The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-03-25

untll Only bare shadow of the
truth is left" Thus spoke Stanley +.
Morse, associate editor of the Country
Gentleman the other day in regard to
the wonderful tales of developments
in rural industry.
This tendency 10 eXaggerate. to
make Il story. has of late been devoted
to furthering the interests of the new
and wonderful agriculture All the
periodical publications have taken d
hand in depicting the joys of rural life
in telling of the unlimited wealth to
be gained in farming. in describing
marvellous new creations i'm the plant
and animal world, in singing the
praises of every Tom. Dick and Harry
who has happened TO use Il little COM
blowing fishhorn for agriculture in
general
Experts Laugh mt Exploitation.
The agricultural press and authori-
ties alike have only laughed ut this
sort of thing. which has simply been a
vulgar exhibition of tire grossest ig
norance on the part of many lay
writer's; but ut last it has gone too far
having reached the point where the
harm done by il can be reckoned in
dollars and cents.
Two classes of people have been af-
fected in two different ways-people
who are scarcely able TO stand the set
backs which have been caused by this
popular agricultural writing. and which
do great injury and injustice to the
great science of agriculture itself.
People of the lower middle class
mechanics, carpenters and the like
have been influenced by glowing ac-
counts of new farming methods and
productive farm lands that will yield
to whoever may take up with them i'm
mediate and extraordinary profits TO
leave their comfortable homes and
ell-established callings and risk the
welfare of their families and of them
selves in venture Of which they have
little or no practical or. theoretical
knowledge.
"Such change is bound to end in
failure. or, at best. in obtaining only
mere living. The agriculture of 10.
day demands II higher scientific
knowledge than ever before. and many
men who have lived on farms all their
lives and who claim TO be farmers find
farming constant struggle, because
they have to face problems which they
cannot or will not solve. SO, how can
the average worker In the city. having
had no training or experience in mod
ern agriculture. expect TO 90 on a farm
and make ii pay?
He cannot. and the lay press is
committing a crime against society by
urging or encouraging inexperienced
persons. with or without capital, 10
rush blindly into any branch of agri
culture. Further. there should be men
toned here the wealthy men who have
been induced 10 try farming it.
Farmers Themselves Are Injured.
Now concerning the second class of
people which is injured in another way
by the newspaper agriculture. IT will
be interesting to learn that this In
cludes the farmers themselves. During
the last few years the papers have been
unusually active in chronicling new
agricultural discoveries Of useful
seeds, plants. animals. etc. which have
almost invariably turned out To be
fakes.
THUS prominent weekly came out
with the story of Alaska wheat, tell
ing OF a wonderful new wheat that
Yielded 200 bushels an acre. against an
average yield in the United States of
about fourteen bushels an acre. or
course. there was sudden Hood OF
inquiries from farmers. who wished to
get some Of this seed. which. Oh ac-
count Of its scarcity. commanded a
very high price. In this category come
the eggs with handles very convenient
for eating boiled) the 'cobless corn.
which. as Il matter of interest, is also
practically kerreIless and. within "A
few weeks. the cucumber orange. de-
scribed as having delightful flavor,
and, incidentally. its seeds can be pur-
chased for $40 dozen. although any
botanist knows that two different spe-
cies of plants cannot cross-breed.