American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1911-08-24
N NE III M AfWW ~

great American humorist. said IN a speech before
the representatives of the Associated Press that
everybody thought they could write a play. run
a hotel or edit a newspaper" He might have en-.
larged his list by adding become a successful
farmer" To put seed In, the ground and see 1t
grow seems so easy that almost every one imag.
ines himself capable Of doing 1t successfully. But
we know that farming. that is. successful farm
ing, Is both a science and a business. One can
make just as complete a failure Of farming as he
can OF practicing law. running a hotel or edit
Ing a newspaper. 1t would be worse than useless
10 encourage the Back to the Soil' movement II
II Is not planned and executed In a way that is
likely to be successful. The natural yearning to
get back to the soil' that comes to most people
causes such a movement to appeal to those who
are well qualified. as well as to those who are
poorly qualified successfully to do their part as
cuitivators OF the soil. To go back to the soil
Is to the man of ordinary means and under ordi.
nary circumstances something like pioneering,
ana not every man, by any means, Is capable of
becoming a successful pioneer. To undertake in.
discriminatory. unscientifcally and without proper
method and organization. to get people back to
the soil will result in more of failures than sue
cesses; In more of injury than of good. But this
work can be accomplished in a way that will be
ooth effective and successful and which will in.
crease the proportion of producers as comnared
with consumers. All that is necessary for tho
accomplishment of this result is that the same fore
sisht ana organization should be adopted in start
ing the business of farming as is adopted In the
'""usuIalion OF any other business ENTERPRISE n
iheh OF means. who also have the disposition to
heip their Fellow men, would realize that thew
could make a good paying investment. as well az
reheve distress and suffering by helping others
10 return to the soil In the right way. the "back IN
the sotf' movement would then give promise NJ
accomplishing all that it's enthusiasts have claim.
ed Ior H. Such a movement must. of course ba
under taken on a bushes basis: upon a plan which
VIII promise not only a profitable return on the
investment. but result in giving good homes and
steady employment to many people who need both
1t is easy enough to say 70 the poor of the large
cities that they should go back to the
SOIL; but for the successful accomplishment of
such a result money. and considerable money. Is
required. One cannot expect to make a living on
q Few hundred dollars invested in a farm and the
machinery necessary for It's cultivation, any more
'hah one can expect to make a living on the same
amount invested In any other business. So. in
.ne nrst place. 1t requires money or credit to
ouy a farm, and money or credit to secure neces.
sary implements. machinery, horses, cows. etc.. to
successfully conduct 1t. It will take from Ave to
one hundred and sixty acres. according to the char.
acter OF the soil and the methods of its cultivation.
70 support a family. You cannot expect large re-
,urhs from 2 poor farm. or from q good farm. poor.
~ cultivated. You cannot expect to receive . 70.
turn from a farming Investment out Of All nro
portion TO the value OF the Investment and ths
iaoor expended thereon. The diARculty In mi.
p'opos't'on begins at once Many Of those whom