New-York tribune., 1907-07-29
THE RURAL BARGAIN.
GOLD MINES IN FARMS.
State offers Surprisingly Proftd-
BILE Investments. Wieting.

In compliance with Governor Hughess request
published exclusively in The Tribune last Saturday
Commissioner Charles A. Wieting, OF the State De-
partment OF Agriculture has made report on
rural labor conditions and abandoned farms. in
which he says that the soil conditions in this state
coupled with the opportunities for capable and in
dustrous men TO succeed In farming. are probably
unequaled in any other section of the United
States. and possibly in the world
New York State. which has an area OF 1870
SQUARE miles" says the Commissioner. NEARLY 23.-
100000 acres contains 226420 farms. averaging 100
acres each. Many OF the farms contain much less
than 100 acres; others contain several hundred.
These farms. considering the nature OF the SOIL
their convenience market and the improvements
them, are probably much cheaper than can be
found anywhere else in this country.
Numerous lakes, rivers and brooks abound ana
the scenery in all parts of the state Is beautfu
The average New York State farm has on 1t good
comfortable house-usually from six to ten rooms
good barns. adapted the needs of the place.
and all necessary outbuidings- Many nave
large growth of good timber on them and nearly
all have enough for fuel fences and necessary re-
pairs for buildings. They well watcred, usual
ly with running water or wells near the buildings
and with springs and streams in the fields
There forty-hve cities in the state and 400
Incorporated villages besides hundreds OF other
smaller uninCorporated villages and hamlets
which bring the farm into close communication
with OF population, where the pest or mar
kets for all products is obtained and in which are
schools, churches mercantile establishments fact-
ories for the manufacture of dairy products, ana
where the best social conditions abound
nearly all of the farms have orchards of apples.
pears plums cherries and small fruits. The crops
generally raised grass-tmothy. clover and
other varietes-corn. oats and rye. wheat and bar
ley in some parts and potatoes and turnps. Inc
farms Of the state are particularly auapteu 10
dairying and stock raising. The value OF the
produce approximates S2T5 100000 each year. Good
COWS sell for from $50 $50 Work horses bring
from $40 TO Sl25 and roadstcrs and heavy DRAFT
horses from $l0O to $500
THE demand for farm labor. both skilled and
unskilled, is urgent, and many thousand hahus
1r,r ST.
this department over four thousand men round
good situations in 1906, at wages averaging 10
month for those who knew how TO do farm work
Fifty years ago the cultivation oI t"e sot "a "a
England provided employment for tuIly one -tniru
Of its population OF 100000 souls, but since then
the number Of people engaged IN the cuit4VaIoi 81
land or in work on the farms has decreased 2&54rO
while the population has increased about l5VnVn
AT present 2l.00ro acres OF land are lying loie IN
Great Britain The tendency at the present time In
New York State seems to be TO follow the example
Of older countries in this regard The towns
throughout the agricultural sections OF the state
have steadily lost in population, many OF them
showing n decrease OF per cent In seven years.
This would indicate a subtraction Of about 2Vp
people from the $4,000 engaged in agricultural pur-
suits IN the census year OF 1900.
Usually large numbers OF laboreTs come 10 tnls
country in the late winter and early spring months
The department IS informed that this Will prooaoiy
lie the case next season. and efforts viii be made
obtain large number Of these people for the
farms of this
Probably fifty thousand additional men could
find rsmunerative employment the 22642l farms
in this state-that is. less than one man for each
four farms which Il would seem, very low
estimate Of the number needed Efforts have been
made 10 assist the aGrculturists in obtaining suit-
cient labor properly conduct the farming opera
tions in the state and many good lahoreTs have
been obtained and to various sections of the
state
The assistant commissioner In this city has had
the work along this line, and through advertising
has had a large number OF applicants for the posi-
tions offered but has found that few OF those
who apply in any way fitted 10 60 into the
country and become satisfactory lRborers.
The bureau OF farmers institute. an educational
branch OF the department has gathered the latest
and most reliable scientific information bearing
on agricultural production and has delivered that
Information at the institutes the different farm
ers and farmers wives. The Institutes last from
one to three days. and designed to reach those
cannot attend the agricultural schools OF col
leges.
Twenty thousand dollars has been appropriated
annually 70 this work for the last eight years. We
have tried to obtain the best and most practical
men for this institute work, 10 get the greatest
number Of lecturers from each one for the amount
Of money paid in
In the last year there have been held in the
235 regular institutes. 10 special beekeepers'
Institutes and 2 normal Institutes. total OF 252.
They have been held IN 63 counties The results u
institute work noticeable In every hamlet in
this state. Since this work was begun there has
been improvement particularly in dairying. In
forage crops. the feeding OF and caring for live
honey, and in the promotion OF the fruit industry
OF the state There be. 20 my mind. wiser
expenditure Of money. IN reasonable sums. for tho
promotion Of agricultural interest than In the in
stitute work