Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-06

IlLne 10 harvest Cne crop. Inen all
the unemployed men and boys are call
ed in for few days and the field is
cleaned up.
Mr.. Schutter's accounts, covering
the manufacture" of onions-because
1t is really little less-for lifetime,
shows that the average cost per acre
is $40.
A little figuring shows the follow
ing:
Fourteen years experience in onion
raising by competent, careful and
exact man has produced an average
annual net profit per acre of $135.
These figures are valuable because
they are authentic. The period covered
is long enough to determine with the
greatest exactness the returns that
can be expected from onion culture in
Iowa. Such an experience table Is
like the report Of a life insurance ac-
tuary. 1t covers so many years that
set-backs, blight, unfavorable seasons,
shortage Of help and all the troubles
that ever attach themselves to any
farming operation, must have appear
ed in the final account
Although agriculture is the most
ancient of civilized mans occupations
less definite and authentic knowledge
has been published about it than con-
corning any of dozen comparatively
recent lines of activity. 1t Is refresh
ing to run through the data compiled
by these careful farmers, whose rec
ords cover period of two generations.
The unsupported "salesman's talk by
land agents or citybred agriculturists
hn1, &s,,,<> Is 49, 3 IL
pictures Of gigantic yields from irri-
gated lands or valleys" somewhere
i'll the vague distance, but such state
ments lack the elements of establish
ed facts. Here in Iowa is man who
has done things for years and who
will do the same remarkable thing
next year. More than that, he has
maintained most valuable history for
nearly half century.
His record is not only written on
paper. The son of the poor farmer
who rented land for the first crops OF
onions now owns $50 acres of bottom
land yes said Mr.. Schutter, ut is
good onion land. Some people try to
leave the impression that Scott county
is particularly adapted to onion Gull
| ture. but there is not a county in the
state that has not ground just as
well suited to onions. Any good, black
| loan well worked in with rotten ma
nnre will give the same results I have
| had
Each year the same patch is used
for onions. 1t Is The crop that makes
money for the Schutter family Of five.
The rest of the $50 acres is used for
| hay and pasture and corn. ri raise the
corn and hay I need, but that is ALL
said Mr.. schutter, when asked what
use he made of the 100 acres remain
ing after the onion patch was cared
for.
What is the value Of such black
loan?
Mr.. Schutter has been offered from
$500 to $1,000 per acre at various
times and has not sold. "The land is
not on the market" he said, when
asked about it's price $135 net profit
per acre is a good return on capital
izataion of $1,000. And it has been pay.
ing this profit many years.
There are thirty million acres OF
tillable land in Iowa. If one-half of ii
were brought to the same plane OF
productivity as this onion farm, the
net profit from agriculture would
reach the gigantic total of over $2,O25,
| 100000. 1t is estimated that the state
produced in 1908, above the needs OF
the people, about $4,000, 900, but this
was not net profit. Out of it must be
charged the value Of the labor of the
farmers. Yet this total is about one
fifth of what would be possible under
good culture of half the state.
Of course it would be absurd tc
convert one-half Of Iowa into an onion
patch. That would be going toe
Strong" But there are other yege
tables-ca bbage, tomatoes, celery
lsugar-corn. There are greater Yields
Of corn and larger crops of oats to be
had from Nature for the asking.
Under intensive culture Iowa LAND
will increase in value beyond the
dreams of the present owners. Land
that pays a net profit of S135 an acre
cannot be bought for $500, 5000 OF
$500 per acre. Under the best method:
of culture the farm lands of Iowa will
some time reach the enormous value
| of $4,000, 100000. That is within {
billion and half of the total value
lsame fourteen-acre field. Fourteen