Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1910-01-26

agriculture as a whole. There were a
number OF reasons for this One of the
most important ones, perhaps, was
that the demand for the staples of life
| did not meet the generous supply har-
vested from vast areas of virgin soil,
and that, up to few years ago, we had
not begun to diversity our crops and in
consequence had not cultivated a de-
mand for the large variety of products
that We now consider necessities Con-
ditlons i'll this respect are now chang
ing rapidly. Agriculture is being re-.
duced to a business basis; land is in
creaslng i'll value and it is yielding
| much larger returns than formerly. II
the Government reports are correct,
the American farmer who made dollar
IN 1908 made $I,75 in 1907; a gain Of
| Is per cent. Last year the average
farm OF our country contained about
Lax acEes~and nroduced- CT, -. Z. We ". q
at nearly $40 per acre.
No one believes for moment that
we have as yet approximatcd the posi-
bilities of farm profits that are within
our grasp. 1t is thought by scientists
that our population will double in the
next twenty-five years. When we con-
slider that today we are within two
hundred and twenty-five miles OF some
thing like twenty millions OF people, we
have some appreciation of our posi-
bic markets in the next generation.
While much has been accomplished by
facilities, it is impos-
sible that space will ever be entirely
and the task OF supplying
a large part of the perishable food for
the great market that is, and will con-
tinue to be, at Our doors will fall upon
us. Our chief concern then will be
not to find profitable market for our
products, but to find products for our
markets. AS these conditions develop
the tltest OF us will adapt ourselves to
them and gradually establish an agri-
culture that will be upon a permanent
basis. We shall try to raise the maxi
mum amount OF food stuffs upon a
given area, and, at the same time,
maintain high state of soil fertility.
This will mean intensive cultivation A
arge working capital compared with
capital invested in land 1t will also
uean larger and more certain returns
than is now possible under conditions
hat obtain on too many OF our pres
ant day farms.
Second. The Comforts of Agricul-
.ure. Any calling or vocation to attract
On its merits an energetic, well trained
class OF people, must today give some
assurance Of being able to furnish most
Of the comforts and few of the luxur-
es Of life. There never was time in
he history of agriculture when farm
ers lived better than at the present
lime, yet there is much to be desired.
Daily and weekly papers, telephones,
good roads. rural mail delivery and inn
proved machinery have done great
1eal to make farm life more attractive.
All these agencies are playing an i'm
oortant part in putting our agriculture
upon more permanent and more ideal
oasis
There are, however, two other agen-
lies to which l would like to direct
your attention that are as capable of
1oing as much for the advancement of
rural life as all of the other agencies
combined.
| refer to the adoption of lavor-sav-
ng devices in the farm home, and to
he redirection of Our rural institutions.
Agriculture is business, and we
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