Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1909-09-09
Conservation of Our Natura
Agricultural Resources
By J. r Liffooy. Eeriffen Tor The Ranch .


When President Roosevelt called
to assemble the governors Of the sta
ties to discuss measures for the con-
servation of our national resources,
few could comprehend the scope of
its economic Importance to the ma
ton When President Roosevelt ap-
pointed the Country Life Commits
sion to investigate the economic
farm conditions of the country, few
realized, even farmers themselves,
that it must result in a plan to con
serve our greatest resource. the fer
tility of the soil, for continuous
national prosperity.
The farm is the security of the
nation, because it-affects all inter
ests. The farm represents half the
wealth and population of the United
States. Statistics show that the pop
ulation doubles every thirty years
and at the present birth rate it will
be 150,00O.OOO in twenty years This
according to our expert, economic
observers and staticians. means that
our country at its present rate of
food production, will not solve its
own food problem. let alone export
ing to other nations, who now can
not support themselves by their
own food products.
But as the statician Of the gov
eminent affords us a guage, which
tabulates the prosperity of the ma
ton, it also serves as a warning by
which to direct our resources. indus
tries and commerce, that the, balance
of trade may be to our credit. When
statistics show that our average
yield of wheat is only twelve bushels
to the acre, we conclude that the
nation must aid the farmer. and that
with this crop alone the yield must
be raised so per cent to make the
average of the country profitable.
Because of these conditions.
wheat from this time on must con-
tinue to command Sl.O0 per bushel
Aside from wheat. the various
crop yields of the country prove that
for profit the average American
farmer should produce a much bet
ter yield According to statistics,
country do not attend Farmers In
stitutes or request information, and
this in itself would account for the
loss of the two-thirds that should
add to the prosperity of the farmer
and nation
The small farmer must solve this
problem. Especially now, that there
is little government land left, the
plan of extensive and wasteful prac-
tice must cease and give way to the
progressive. intensive system, which
changed the state of California from
tracts of diversified farming; and
which alone accounts for the solu-
ton of the problem of setting TO-
600 colonists during a single month.
There are more people wanting
good land than can be supplied The
government land disappearing and
the constant demand for large hold
ings to be divided, means that the
problem of the wheat and live stock
industry. as also the entire agricul-
tural industry, must depend on the
small farm, and the farmer will de-
mand better protection of the water
sheds which viii result in a reduc-
tion of the grazing reserves and
cause the live stock industry to be
confined to the farm Already some
of the grazing reserves have been
reduced 40 per cent.
From the above outline we must
be convinced that no more import
ant topic could be considered than
that of encouraging small farms fol
intelligent culture. And we must
conclude that it is the basis of solu.
ton to all problems pertaining to ru.
raj life. 1t encourages rapid colo
nization. and with population there
follows good roads. electric rail
roads, light, power electric hea'
and cooking. centers of education
culture, and every convenience. ever
society.
: Statistics and observation prove
that the smSll farm is the mos