Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-05-03
Says Western Soil b No Better.
BUT SHOWS THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW
NEW ENGLAND FARMING OF TO-DAY.

| wv. 3. R.. Minnesota. In Country Gentleman.
| Much has been said of the depletion
of the fertility in the soils of New York
when tho term "worn-Out soil" is men
toned, most westerners Immediately
think of the poor, cold New England
soils. But let me tell you that the kind
of farming that was practiced thirty
years ago in New England is now prac
ticed in many sections throughout the
West, and notably on the semi-arid lands
and in Minnesota, and 1t is only ques.
ton of time when the children of the
people now working the land will earn q
better competence in the city and leave
the once productive farm to grow up, "a
| it seems, with rocks, briers and brush.
To the home-like conditions existing
in the New England States some fifty
years back, many westerners can attest.
There was plenty of all for every one,
and best of all it was peaceful. There
was plenty of fuel, great crops OF grain,
and all the hay that was needed. There
also were goodly numbers of farm ami.
mails. What has caused the changes
Simply bad farming. New York was
quite grain state fifty years back
Minnesota is a great grain state now.
OF much importance while it lasts, grain
farming leaves its mark upon the land.
It enrches the father for a short time,
but it makes the poor son poorer.
Though Minnesota raises lots of grain,
the yield is nothing to be proud OF. 1t
is the vast acreage that gives the qusn-
tity in bushels. The yield, furthermore,
is steadily but surely going down. One
might not think so by the yearly reports,
but this is true because large areas are
being cleared each year, and the virgin
soil being SO rich, yields are wonderfully
large. But what has happened In the
older settled sections? Just the same
thing that occurred in New England. l
can cite dozens of cases close at hand
where the ground is getting so poor that
the grain crop does not pay for working
the land. Why are the hay crops so
short, while only five years ago the
clovers and timothy throve amazingly2
How about the garden truck, especially
potatoes? So poor they are hardly worth
scabby things.
Speaking of competition, 1t has been
said that the eastern lands got poor be-
cause of the active competition of crops
from western lands. That may be and
may not. II would seem to me that
farmers would attempt to
raise better and bigger crops on their
own land when competing, and 80, in
stead of the land growing poorer, 1t
would become better than ever, capable
of producing good crops.
1t has fallen to me to build up the
farm my father has made poor by twen-
ty-five years Of grain farming. l am
doing it, but at the same time am yearn-
ing for the opportunity to 60 back east
and build up one Of those "old home
for I know there are as great
or greater opportunities awaiting the
man with grit and gumption in the East
as here in the bleak Northwest. 1t
takes just as much capital and energy
here to improve farm. No one ought
to be afraid of competition. The West
has all it can do to supply it's own de-
mands. 1t remains for the sturdy grow
ing generation to rebuild the worn soils
Of New England and make them smile as
they did so many years ago. 1t is a hard
task, but it must and will be done.