The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-01-07
Opportunities For American
Farming Never Greater
WHITNEY ON PRICES OF FOOD
Chief of Bureau of Soils Declares That
Continual Advance Is Due to In
creased Consumption and Variety OF
Diet Demanded-Summer Products
Now Within Reach of the Masses In
MidWinter at Moderate Prices

Washington, Jan. 3.-Professor
Milton Whitney, chief of the bureau
of soils of the department of agricul-
ture, has added his voice to the gen.
eral chorus of explanation as to why
the price of food continually advances
and never recedes. His is the ex-
PLANTATION of the scientist who is
watching the development of the pro-
ducing capacity of our farm lands, the
increase in the volume as well as the
value of our products.
Professor Whitney inclines to as
cribe the unremitting advance to the
fact that as Americans grow richer
in material wealth, such as incomes
from capital and from the results of
labor in it's various forms, they are
constantly increasing the amount they
eat, the variety of their diet and the
quality of food which they demand.
Whitney said:
1.-THE secretary of agriculture has
for years been calling attention to the
increase in the amount and value of
our crops. Why the increased cost,
If productivity has more than kept
pace with the per capita growth?
Obviously because of the increased de-
mand per capita. The amount we
consume is in some sense proportional
to the variety of our foods and our
ability to purchase.
We are as nation very rich;
wages are high, and we can afford
variety, and we all enjoy far greater
variety than we did fifty years ago.
The markets in our cities, large and
small, already have in December
spring and summer vegetables,
fruits and meats at prices within the
reach of the masses of our people.
1--WE have tempting varieties Of
breakfast foods and other preparations
made of wheat and corn. This variety
tends to increase consumption. We eat
more per capita than we used to. If
the people can afford it, why not?
THE present conditions of soil pro-
ductivity, the falling off of our ex-
ports, and the high price of food
stuffs, if taken together with the gen.
e=ai prosperity, ~ not, 70 MY mind,
indicate danger of starvation, even il
we we're compelled at some future
time to tone down the high living we
are at present enjoying.
1T does show that our farmers are
engaged in a winning and a growing
occupation with a large and growing
demand for the things they produce.
Agriculture in this country is in its
infancy, and we have hardly more
than cleared the ground and got the |
fences up. When we settle down to |
the real business of farming, and get |
a thorough knowledge OF the soil of |
each field, as the people of the longer
settled countries of Europe have done,
we shall have fewer failures to pull |
down our average of productivity.
There never have been greater OPP !
portunities offered for American farm
ing. In the east and south especially |
are cheap productive soils awaiting /
and reoccupation, with |
ever increasing variety of products.
I'VE should apply ourselves in ear
nest and with determination to get
the best out of them by exercising in
control of these valuable as
sets. We should, furthermore, do
this by force of intellect or foresight,
rather than by force of necessity.