Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-03-24
Should Farmers Raise drain3

At meeting Of the Massachusetts
Cattle Owners Association few day!
ago, Professor j. w. Sanborn, one of the
most successful farmers of New Hamp
shire, spoke upon the subject, "ShOuld
the farmers of Massachusetts, raise theil
own grain?" He said:
The clock of destiny has struck the
hour for greater opportunities, the peo.
pie of New England should adopt farm
ing. Farming has now become science
and as such requires broad minded,
liberal, educated men. Only such mer
can make success at farming. Grain
can be raised in this part of the country
and return a profit to the grower and
more of it should be cultivated. The
era of farming opportunities has dawn
ed. The prices for farm products are
gradually and steadily increasing to
keep pace with the prices for manu-.
factured products.
The law of diminishing returns is be.
coming more and more applicable to
farm products. Up to a certain extent
increased cost Of production will give a
proportionate increased crop. For in
stance, by doubling the cost of produc-
tion on land that will produce fifteen
bushels of wheat, thirty bushels may be
grown. This may be done several times
but the limit will be reached sooner or
later when doubling the cost Of produc-
ton will not double the yield.
The New England farmer should care
for the permanent improvement of his
farm with the view that it be the home
not only for himself, but for generations
that follow him. This can be accom-
plished by making the calling more at
tractive and alluring to the young peo-
pie. This is becoming more and more
the case. The great westward move
ment is gradually ceasing and the flow
has started the other way.
The question of farming is purely an
economical one, and as such must be
met with plans for future development
One of the best and most economical
means for increasing production is crop
rotation. This enables the farmer to
spread out his labor over practically the
whole year, both for man and team
which, in measure, will help solve the
labor questions, which are so trouble
some at the present time, in that it
enables the farmer to keep his help the
year around, and permanent help is
much more reliable than transients.
The New England farmer should raise
more hoed crops. With the improved
machinery one man can handle more
acres than formerly. Corn can be raised
in Massachusetts at total cost per acre
for labor, fertilizer, seed, etc., not to
exceed S35, based upon conservative
estimate, and this should yield not less
than seventy-five bushels, which at the
present prices for grain leaves good
profit.
So far have dealt with the possibility
of the question and tried to show that
the farmer of Massachusetts, can raise
his own grain profitably. Now coming
to the question, should he raise it, l
should say that a very large class of
New England farmers should. But
there is another class, who, though they
might produce their own grain at profit
still can make more profit to buy their
grain and turn it into some other
product, like milk, cream or butter.
One great advantage of this process is
that it tends to increase the fertility of
the soil instead of impoverishing it, thus
making the soil yield larger and better
crops each year.-Turf, Farm and Home.