Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-11-25

these men MAKE very large profits. When
this number increases so that the aver
age relative cost OF production is consd-
ably reduced the price will be lowered,
unless the demand increases relatively
faster than the production
Successful farming to-day is more a
matter of brains than Drawn, O matter Of
Industry and knowledge. Industry may
earn n living but profits will be meas
ured by intelligence. The average farm
or may have some general knowledge Of
the relation Of the soil to crops and a
vague idea Of the chemistry OF fertilizers
a special knowledge of both will add
much to his income and save him many
hours of toll. 1t will materially reduce
his unit cost of production. No man who
lacks that special knowledge can be re-
gnrded rs an adept" in the matter Of
minimum cost of production.
Farming ms business IS too broad and
too complex for brief analysis. The Dos
sbility of reducing cost Of production by
business methods may DO briefly illus
trated thus: n $40 Is the farmers cost
of producing eighty bushels Of pototoes
in on acre OF ground Uhe Wisconsin
average in 1909 the cost is 20 cents bushel.
II by adding $50 to that cost for better
cultivation and proper fertilizer the yield
IL increased to 225 bushels (the Maine
average for 1859 the bushel cost would be
reduced to 2G.G6 cents II increased to $50
bushels the Rhode Island average for
1909 the cost would be 40 cents. While
the figures of cost and expenditure here
used are merely arbitrary. and while
the yield of potatoes may he Influenced
by other factors. the illustration is en-
tirely fair. Yield may be increased and
cost reduced by proper rotation OF crops.
A mere crop rotation will not necessarily
produce these results. Much depends
upon the suitability OF the land for the
crop planted and upon the order in which
the crops occur.
The department OF agricultural esti-
mates a yearly waste of about 800 coo, =
O0N Of farmer money In the purchase of
fertilizers entirely unsuited to tho land
and tho crop to he planted on it. Dis
eases and insects cost the farmers enOr-
nous sums every year. Most OF these
are readily comfortable or avoidable. and
the necessary Information may be OBJ
tanned by application to the department
of agriculture which maintains its bu-
reaus OF entomology of soils and of plant
industry for precisely that purpose Mil
lions Of dollars are wasted by the care
less disposition of farming tools and ma
chinery when not in use. Millions OF
dollars are lost through the use OF worth
less or inferior seeds. and more millions
are lost by raising scrub" animals in
stead OF better breeds. .
There are about six million farms In
the United States, and the annual value
Of their output ia about $1,000, cO, 900
From both statistics" and actual in
formation" It is possible to prove that the
most successful farmers are applying bus
ness methods to their industry and are
producing their crops at average uni,
prices below those OF farms run on old
fashioned lines. The farmer who takes
science and business into his operations
has an automobile and money in the bank
1t IL the other kind of farmer who secures
"a modicum Of rye bread and cabbage
soup" and to whose unintelligent and
incf1cient methods there must be attrib.
uted large measure Of responsibility
for the present high cost of living A
Scientific Farmer In the New York Sun