The Lamar register., 1912-07-03

after an elaborate study of the re-
suits achieved there by a judic-
ious system of alternating crops. BY
applying to themselves the results
obtained through the experience of
German agricullurists in this re-
spect he asserts that American
farmers would increase their annual
profits by a billion and a half dol
lars.
The great trouble with the
American farmer is that he is es-
sentially a one-crop farmer. said
Mr.. Palmer. HE grows wheat or
corn or cotton year after year from
the same fields. This policy is
sacrificing literally hundreds of mil
lions of dollars a year which Amer
lean farmers might receive with
out any considerable increase of
effort. Our fertilizer bill is grow
ing out of all proportion to that
of Europe, having advanced from
$45 100000 in 1890 to $11O.OOO.OOt
in 1910, with only an eighth per
cent increase in the average yield
of our leading cereal crops. AT the
same time the soil is being robbed
of its producing power and a con-
dition is rapidly developing which.
unless a change Is brought about
ms In hA
sition of being unable to supply our
own demands for fo0dstuffs.
while the United States often
is represented as s'feeding the
starving hordes of Europe. the
truth is that the rehabiiitated soils
of the older continent. even exclud-
ing Russia. the 'granary of Europe
produce more bushels OF Sn-
crops of wheat, rye, Ibariey, 81
and potatoes per capita oi tn=..
population than we u the United
States produce. wit6 only 45 per
cent of the surface hrez OF the
United States. Europe. without Rus
sia. produces twice as much sugar.
twelve times as many potatoes and
twenty-five times as much rye, not
withstanding the fact that we lie
in the same latitude. have su-
perior agricultural climate. virgin
soils of greater natural richness.
and that these European lands
have been cropped for centuries.
The better results obtained by
European agriculturists frequently
are attributed 10 the Intensive
methods of cultivation employed.
70 an even greater degree. how
ever. they are due to the fact that
Europe long ago realized the ruin
Gus results of the single crop policy.
and by the adoption of wise sys-
tenn of rotation has increased the
yield of all it's crops. while at the
same time preserving the fertility
OF its soil in undiminished volume.
While intensive methods can be
introduced here only gradually, it
would be possible for the American
farmers, without any considerable
effort. to adopt plan OF crop ro-
tation that would enormously in
crease the yield of their acres and
SO would benefit not only them
selves. but every person in the
country
For example, Germany learned
nearly a generation ago the tre-
mendous value of the sugar beet
as. a crop. to. be used in rotation with
cereals, and the cultivation in all
possible ways until Germany now
produces half of the entire world
product of beet sugar. In the Unit
ed States the cultivation of this
crop has increased very greatly,
but it is judged solely by it's di-
rict return, without any consid-
Grafton of the indirect benefits in
increasing the yield of other crops.
although these indirect results are
the more valuable OF the two. In
foot tho oroot increaSe in tho acro-