The Washington herald., 1912-06-09

..rn arricuIturc we are fully fifty years
bshind Europe, and the better utiliza-
tIon Of our farm resources is one OF the
most important problems before the
country" declares DR.. Harvey W Wiley,
former Chief Chemist OF the Department
~ Agriculture. DR.. Wiley is authority
for fhe statement that the farming prac-
ices in vogue upon great majority
Of our farm lands are obsolete.
Agricultural scientists engaged IN gov
ernment work here agree that this is a
moderate statement Of condition that
thew recognise as one Of menacing pro-
portions. 1t is based on cold facts For
while politicians OF certain class are
wont 10 refer TO the United States as
sstbe Rranary OF the world statistics
show that so far from feeding the
starving hordes OF Europe, this coun-
try Is rapidly being outdistanced in ag-
ricuItural production by the supposedly
sn6ete nations Of the older continent Not
only is it true that the farm output OF
the United States has failed to keep
pace with the growth in population, but
Il Is equally the case also that, as com
nared with the countries OF Europe, we
are losing ground steadily as an agri-
cultural nation. This is the situation
thst the former Chief Chemist speaking,
as he points out, as q practical farmer
believes should be brought forcIbly be-
fore the people Of the country.
Has studied Agriculture.
In the popular mind, DR.. Wiley has
become 40 closely identified with the
pure food laws that the public is ac-
custorned to think Of him merely as a
sort Of superior chemical policeman, who
has been guarding the general health by
preventing unscrupulous persons from
selling such things as stale pickles, or
mashed apple skins and cotton seeds
labeled currant jelly, or mixture OF
sugar. water, opium, and alcohol as
cure-au and general regenerator Of man
kind But his produest laurels have been
won as an AGRICULTURAL scientist, and for
more than forty years he has devoted
his life 70 a study Of these two allied
subjects of encouraging agricultural de-
velopment and protecting the public
health
.nent service, DR.. Wiley likes TO describe
himself as a farmer. He gives as much
as possible Of his time and attention to
his own farm in Loudoun County, va
In addition, he maintains an ONCE In
washington. which is the headquarters
Of his activities as consulting editor, lee
turer, and pure food expert. He is one
OF the busiest men IN "dSulLlBlOll- Ills
multiform activities leave him little time
TO submit to interviewers, but he is al
WAYS willing to talk about his hobby
scientific agricultural production.
"Old-fashioned, slipshod methods Of
producing wheat and cotton and corn are
still in vogue in over IS per cent Of the
country devoted to those industries" said
DR.. Wiley, continuing his impeachment
of our lax farming methods. The grow
ing of these crops until within a few
years could not have been ranked as
agriculture, but should have been de-
scribed as highway robbery Of the soil.
AS a result the average production per
acre Of these crops has fallen to mini
mum.
Way Behind Europe.
Though we like to boast Of our prog
ress in manufactures and all commercial
activity, in agriculture we are fully half
a century behind Europe. It is high
time we caught up in this field with the
rest Of The civilized world For agricul-
ture is not only our most important in
dustry, It is the basis Of all other in.
dustries.
Farming, for one thing must be made
more ATTRACTIVE. It should be made
more profitable. This will be done as
our farmers learn more thoroughly the
principles Of intensive cultivation and get
4 knowledge Of the methods Of feeding
she soil and Of the rotation Of crops.