Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-09-09

A los of nonsense is being talked and
written by the Republican newspap-
ers shout ''better agricultural meth
DDS. = sSelf-interest, OF course, prompts
every farmer to do everything that he
can 10 set the best crops possible, and
no incentive is stronger than self-inter-
est. There are many things that FARM
ers would like to do that events pre-
vent them from doing, and there are
things which they do that they wish
they had left undone. II is so in every
business and with everyone. If the hay
had not been cut this morning, the
rain would not have spelled II; but
who is wise enough TO tell what the
tickle weather will be? If 1t had not
rained for weeks in the spring, the cot
ton aud the corn would not have been
so weedy; il would have been possible
TO work it In season, inst cad q having
TO wait until other crops needed atten-
ton. III 1t had not been for the drought
the crops would have been better; but
the farmer is not rain-maker and
has to accept the weather that nature
provides.
When the people get sick Of Repuh-
lican policies and corrupt misrule,
some smart AieeS bames 1t on the
farmers, aud "the organs begin to
pipe in the same tune and demand
better agricultural methods.
When Insurgents insufge, tho same
'sorgans blame 1t on the farmers aud
insist that they have prospesed through
Republican legislation, although they
admit the tariff should have been
more SCIENTIFIC
Some railroad magnate mas n.odel
farm where everything that be raises
costs twice what it i worth, aud even
the eggs cost one dollar per dozen,
and he thinks that The farmers should
follow his example Of ssintensise farm
ing The Agricultural Department
experts advise the farmers how 10 im-
prove their soil and stock, but il their
advices were followed the farmers
would need the Treasury of the United
states to draw upon and then require
an urgent deficiency appropriation, as
the experts often do, 10 make both
ends meet.
Ii the farmers critics would try
their hand at farming, with the pres.
ept lack Of labor aud not very efficient
ut that, they would not carp SO much.
1t is dollars TO doughnuts they would
admit failure, blame il on the land or
the weather, aud then resume their
old occupation of scribbling about
hat they don't know about farming.
The Agricultural Department has
Just discovered that the farmers ought
to raise more potatoes to the acre, and
has sent experts to Europe TO find out
how to do IT, What they will learn
will be that the climate there il better
than here for that SORT OF crop, and
any Pennsylvania Dutchman could
have told them SO much without it
costing a dollar, when they will spend
thousands.
Other countries are sending experts
here to discover how we grow cotton,
and why 1t can't be grown as well or
better in Africa, Asia or South Africa.
1t is probably question Of climate,
for the darkey and the old mule can
surely be duplicated i'll some fashion
and there is no great secret la their
meanderings.
If you have tried farming you will
know that II is no picnic, and that
through Republican policies all that
you have to buy is at trust prices, and
all that you have toseIl you must take
what some combine VIII pay. les, il
is not all fun being farmer, nor do
they all ride IN automobiles, though
the Republican metropolitan organs
and the funny supplements would try
and make US believe that the farmers
are bigger fools than any other NOR
tals.p