Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-02-21
The Outlook for 1911.

The year Just closed will bs memo
rable for the enormous value OF Its agri-
cultural products. Never before In the
worlds history has the United States
produced farm products to the value Of
IS, ,926, ,000, 900 in one year which Is the
value of the agricultural products for
this country for 1910. as reported by the
secretary of agriculture, This aggre-
gate is nearly double tho value of the
crops Of 1S99-an increase in eleven
years OF nearly s4,50O, 600. .O0O-and this
prosperity of the farmers is practically
nation wide, as almost every crop and
every district, except some portions OF
the northwest, have participated In
bounteous harvests. Indeed, this pros
perity of the farmers Is nearly world
wide, and as result, in part at least,
trade expansion In 1910 was larger than
any other year.
But the record OF business for 1910 is
now closed, and we are concered more
particularly with the new year. We re-
fer in passing to the crop results in
1910 only because of the fact that this
prosperity of the farming community
furnishes most substantial reason for
the expectation that the new year may
be very prosperous one for the people
of the United States.
Much has been said of late concerning
the necessity for better cultivation of
the soil and Of increasing the yield per
acre, If we would keep pace In our pro-
duction with the increase In our popula-
tion, and thus preserve our position as
food.exporting nation. The agitation in
this direction is resulting in the use of
more and better implements and ma
chimes for the cultivation Of the soil, and
less wastefulness in harvesting the crops.
Many of the state agricultural colleges
are sending their professors out among
the farmers giving lectures and demon
strations, directing attention to the i'm
pOrtance of selecting good seed, the best
methods of tillage and the proper steps
to take to maintain and increase the
fertility of the soil, and this work is sup.
plemented with educational booklets and
special articles prepared and sent out by
the leading manufacturers.
The effect of this is seen in more
general use of the most modern tillage
implements-traction engines for deeper
blowing to get beneath the earth that
has been compacted by years of plowing
a uniform depth, and thus increase the
depth of the loose soil and its capacity
for holding moisture; corn binders and
huskers and shredders for saving the
corn crop; gasoline engines for pumping
and other uses on the farm, etc. The
farmer ia realizing in larg er way the
value of these machines, and the bumper
crops give him the means with which to
procure them. The profitable crops
also emphasize the necessity for the use
of the best farming implements and ma
chimes in order that the largest returns
possible may be realized from each acre.
We have also heard considerable of
late about the "back to the farm" move
ment from the big cities. Many who
have found the struggle too strenuous
for the over-crowded centers OF popula-
ton, and desire the freedom and inde-
pendence of the farmer, are returning to
the simple life. All these things make
for larger and better demand for the
commodities of trade, and give sub
stantial foundation for the belief that
the demand for farm products In 1911
should be considerably more active than
in any previous year.-M. D. r. Owings,
of the I. Il. G. Service Bureau.