The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1911-08-18
ar E4E LhD az EzE AERNW ~

great American humorist. said n speech before
the representatives of the Associated Press that
everybody thought they could write play. run
a hotel or edit q newspaper" He might have en-
larged his list by adding become successful
farmer" To put seed in the ground and see it
grow seems so easy that almost every one mag
ines himself capable OF doing il successfully. But
We know that farming. that is. successful farm
ing. is both 3 science and business. One can
make just complete failure of farming as he
can OF practieng law, running hotel or edit
ing newspaper. II would be worse than useless
TO encourage the Back 10 the Soil" movement If
II is not planned and executed in way that is
likely 10 be successful The natural yearning to
get back 10 the soil~ that comes 70 most people
causes such movement 10 appeal TO those who
are well qualified. as we'll as 10 those who are
poorly qualified successfully TO do their part as
eultvators Of the soil To 90 back TO the soil
is TO the man OF ordinary means and under ordi-
nary circumstances something like pioneering.
and not every man. by any means. is capable Of
becoming successful pioneer. To undertake in
discriminatory. unscientidcally and without proper
method and organization. 10 get people back TO
the soil will result in more Of failures than sue
cesSes; in more Of injury than OF good. But this
work can be accomplished in s way that will be
both effective and successful and which will in
crease the proportion OF producers as compared
with consumers. All that is necessary for the
accomplishment Of this result is that the same fore
sight and organization should be adopted In start
ing the business Of farming as is adopted in the
inauguration OF any other business enterprise II
men OF means who also have the disposition 10
help their fellow men. would realize that they
could make good paying investment. as well as
relieve distress and suffering BY helping others
10 return 10 the soil in the right way the back 10
the soil" movement would then give promise OF
accomplishing sll that its enthusiasts have claim
ed for IL Such q movement must OF course be
under taken on Z bushes basis: upoa plan which
will promise not only profitable return on the
investment. but result in giving good homes and
steady employment 10 many people who need both
It is easy enough 10 say 10 the poor OF the large
cities that they should go back to the
SOIL" but for the successful accomplishment Of
such result money. and considerable money. is
required. One cannot expect 70 make 3 living on
2 few hundred dollars invested in 3 farm and the
machinery necessary for its cultivation any more
than one can expect 70 make living on the same
amount invested in any other business So in
the nrSt place, II requires money or credit TO
buy farm. and money or credit 10 secure neces-
sary implements. machinery horses cows. etc TO
successfully conduct IL II win take from five 10
one hundred and sixty acres according 10 the char
actsr or the soil and the methods OF its cultivation
10 support q family. You cannot expect large re-
turns from poor farm, or from good farm. poor.
y cultivated You cannot expect 10 receive re-
turn from 5 farming investment out Of all mo
portion 10 the value OF the investment and the
labor expended thereon The difficulty in this
proposition begins at once. Many Of those whom