The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1909-09-15
FARM LAND sWINDLERS

CulJOl hC leohSh'
Under the caption of Farm Land
Swinders." note the valuable advice
you suggest to readers of The Ranch
This is just another phase of con-
servation. a subject uppermost with
the thought of our economic observers.
The conservation of our agricultural
resources must be governed by the
scientific and intelligent methods of
today. This can best be appreciated
by the fact that the average of crops,
when weighed in the balance, is found
wanting for profitable production, and
may be compared to the average dairy
herd, where a few profitable COWS are
paying for the keep of the unprofit-
able majority, making farm life
drudgery, because the excess effort
exceeds discretion and learning to
search for truths available to tighten
the farmers burdens. This much for
the average farmer. But for the nov
ice-who is to warn him, and how are
we to reach him? is the problem. His
first plunge, the purchase or selection
of land and location adapted to the
phase of farming he will follow Is the
most serious move. Conservation must
begin with intelligent methods, but
such is of no avail if the farm is not
adapted to the speciality to be followed
The real estate market is crowded
with over-zealous ambitions, because
of the large profits and commissions,
and much of it bolstered by fictitious
values Even though the enthusiasm
of the real estate man may be taken
with a grain of salt, yet who will say
it is not infectious and often and most
frequently leads to the purchase OF
land not at all adapted for the object
in view. The real estate man is not
always to blame, because through his
inexperience he easily absorbs exag-
gerated statements to which he adds
his undue enthusiasm and actually be-
lieves all he says is gospel truth, and
will even juggle with the truth to fit
the individual case of the prospective
purchaser to make sale. The farm
novice is the best crop for the real
estate men selling farm lands.
The novice always pictures the flu
ture as rosy because that is the view
point of attraction, and because of this
all his information is a beautiful
panorama as compared to his past oc-
cupation. Thus with the inexperi-
enced real estate man and the mex
perienced novice as commercial fac
tors in the initial movement OF farm
conservation; is it any wonder that
the farm changes owners and that the
greatest prof of many farms is not
from the farm but from the sale OF
the farm? How can the novice be
reached to inform and aid him in the
selection of land? Because Of mex
perience, most are not aware that
they need information and therefore
don't seek it, and if they do few under
stand the proper methods of seeking
it and are bewildered with free advice.
Many seek advice by correspond
ence. This is futile step and is just
as applicable as seeking advice OF
the doctor by correspondence. The
individual case governed by conditions
must be the sole factor and precaution
is preferred to exposure for cures.
There are more people wanting good
land than there is land to supply them
There is more poor land or land gov
cred by wrong conditions than there
is good land with proper conditions
for farm success. Because of these
facts and the move of the population
westward and from city to country
there is a vast opportunity to offer and
speculate in lands where it's only and
last value is the original sale price to
the one who buys and attempts to i'm
prove the land. Then to cap the CHM
ak, taxes begin with the Improbable
improvements. J. F. LITTOOY.
Mountain Home, Idaho.