The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-10-31
TAFT BOOSTS
FOR FARMERS
Talks of Conditions in Rural
Districts and Tells How
to Better Them.
NOT SCARED BY CITY DRIFT
Machinery Makes Fewer Peo-
pie Necessary on Farms
Take Care of Soil.
NOT SCARED BY CITY DRIFT

In a recent address President
Taft discussed the agricultural sit
uation, saying in part:
1.-The total improved farm lands
in the United States amount to
ATT AS, 900 acres, which is an in
crease in the last 10 years of 81, 949,-
900, or 1872 per cent. The product
per acre actually cultivated in
!, creased in the last 10 years / per
cent year. or 10 per cent. The
total product increased in 10 years
nearly 20 per cent.
Double Population i'm so Years.
1.-The population in this same
time increased Fl per cent. II the
population continues to increase at
its present rate, we shall have in 80
wears double the number of people
we now have. 1t is necessary, then,
that not only our acreage but also
our product per acre must increase
proportionately so that our people
may be fed. We must realize that
the best land and the land easiest to
cultivate has been taken up and cul-
tivated, and that the additions to
improved lands and to total acreage
in'the future must be Of land much
more expensive to prepare for till
age.
The increase per acre OF the
product. too. must be steady each
year, yet each year an increase be-
comes more difficult. Still, even in
the face of these facts, there is no
occasion for Encouragement. We
are going to remain a self-support-
ing country and raise food enough
within our border to feed our peo-
pie.
What They Do in Europe.
"When we consider that in Ger
many and Great Britain crops are
raised from land which has been in
cultivation for / 1000 years, and that
these lands are made to produce
more than two or three times per
acre what the comparatively fresh
lands in this country produce in the
best states, it becomes very appar-
ent that we shall be able to meet
the exigency by better systems of
farplng and more intense and care
full and industrious civilization.
1.-The theory seems to have been
in times past that sol tnbecame ex-
hausted by constant cultivation; but
the result in Europe, where acres
under constant use for producing
crops for 10 centuries are made now
to produce crops three times those
of this country. shows that there is
nothing in this theory, and that
successful farming can be continued
on land long in use. and that great
crops can be raised and garnered
from it if only it be treated scien-
tifcally and in accordance with its
necessity.
Big Crops Possible
"There is nothing peculiar about
soils in Europe that gives the great
yield per acre there and prevents
its possibility in the United States.
On the contrary, there is every rea-
son to believe that the application
If the same methods would produce
Sust as large crops here as abroad.
Movement to the Cities.
lone of the great reasons for
Encouragement felt by many who
lave written on this subject is found |
the movement of the population
rom farm to city. This has reached /
uch point that the urban popula-
ion is now as per cent. of the total, |
yhile the rural population is but 81
II er cent. counting as urban all who |
We in cities exceeding $500 inhab-
ants,
This movement has been per-
stent. and has made it very diff
lit for the farmers to secure ade-
late agricultural labor, with an
crease in the price of labor which
aturaIly follows such a condition.
iii we ought to realize that enorm-
is advance in the machinery used
the farm has reduced the neces-
~ for a great number Of farm
lnds on each farm"