The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-18
FARM CROP VALUES
 GROWING GREATER
Still More Brilliant Future Is
 Predicted Tor Farmer
YIELDS TO BE INCREASED
Bureau of Soils Is Studying and Apply ing Methods of Improving Soil Pro- auction, Which Will Great
 ly Aid the Farmer.


 ..The value of the farm crops annually produced in the United States has now reached approximately $S,00O O0o.oOO. This fneonceivable amount of new wealth which is created each year out of sun shine, rain and soil by the labor of American farmers is not nearly so great as it may become. The soil experts of the bureau of soils who are studying this matter have reached some conclusions which are decidedly optimistic and which indicate a brilliant future for American farm industry and a long continued era of prosperity for American farmers"
 The above interesting and important statement was made today by Dr Jay A. Ronsteel, the eastern division manager of the United States soil bureau. Dr. Bonsteel says that the annual farm pro- dueton of the United States. which is $S 00O, ,000,0O1, can be doubled within the next 20 years. Dr. Bonstee is a we'll known authority on soil utilization and fertility and his views are important. Continuing, Dr. Bonsteel said:
 Great Opportunities.
 4The work of the bureau of soils throughout the United States has shown that even in the older settled communi- ties there are still excellent opportuni- ties for increasing the crop yields over broad areas of farm lands. Very few people realize when they consider the wonderful development of American farm lands during the past 10 years that a considerable proportion even of the older settled states still consists of unoccupied or partially occupied lands. Outside of the level prairie section in the corn belt the census statistics show that not much over one-half of the total land area of the eastern states is classed as improved farm land and in many of these states only very small proportion of the land has been brought to any high state of cultivation. There are not only excellent opportunities for occupying additional farm land even where agriculture has been flourishing for 100 years, but there are increasingly good opportunities for attaining higher state of cultivation over farm lands which are now being titled with high degree of success.
 q believe it would be very eonserva- tive estimate to say that the present crop production, which is valued at about $S. .000, COG, 900 annually, can and will be doubled during the next 20 years. The soil surveys which are being conducted by this bureau are made for the express purpose of taking an inventory of the soil resources of the country and for showing along what lines the different sells may be developed to their highest producing capacity.
 Soil Surveys.
 "Quite a number of soil surveys have been made in the northeastern states, including New England, New York and Pennsylvania, and practically each one of these soil surveys has shown oppor tunites for a high degree of specaliza- ton in crop production and for marked Improvements in the methods of handling the soils, in order not only to maintain their fertility, but also to increase the crop producing capacity of the soils by better methods of soil management. "Soil surveys made in central New 1 York and northern Pennsylvania have i shown a peculiar condition of affairs. l The majority of the farms in Ihis sec i ton were cleared and cultivated from 30
 
 l of the level prairie lands in the central l states the farmers who Were occupying 1 these hill lands in the northeastern sec l ton were unable to produce grain crops l as cheaply as their competitors in the l prairie states. As a result many of them became discouraged and instead of l changing the nature of their farming op- l erations and seeking other crops where l there was less competition, they have fn1 from tba O1l q far Ian de either to the prairie states or else to em- ploynent in some of the manufacturing l cities in that region. As result there l is a region of more than 10000 square l miles of country in central New York ] northern Pennsylvania, and even in north l eastern Ohio. where the farms are not l rrcdueing at the present time nearly as ! great revenue as they could be made to ! yield if there was a little better under 1 standing of the capabilities of the soils l Of this region. In many instances the \ introduction of vegetable crops small | fruits or varieties of apples suited tn the soils and climate of the region would | entirely change the character of agricul- ture and give highly profitable returns from the more intensive forms of farming which are possible in the general region. | A great many farmers are turning their attention to the potato crop, still others are producing sugar corn and green peas for the canning factories, still others are raising cabbage, celery onions and other 1 market garden crops for shipment to 1 nearby city markets. Only few have realized that the central New York region | is particularly well eulted to the produc- ton of winter apples. aud there is scarce | ly commercial orchard of any extent 1 throughout the section. The farmers of 1 this region should realize that they have an unbomded opportunity in the great markets for foodstuffs furnished by the seaboard manufacturing and comn,eroial centers and that by producing those crops which are best suited 10 the soils Of the section they. may far more then double the value of the crops annually secured from this section of the country.
 Swamp Lands.
 There has been a considerable interest recently fin the reclamation of swamp lands in the eastern states. Very few people realize that east of the Mississippi | river the total area of swamp land in i the different states in the aggregate amounts to an area as great as that of the states of Illinois. Indiana and about l one-half of Ohio Tn the great majority i of instances the soils accumulated in these swamp and overflow regions are l some of the richest which still remain l undeveloped in the United States. The 1 area of land which could be put under 1 cultivation by the drainage of these swamps and the proper protection of the l bottom lands from overflow would easily L equal the amount for which water can he secured for irrigation purposes west of l the Mississippi rivet These swamp lands have the additional advantage of being nH 0d esrlr otc ia alI-