The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-06-24

new land consuming some of its capi-
tai in the production of crops has re-
tarded, IL not prevented, the improve
ment of old land needing conservation
and a gain in fertility. The improve
ment of the older land is not an aca-
demic question of conservation Of
national resources, but it is to be
worked out in the endeavors OF farm
ers to get a living, and a better one, an
end that can not be attained by a sud-
den high production rer acre large
enough In the aggregate to be over
production, with Improbable If not
loosing prices for the farmer.
Increased Production.
A marked change in the production
per acre of all crops appeared in the
decade 1S96-19O5 in comparison with
the mean of the proceeding ten years.
The production per acre of corn in
creased ~ per cent; of wheat, 6.3
per cent; of oats, 1876 per cent; Of bar
ley, Ill per cent; Of rye, 21.3 per cent;
of buckwheat, 23.1 per cent; of hay,
% per cent; Of potatoes. 1873 per cent;
of cotton, 3.S per cent; and of tobacco,
90 per cent.
The weather and other crop condi-
tions Of the four years 1906-1909 were
not as favorable for crop production
as they were in the proceeding ten
years, so that the production of oats
per acre declined, that of hay remained
stationary and that of cotton and bar
ley barely increased. In the case of
other crops the mean production per
acre continued to show large increas-
es, the mean of these four years over
an increase of IL per cent for corn, $40
per cent for wheat, SIS per cent for
rye, SIS per cent for buclkwheat, 15.5
per cent for potatoes, and 81 per cent
for tobacco.
Actual Population increase.
Corn production per acre increased
from 1S86-1895 to 1S96-1905 at rate
which quite or very nearly equaled
the actual increase of population in
ten states. The list for wheat con-
tains twenty-five states distributed in
all parts of the United States In the
list of oats are sixteen states; for
barley fifteen states; for rye, twenty
one states; for buckwheat, eighteen
states; for cotton, only one state, Ok
lahoma, containing new land; for to-
bacco. only Wisconsin,; for potatoes.
fifteen states, all In the potato belt
and for hay, twenty-five states. The
average for the four years follow
ing 1905 is not based on number
Of years large enough for COMPARE
son.
Decreasing Birth Rate.
There is a prevalent misunderstand-
ing with regard to the nature of the
increase of population in this coun-
try. 1t seems to be assumed that the
net immigration is to continue in
definitely at the rate of one-half to
three-fourths of a million people an
nually. How quickly immigration can
be reduced was shown by the indus
trial depression of 1908. No one
who would take a far sight into the
future would reckon upon an indie
finite continuance of a considerable
immigration.
Normal Population Increase.
A prevalent oversight in consid-
Grafton of this subject concerns the
birth rate The census of 1900 points
to the conclusion that the birth rate
Of this country, after eliminating the
influence. of the foreign born, is about
IA per cent a year, or 1914 per cent
for a decade.
A comparison of production per acre
with the normal increase of popula-
ton, that is to stay, with the increase
unaffected by immigration and the
high birth rate OF the immigrants, is
the form of the problem as it will |
present itself more and more closely |
as the years elapse.
From 1Ss6-1S95 to 1s96-19O5 the |
mean production per acre Of wheat |
increased in a greater degree than
thethe normal increase Of population |
in twenty weight states. Two other |
states are very near inclusion.
In the case of corn production in |
creased production per acre has ex-
ceeded the normal increase of popu-
lation in fourteen states, and very |
nearly the required increased produc-
ton was made by five other states.
A long list of states gained in pro-
duction of oats per acre in a greater
degree than the normal increase In
population. They are found in New
England and along the Atlantic coast /
to Georgia; in important states OF
the Ohio valley, north and south; in