New-York tribune., 1911-09-17
TAFT TALKS OF FARMING
At New York State Fair He
Points Out Need of Progress.

Syracuse Sept. is.-A discussion of the
activities OF the Department ~ Agriculture
and OF the opportunities for progress open
~ farmers formed the substance OF the
address delivered by President Taft az tie
State Fair Grounds here to-day. He said.
In part;
We are spending tl5.oo0.ooo vcar In the
maintenance OF Department Of ASriculi-
ure, and we might as well face the truth
and realize that this eNpense, Instead OF de-
creasing. s bound 10 Increase. have
given much attention 10 the matter OF econ-
omy and efficiency In government. Nhit
do not mean 10 say that the present De
psrtment OF Agriculture, in the work vhi'h
u II doing. might not be- made To- do the
same work for less money by a Closer-knit
Organization and greater care In its ~
penditures, | am confident ium LOOKING
into the future OF the department ard 10
tho pressing need for expansion Of Il. work.
that an increase in the appropriations each
year for that department may be and ought
10 b. expected IN the Interest ~ the gov
ernment.
The amount OF Information which the
farmers have received and actsd upon In
their farming business from the Bureau OF
Plant Industry. from the Burelu ~ soils
and from the Bureau OF Animal Industry,
In the Department Of Agriculture, can hard
~ be overstated. ANA the dependence OF tn
welfare OF the country Oh The Continued
spread Of this Information for ia" improve
ment OF agriculture ought 10 he emphasized
whenever opportunity arises.
We have 10 day I'm this country. In con
acres OF land or this. S73C0o.JOa acres are
included In the acreage OF farms. In the
last ten years that acreage did not increase
more than 100000. or "A little over per
cent In that same time our population III
creased ~ Ter cent. or the S13I0).r,N acres.
~. 10000 are improved farm land The S'a,-
pD60 acres include woodland and unim-
proved land The improved lard In farms
Ia ed "A YH
years some Is per cent. but this. II ,Wlll
b" seen. Is not equal 10 the increase IN
population. Now. II ouI population IN
creascs as rapidly as IL has heretofore, We
shall in nfty years have upward of 2oo.Coo.-
OD0 OF people In this country to support "n
this H2.COoo0 acres, much OF which l.
probably no: capable OF producins a great
deal. There are come 1000 100 acres or
swamp land that can be drained, ard there
are 25,0oo.OoO acres that can be irrigated. hut.
with all these, It is perfectly palpablc that
we shall he pressing the lint Of our self
support from the sell unless some Other
method thar by the mere extension OF area
be found for The Increasing Of Our crop
production
Must Adopt New Methods.
In the next one hundred year, Il ,his -
10 be sef-susaining country, "" must
adopt new methods OF farming and pursue
them with eagerness and intelligent enter
prise There has been, "a We know.
movement from the farm 10 the city. How
can these present evils that threaten the
nropress Of our agriculture be remcaied?
How can the movement from the iarn
TO the city be stopped? How can. PROPER
labor be secured upon the farm? j. there
no remedy, or must we change our latur"
az a people and ell become mdnufactur-
ing naticn, and look for our future su. piie'
10 some other source in distant countries
which themselves are looking forward To
limit upon their production
| am an Uptimist and believe that situa
tions however threatening or inmedlatelS
dscoursging. have In themselves e1em'nIs
that Justify hope Of bettcrmcnt. The in
creased price Of farm products has IN
crea SEQ the value Of tho farms and mas
made more certain the prcht OF farmin9
That necessarily works upon the cupidity
Of those In the past who have gone into the
citv, because II offers prospect OF better
income and "A more comfortable living.
To-day with improved roads, with SUP
urban RAILWAYS with the telephone, Win
rural free delivery and. ' hope soon WIN
the parcels post, the life OF the farmer VIII
approximate much more nearly that OF n,s
CITY brother than II ever has I'm the past
In addition TO oil these elements that are
working for the restoration to the farms
OF increased efficiency IN their manaksIn'sa
IS the education which In being given I'm the
COUNTRY and on and near the farm In Scleh-
,ifi, agriculture. in the states We nave
long had agricultural colleges. Now thts1
are being supplemented by agriculture
high schools and by what are called the
consolidated rural schools. all or which
lave the effect TO create much more IMAM
heretofore a closer farmer community ami
to give growing youth a knowledge OF the
host methods Of agriculture and prospect
In the high prices of farm products OF an
adeo,Iate return for modern farming on
proper principles ..
This will give TO the brothers who stay
ON the farm a much more certain prospect
of a rood income and a comfortable living
than those who seek To Join professions or
IN engage In business In which the chances
for the profits and comfortable livelihood
for inc individual are growing less, whlle
those upon the farms arc rapidly incrcas-
ing. , -.
The uronotion of this movement OF voca-
riona, educa don Of the embryo farmer In
IN. .ons OF tho present farmer is as high
q function as any government department
eouId perform, and that is what Is being
pressed forward under the Secretary oil
Agriculture in oveTy state In this nation.
Tie President arrived here early to-day
and was greeted by several hundred peo-
ole st the station. He was escorted TO a
breakfast given by the Chamber OF Com
merce After the breakfast ex-Judge An
Jrews introduced the President 10 the
guests. His reception was dattering. cheerr
rcholnG from one end OK the room 10 the
gi