Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-20
IOWA IND ENGLAND
UNITED CONSUL MAHlN COM.
PAREs VALUES OF FARMING
LANDS.
BEST ENGLISH FARMS
LITTLE HIGHER THAN HERE
British Cousins Seem to Be Failures
in Agricultural Observation-Disclosures
Raising Apparently on the Decrease
Mr.. Mahin Can Not Find the Rea-
son.

(Written for The Clinton Herald by
Frank W. Mahin. United States Con-
sui al Nottingham Eng)
Nottingham. England Dec. 6.--An-
swering inquiries about the value OF
English farm lands, when in Iowa
last summer. l said that they sold on
the average for not much more than
Iowa lands at the present time. This
was a surprising statement, evidently,
the general belief being that English
farms would bring anywhere from $500
10 $500 an acre. To verify or dispel
my own impression. 1 have since taken
pains to acquire some definite Informal
ton on the subject. The principal local
dealers in farms say that land in this
county ranges from 500 10 5000 an
acre. according to location. The area
Of this county is about 800 square
miles. The land is of average quality,
producing the usual variety of crops.
The population of the county is about
100000 including this city with 100000
and several towns with $1,000 to 80
600, The population is therefore about
a quarter of Iowa's on an area less
than fifteenth of 1owa's This being
a material point in comparing farm
land values. it would seem that, rela-
tive TO population and continguity of
important towns. Iowa's farm values
at 500 an acre and sometimes more
are actually greater than Englands
To see if this county was a fair criter
ion. / have watched the sales of lands
in other counties recorded in news
papers. The highest price discovered
was $500 an acre for four acres, which
inferred from the description was
close TO a town. The next highest was
1914 an acre for sixteen acres and
house. Then came S270 an acre for nine
acres-no house mentioned, but prob
ably one there: 81 acres, S206 an acre;
80 acres, 1920 an acre; 440 acres, s125
an acre: Three tracts sold at auction
brought S93, 1888 and So an acre for
respectively 70, 40 and 404 acres. The
lowest price 1 have noticed in any pub
1 lished sale was $3.50 an acre for 1000
acres II is probable that some farm
lands for special reasons are much
higher priced than those bringing the
above figures; but l am inclined to be-
lieve that the prices stated for this
county, 800 to 5000, fairly represent
the selling values of ordinary agricul-
tural lands thruout the country.
Not Considered Profitable.
There are prosperous and money
making English farmers; but as a
rule farming is not considered profit
able in this country We read that
Iowa farmers are rolling in wealth
and that the savings banks are fairly
bursting with their deposits. Nat
urally their lands would soar in price
The English tendency in recent years
has been to let the land run more
and more to grass: and yet on the
whole. the quantity of livestock has
no. increased The drift has appar-
entity been toward abandoning farm
ing. which would certainly depress
values.
Why farming is improbable in Eng
land is not clear, tho an Ameri-
can farmer might know if lle looked
over the situation. The land produces
we'll I noted in a former letter that
the average yield of oats per acre
for series of years was greater ii
England than in Iowa. The average
yield of wheat per acre this year wa.
thirty-thre bushels The average fol-
the past ten years was thirty-one ant
one-half bushels One farm near Not
tingham reported yield this year o.
!, sixty-eight bushels an acre; another
IT. -, nj
there is not heat enough to mature
practically ali the crops of our state
are produced here. The trouble doe.
not seem to be lack of productive.
in the soil. And prices Of products
|. range about as in our country. Som
domestic productes command highe
prices than the imported. Beef from
the United States and South Alneric;
and mutton from New Zealand arr
3 cheaper than British meat. Import
, ed turkeys cost less than the Brit
l ish SO do foreign tomatoes. grape
4 and various other fruits and vege
a tables. The higher price of sucl
home products may be partly due t
British patriotism, which commend
q ably regards British meat and variou
= other eatables as the best in tn
world. and induces many people t
a refuse to buy any other All Britisl
q food products are readily sold a
home; and as vast quantities of food
}. stuffs must be imported in addition
ii is mystery to the onlooker VIII
n the thousands of acres seemingly idl
a in this country are not turned to pro
: fitable account
r Besides those mentioned, som
other British products rule flighe
that the imported articles-oysters
for instance The English cost twic