Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-25

ter because they were getting big prices
and the increased yield of the acre dur
ing ten years of the last twelve-yea
period has been equal to fourteen point!
upward. The forces that are at work te
bring that about are, first, this depart
ment, then the agricultural colleges and
experiment stations.
Agricultural Colleges a Factor.
Our agricultural colleges are begin
ming to send out educated men, and the
result of their Investigations and re-
search is that our farmers are becoming
much better posted. Newspapers are
taking much interest. Newspapers not
devoted to agriculture print very great
in research. This department last year
sent out 16.5OO.OOO pieces of literature
containing the results of the researches
of our 5000 specialists. And the purpose
Of all this is that the farmer may get
higher profits from his labor and his
soil. just as the factory man is getting a
higher profit from his labor and his
time because of the use of improved ma
chinery. Twelve years ago many mem
bers of Congress, particularly those OF
of agricultural documents. Now We are
not able to supply them the number
they want. and If there happens to be
city man who does not use his quota we
don't know of it. He usually gives them
to some country representative"
Have you recently visited any Of the
irrigated lands of the reclamation
service?''
What the Government Is Doing.
mot personally, but as the reclamation
people complete project they turn over
to us enough land to make one farm, and
we then begin a study of it. The soil
Iii md oil
plant people study what plants will grow
in the particular latitude, and we help
along in that way. We have four or five
farms now, and they are ready to turn
over as many more.
What is the forest service doing?
''The forest service is taking care or
167, 900, 900 acres of forest reserve lands.
The first thing it does is to stop fires
The railroad locomotives and the camp
ers start fires, and there is suspicion
that some fires are started by interested
parties who want to get the dead Woou
or want to get pastures for their STOCK
and do not fancy the forest reserve pol
icy. We will have to take steps to nave
,the fires stopped. Then the forest sers-
ice people make trails, and when We nave
ripe or dead wood to sell they act as
agents of the government. They inspect
it, measure and mark every tree that
is to be cut. Some people crit1clse the
service because we charge 20 cents year
to Craze a. steer on the forest reserves
and cents to Craze a sheep. ana they
don't want to pay it. That Is. some OIL
them don't want to pay 1T. A large ma
jority see the wisdom of it. We protect
the grazing in the reserves. we DO not
allow the grass to be destroyed. People
will learn, but it will take some time.
Are the people going back to the
farms?'
Agriculture Pays Now.
Agriculture is paying just now. 1t is
one of the most profitable Industries In
which any man can engage who under
stands agriculture. The man VINO can
manage a farm and has capital enough to
manage with can get more return u1an
he can by working with his hands any
where else.
''Meat-bearing animals are not keeping
pace with the growth of the pOpuiatlon'
and consequently meats are dear we
are up close to the limits Of our capacity
to produce grains under present methods.
The farmer has difficulty getting help.
The factory, the railroad. the forest ana
the mine have all been bidding for the
farm help and taking it away, and the
farmer has been doing his work himself
to great extent, depending upon I'M
proyed machinery That is one reason
why farm products are dear, and they are
going to stay dear for that reason