industry were distributed
duly and popular attention was concen-
trated upon the best possible utilization
Of the one unfailing national resource
food for the wants of. in round numbers.
6o0.O00.0oo people.
Failing 20 understand the needs of the
hour or to appreciate the moral to which
we point. what fortune must await us?
Within twenty years 10000 900 people, and
before the middle Of the century over
So,0Oo.0oO. must find room and food and
employment within the United States.
Where are they to live? What are they
to do? By that time our mineral re-
sources will have been so nearly exhaust
ed that tho industries related to them
must fall into a minor place. BY that
time 1t is apparent that our dream Of
conquest Of world markets VIII be q
bursted bubble.
Let US be warned in time. On every
side there - menace IL our national ac-
tivity be not reorganixed on the basis of
the old fashioned common sense. The
safety valve for older peoples has been
found In emigration. Their very relief
has contributed to our danger. The Unit
ed States cannot follow their example.
The conclusion reached points out and
emphasizes a national duty 80 imminent
| and so imperative that 1t should take
precedence of an else. II Is the foe that
has overtfrown civilizations as proud, as
prosperous and far more strongly forti-
fed than our own. Nothing can stop the
onward march Of natures laws or close
the iron jaws Of her necessities when they
| open to crush their victims
If we are 20 walk safely In the way OF
wisdom there is much to be done. II ID
time to begin. There must be first a
return to conservative and economic
methods a reimbursement Of national IDEAS
such as TO PLACE agriculture and its
| claims to the best intelligence and ,thf
! highest skill that the country affords IN
the YsrX fcrefroE.. There must be a IA.