The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-12-01
A PEEP INTO THE FUTURE.

A PEEP INTO THE FUTURE,
The wolf on the national doorstep
seems more real to Mr.. James ]. Hill
than to the rest of us, while the Wis
ion of hostile battleships menacing
our coasts is more real to the rest
of the country than to him. We are
spending hundreds of millions yearly
for past wars and present defense,
and very little for ammunition
against the wolf. "The armed fleets
| of an enemy approaching our har-
bors," Mr.. Hill declares, would be
no more alarming than the relentless
advance of day when we shall have
neither sufficient food nor the means
to purchase it for our population"
MIR. Hill is perhaps the best author
ity on the great wheat regions of the
Northwest, and his article is publish
ed in The Worlds Work (Novem-
ber), whose editor is member of
the Country Life Commission, so
these words come with considerable
weight. This appeal for the stopping
of agricultural waste is looked upon
by the Springfield Republican as
good economic gospel" while the
New York Tribune regards it as "one
of the most timely and pertinent ut
terances which have been made on
the whole subject of the conservation
OF our natural resources" Mr.. Hills
conclusions are based upon a careful
study of statistics as we'll as al
thorough personal knowledge of the
uuh
first reminds us that our national
prosperity and all our varied activi-
ties are after all founded upon "the
agricultural growth Of the nation
and must continue to depend upon
it." Our agricultural population,
though comparing favorably with
any in the world, must, however, 'be
taught to honor it's occupation and
to make the occupation worthy of
honor" This result can be brought
about only by instruction in modern
scientific agricultural and in farm
economy and management. AS a /
means to such an extension of our
educational system Mr.. Hill sug-
gests:
If could have my way, should |
build a couple of warships year
less. Perhaps one would do. II
would take that $5,0O0,OOO or $6,-
100000 a year and start at least L.
600 agricultural schools in the Unit
ed States at $4,000 a year each, in
the shape of model farms. This
model farm would be simply a tract
OF land conforming in size, soil treat
ment, crop selection and rotation,
and methods of cultivation to mod
ern agricultural methods. Its pur-
pose would be to furnish to all its
neighborhood a working model for
common instruction. Cultivating,
perhaps, from forty to sixty acres, it
could exhibit on that area the ad-
of thorough tillage which
the small farm makes possi-
BILE; of seed specially chosen and
tested by experiment at agricultural
college farms; of proper fertilization,
stock-raising, alienation of crops,
and the whole scientific and improv-
ed system of cultivation, seeding,
harvesting, and marketing. The
farmers of county could see, must
see, as they passed it's borders how
their daily labors might bring in
and improved results. The
example could not fail to impress it.
self upon an industry becoming each
year more conscious of its defects
and its needs. AS fast as it was fol-
lowed, 1t would improve farm con-
make this form of enter
prise more attractive to the young
and the intelligent, and add enor-
mously to the volume of farm pro-
ducts which constitutes our enduring
national wealth.
Results reached by this arrange
ment would have the conclusiveness
Of a demonstration in science. Every
crop that could be or ought to be
raised should be experimental with,
not at some distant spot seldom 4
visited, but right at home on the
farm. would bring the model farm
nto every agricultural county; and
Il any farmer was in doubt, he could
visit 1t, see with his own eyes, and
ind out what he ought to have done
and what he could do next time. It
would do for the farming population
What the technical school does for the
intending artisan, and the schools of
special training for those who enter
the professions. Side by side with
The common school Il would work
Tor intelligence, for progress, for the 4,
welfare OF the country in a moral as