The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-11-01

SEC'Y WILSONfarmer by the
opinions of Jas. ]. Hill, pub
lished in the Times last Satur-
day.
There is a great deal of
truth in the statement of Mr..
Hill that the country is outgrow-
ing it's food supply" he de-
clared. "It is a question that is
commanding our attention, and l
have set a number of govern
ment scientists to work to discov-
|er the causes for such condi-
ton. I can discuss the matter
more fully, of course, after the
report of the experts is ready.
There are two great causes
for the lean years, continued
he. lone is the tendency of our
new citizens to concentrate in the
cities, but the other is the great
est.
"That is the failure of the
American farmer, as "a class, to
get out of his acreage by cOnserva-
ton of soil and rotation of crops
the amount of yield he should.
Education will remedy this in
time, and great strides are now
being made in this direction.
Another trouble that confronts
the farmer also confronts the
baker and the miller" he con-
|tinued. THAT is the tendency of
the progressive farmer not to
market his grain as he used to do.
Instead, the corn and other cere-
ais raised on the farm go to feed
and fatten the stock in which
there is still greater profit.
THUS the great crops of cere-
|als that appear on paper each
year really are imaginary so far
as their direct consumption by
humankind is concerned.
"a significant and hopeful sign
of the times, however, is found in
the government reports of crop
conditions in the New England
states, when thousands of farms
long since considered practically
worthless are beginning to show
better producing reports.
While reports do not show that
the farming interest in the great
middle west is on the wane, they
do constitute warning to the
western farmer to get more out
of his soil, something that he can
well do by closer attention to the
little things"
Secretary Wilson is a farmer
himself-one of the best in the
country, and knows what he is
talking about. Near Tama, Ia,
In the center of the richest ter
ritory of that great farming state,
the secretary has fine farm that
he calls home. Big barns and
|outbuildings rise up above his
waving fields and the farm is a
big money-maker. He believes
in practicing what he breaches,
and is trying to break records
there.
Figures of the department of
agriculture show one thing about
western farming conditions that
should interest every farmer:
With the sole exception of Cali
fornia, the western states pro-
duced last year less yield per acre
than the farmers of New York,
Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The other great problem, as
laid down by the secretary, is the
crowding of aliens in the great
cities, rather than taking up the
opportunities they have before
them on the farms of the west.
In connection with this half
of Mr.. Wilson's warning, the bu-
reau of immigration has taken
this question up and is trying by
every means at its command to
divert the. tide of immigrants to-
ward the farms and away from the
mills of the great cities.
The chief trouble found in scat
tering the aliens is their desire to
flock together.
An Italian, for instance, who
lands in New York and scarcely
can speak the English language,
naturally fails to take up the gov
eminent agents invitation to go
on a farm with enthusiasm. I'm
used to the customs of the coun-
try, and awed, perhaps, by hustle
and excitement everywhere, the
immigrant turns to his compatri-