Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-10-04
AGRICULTURE.

AGRICULTURE.
FERTILITY OF SOIL THE SECRET
OF SUCCESS.
CROP YIELD OF THE UNITED STATES
BY PROPER METHODS NIGHT
EASILY BE DOUBLED.
| lCyril g. Hopkins, before National Conserve
ton Congress.l
As agriculture is the basis Of all in
dustry, 80 the fertility Of the soil is the
basic supportxof every form Of agricul-
ture. Without productive land there
could be no American agriculture and no
American prosperity. The most impor-
tant material problem Of the United States
10 to restore, to increase and to perme-
nently maintain the fertility and produc-
tive power Of our farm lands. In conbarfs
son with this problem others fade almost
to insignincancs and We do we'll to pauss
in the rush and hurry Of our busy business
life to nasasurs the agricultural record Of
the past and to consider the possibilities
Of the future.
leone before this national congress Of
patriotic, progressive and influential mon
and women mot to present theories or
opinions, but facts and data, which de-
serve and should command your imms-
diate serious confederation and your sub
sequent persistent and effective action.
Intelligent optimism is right and adj
mirable, but blind bigotry paraded as OPP
timism ID dangerous and condemnable.
''Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again;
the eternal years Of God are hers;" and
this congress has before it the duty and
the right to uncover the facts, to face the
truth and to plan int diligently for the
solution of this mighty problem.
That vast areas Of land, once cultivated
with profit, in the original thirteen states
now lie agriculturslly abandoned, is COM
mon knowledge; and that the farm lands
of the great corn belt and wheat belt of
the North Central states are even now un-
dergoing the most rapid soil depletion
ever witnessed, is known to all who pos
sess the facts.
CROP STATISTICS.
The crop statistics OF the United States
now cover two twenty-year periods and
half decade on the next. A comparison
of these two periods show the average
acre-yield in the United States to have in
creased only one bushel for wheat and
one-half bushel for rye; while corn de-
CREASED ono and one-half bushels and
potatoes decreased seven bushels per acre.
These crops constitute the basis of our
human foods, even our supply of meat be-
ing largely dependent upon the corn crop
Thus, In spite OF the vast areas Of new
land put under cultivation during the last
twenty years, and in spite Of the improve
ments in dredge ditching and tile drain
age, in seed, and in implements and
methods OF cultivation, the average acre
yield shows little or no increase; but in
striking contrast the census returns show
an increase in the population Of con-
tiguous continental United States from
81, O00,oO to $4,000, 600 people during the
last forty years; and in spite OF the fact
that to feed our rapidly increasing popu-
lation we have extended our area Of cult
waited crops beyond the humid and far
into the semi-arid regions, and in spite Of
reducing our corn exports from 213,-
OOO, 900 to q, 0OO, 200, bushels and our wheat
exports from 81, oOo,0 600 to 12,o00, 900 bush
els during the last decade, nevertheless
the most common topic discussed in re-
cent years is the high cost OF plain living
| in these United States.
These are American facts; and, while
there need be no sensation, there is need
for sense in their consideration. A few
people can live on blind optimism or hot
air, but something more substantial will
be required to feed the progeny OF $1,000
0OC and added millions Of immigrants. It
lie said that the high civilization Of the
ancient Mediterranean countries weni
down into the Dark Ages with laughter
Dark Ages which covered the face OF the
earth for thousand years and which still
Russia aad in India, where more people
are hungry day by day and year by yea,
than the total population Of the United
| States.
MAINTENANCE OF PROSPERITY.
The problem which now confrOnti
America is nothing less than the mainten.
ance of prosperity for ourselves and o.
civilization for our children; for civil.
ization depends upon education, anc
only prosperous nation can afford the
general education OF it people. Property
is at once helpless and soon ignorant and
indolent. An impoverished people can
not have adequate schools or schooling.
No greater problem ever confronted any
nation than now confronts the United
States; but the solution ia plain; in q
word, we must increase production and
limit reproduction, especially the repro
duetion Of tho unflt. To solve half OF the
problem is not suf1cient, and, In pass
ing, I must emphasize tho tact that
with the most practical scientific sys-