Newark post., 1911-04-12

| am aware that at least large
percentage OF the farms represented
here today are conducted bv business
men. That most of the farms Of our
State, however, are suffering rom a
lack of what may be called busln.s IS
management, no one will deny. And
most of you will also agree that until
the man who tlls the soil knows in de-
tail whether or not his operations are
conducted OH money making or on
money losing basis, Agriculture can
never reach the position it should oc-
cupy in the progress OF Our civlliza.
ton.
There is no business that is SO com
plex as farming, and none in which
business principles are as dlsregarded.
How many merchants would think ot
buying a store and stock of goods
without knowing i'll detail the condi-
ton, the adaptation OF its location for
certain kinds Of trade, the business.
this particular store had done in past
years, the exact condition, the amount
and kinds o. goods On The shelf or in
the ware rooms. ii the store was run
down he would make a c:ose estimate
OF the capital it would require to put
it on a paying basis. and the cost Of
fresh stock OF goods that would mee'
the demands OF its patrons.
How different with the farmer, be
he tenant or proprietor, who contcm-
plates going on to a new farm. Does
he take aly steps to ascertain the
amount OF available and potential plant
lood in his land? Does he have any
idea of the amount il should contain
to be classed a rich or a poor farmc
Does the average farmer have any
exact information i'll reference to the
soil requirements of the crops he eX-
poets to grow? Or does he SOW and
reap in the dark, as did one farmer
knew, who came 10 the southern pan.
Of the State from the barley section
OF North Dakota He had grown bar
ley in the Northwest and he thought
he could grow it i'll the Southeast. He
sowed. but the harvest scarcely re-
turned the seed that was put into the
ground
1t is not impossible for anyone who
is in need OF information pertaining TO
the soil to obtain it from some one of
the many public service institutions
that are accessible to everyone. How
ever, in spite Of the fact that farmer S
welfare and that o. his family is de-
pendent upon This sort OF information,
he does not, as yet, appreciate its in
portance, and continues i'll the same
old rut that his father and granu.
fathers had trod before him.
What have said applies with spec
ial force to the tenant farmer. Under
existing conditions, he is paying q
losing game from financial point o.
view. Because he does not realize the
value OF technical knowledge and ot
business merhods in his work, he ano
his famil yare forced to overburder
themselves to produce crops that
must compete unfairly with those
raised by farmers who have a higher
standard of living. Furthermore, be
cause he does not appreciate his re-
sponsibility, to the soil he cultivates
it is becoming depleted OF its lertilityi
the mosr valuable natural resource We
have. In this connection it may be
said that but few farmers consider the
amount Of fertility thar is taken from
the soil with each crop. They do not
appreciate the fact thar the available
plant food in the soil and the physical
condition of the soil is similar to a
bank account, and should be treated
as such. Whenever certain amount
is drawn out, it is necessary to make
a deposit i. the balance is to remain
the same.
1t is also known chat certain crops
as corn. timothy hay, and milk, re-
move much more OF the elements OF
plant food than do other crops, such
as fruits, for instance. 1t is bur rea-
sonable, therefore, that one should
make study OF the various crops that
can be grown on his farm, iron, ier-
tiliry point of view, to the end that he
may grow those that are most profit
able, considering he fertility removed
as we'll as the labor and cost of grow
ing and marketing.
Many consider This minor detail
but it is just such minor details that
make for the success or failure OF
those who follow It's on land we now
occupy, as whole sections i'll the So
called dairy belt o. New York State
can testify To leave the land he tills
in as good, il not in better condition
than he found it, should be the chief
business of every man.
One reason why many are not more
they have no fixed definite working
policy. A manufacturer decides upon
the goods he shall produce only afre.
great deal of deliberaton. Wher
once the decision is made, he equipS
himself lor his particular line OF work
and no other His pans are fixed
and he throws his whole energy into
the task of carrying them out. The
result is that about SO per cent o
manufacturing enterprises are a sue
cess, financially. If farmer woulc
lay his plans as carefully as the manu-
facrurer, then stick to them as tena
cious'y, | am sure that more OF then
would succeed. 1t is SO easy ior :
man 10 grow little of this and lit
tie OF that with the idea that if some
should fail some of he others will not
and so he will be sure of little croI
OF something any way.
This State is one that is particularly
adapted to special farming, If we viii