The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-11-30

education was entered upon, and today
the farms Of the United Kingdom, upon
which crops aave been raised for cen
turtles, with general climatic condi-
tions less favorable than ours. pro
duce almost two and quarter times
the wheat per acre thai we do,
France, with her Astounding pros
perity, aer marvellous wealth of agri-
cultural resources. which have made
her the creditor nation Of the world,
maintain $4,000 rural schools with
agricultural department in the shape
of gardens and small fields where sys-
tematic scientific cultivation and con-
seryation OF the soil it taught.
Since 1873, Belgium has required
every school in the kingdom to main
tain field not less than thirty-nine
and one-lalf square rods for the pur-
pose of instructing the pupils in this
most important work
Here is where this work Of educa-
ton should begin. and instruction OF
this character undertaken by our r,l-
raj schools, where the farmer boys and
girls attend, would be speedily and
powerfully reflected in improved me-
thods on the farms.
The increased value OF corn, wheat,
oats, and barley in the United States,
provided the average yield per acre
of the same crops in Germany had
been raised, and assuming produc-
ton of fifty bushels sof corn to the
acre, would have amounted to the
stupendous total during the year 1907
of S2,2S0,000,0 600; while the increased
| value of the same cereals of the crop
of 1909, computed on the same basis,
would have been three and one-quarter
billion dollars.
There is no soil or climate that Is
naturally superior to that of the Unit
ed States, and no nation or earth can
produce larger crop per acre than
this country if our soil is intelligently
titled.
4 Ninety years ago, the farms Of the
state of New York produced larger
/ average crops than the most fertile
state in the Union produces today.
/ In 1860 she stood first as an agricul
tural state and she can Git she will
again take her place at the head o.
the procession Of great agricultural
81 states.
!. The year 1908 was not as favorable
for the production of crops in New
York as the average year, but a gent
leman sitting at one of our tables aer'
tonight, a member of your organiza
ton. can show record in the GRO
line which can not equal on my farn
!. In one of the richest valleys in tn
southwest part OF tae great agricu
!. tural state OF Iowa.
! Listen to this: Three hundred an
9 fifty to four hundred bushels Of pots
. totes per acre. Fifty bushels of shell
. ! ed corn. Thirty-five tons OF beet.
Z Four tons of hay per acre. This wa
4 the result not OF so-called intensiv
{. farming just intelligent farming, an
it was not in one of those favore
e fertile valleys in the central or soutl
IS ern part of the state, but was ava
: up, IN the extreme northern part, {
It 1.-The north end OF Lake Caamp1ai
le within twelve miles of the Canada
lie line.
II There is not farm in New Yoi
n state where a similar record can n
n be made If the farmer can be taug
N similar intelligent methods, but In Il
he language of the Apostle, How shs
s. they believe who have not heard, al
n now shall they hear without preac
8; en-"
~ The field is eagerly awaiting Il
- preacher In April of this year t
- -, New York Central railroad rendered
-, =. the New York State college of agric
:. ture the use Of a special train &C
= sisting OF combination car. 70
:. coaches and a dining car, for Il
- through that portion of the state 7
- versed by our lines. Twenty-one p
~ fessors and advanced students OF t
10 New York State College OF agric
j. tura at Cornell University made
~ the party.
nj Thirty-one towns we're visited
lectures were given to audiences raj
th- ing from two to six hundred earne
os- interested farmers.
'ar The object of the trip was to awah
m interest, to prepare the ground for
seed to be shown later. These tr
Eat will be repeated and extended and
en hope it is but the beginning OF bre
AN and comprehensive scheme of edu
Of ton. Lectures of this kind are be
fetal. but the things that will acce
rit- pliga results are object lessons
the portunities for the farmer to see
thing done instead of being told h
leu it can be done.
- The first requisite is thorot
- awakening OF our people to a real
~. ton of the startling significance,
80 condition; then systematic. thorou
sleepless, persevering campaign
nc education The general governm
,us should give it first place among
II 4,