The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1910-11-25
INTENSIVE FARMING,
Kansas Farmer }

Formerly it was said that the man
In Kansas farmed by the mile
instead of by the acre. There was
a great deal of truth in this state
ment, and the conditions served to
warrant it. In our earlier history a
majority of the people of the United
States were farmers. Even by the
crude methods Of those days these
farmers produced more than was
needed for home consumption, and
a great deal of our farm products
and live stock found a market
abroad. In this way we built up a
large export trade, which was said
to place the balance of trade in our
favor and to be looked upon with
complacency by our citizens. The
reason for it was that we had no
home market, and simply sold our
surplus to the best advantage wher
ever we could.
In racent years things have
changed, and no more rapidly than
in the section lying west of the
Missouri river. Where once were
broad acres of great fertility, lying
all ready for the plow, without any
necessary preparation, we now find
high priced land on which the old
methods do not pay. Our market
conditions have changed. Formerly
the Immigrants 10 the United States
came largely from the countries of
North Europe, bringing with them
habits of thrift and industry, and a
life training at farm work. These
people naturally drifted to the
farms, and became a part of the
great army of our best producers.
OF late years, however, the tide Of
immigration has turned, and those
who now come from across the
water to our shores are from the
countries of Southern Europe, with
different habits of life and modes of
thought, and each one makes his
home in the city.
There is a constant lure of the
city which has always served to
attract the young man and young
woman from the farm. Our cities
have always grown at the expense
of the country. With the change
in immigration these cities have
increased more rapidly and the
balance has been greater in their
favor. With the constant influx
from the country, which has always
and which is now no less,
and with almost the entire immigra,
ton from foreign lands finding its
homes in the city, we find that the
cities have grown extraordinarily,
whi'e the country population has
stood still in numbers or actually
retrograded. This makes of US a
country whose larger population is
urban rather than rural.
With the closing up of the great
ranges of tie west, and the making
their acres into farms, has come
another new condition in which the
possibilities for the production of
cheap feed no longer exist as they
once did. This has brought abou,
series of new problems, among
which may be named the necessity
for producing our meat animals on
the farm instead of on the ranch,
and the increased price of lano
which demands greater return per
acre than was formerly necessary.
The conditions which now face
The American fsrmer are such that
ne finds himself obliged to feed three
families besides his own. In other
words, the product of one farm
must supply the necessary food
'tuffs for three families living in the
:ity, besides that necessary to
maintain the farmers own family.
N face of this and the consequent
higher prices, we have the help
problem before US. 1t is true that