The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-09

oOA shsSoAktS VI PAsOOV 81 SSbbs
cations show that as the Investment
increases vcr $4,000 thc chances If
a labor income of $1,000 or over "a
materially increased. Applying these
figures as to investment to North Da-
kota conditions. we would then ex-
pcct to find hat our farmers we're
obtaining a high labor income. The
opposite. however. is true. for our last
census shows that the total value. of
al! products produced on the farm
is scarcely e $4,000 per farm. and
when the cost of feeds and expenses
of operation are deducted. that the
labor income from Jul present invest
ment Is extremely low. probably not to
exceed $500 per farm. This In itself.
Is a sufficient indicator that a change
Is necessary in our method. Of capt.
talization. Experience has shown that
our most profitable farms. unless OPP
these are rarely profitable) have APP
proximately s~eventy-five per cent Of
the total capital invested in land and
buildings. hat the remainder should
be invested in implements and live
stock.
The investment of a comparatively
small noun of additional capital
often makes possible a largely in
creased gross income, and a greatly
1iiSt edeeu Hel tiicoi'e. vi ouI aver
age farm in this country. an addition
al investment OF $500 to $4,000 in
livestock and improvements to build
ings necessary to shelter them, would
probably increase the gross income
from the farm by not less thar L.
900. In addition, it would bring about
saner systems Of cropping, which
would in tur increase the produce
ton on the lands devoted to u small
ira "a on6 nnoh1n tho un0tnD nf n
larger net profit from each acre thus
in grain. A greater use would be
made of man labor. and labor would
be distributed to better advantage
throughout the year. The ina result,
if Investigations on the western
boundary of Minnesota are any cri-
terion. would be an increase IN tho
net income of $500 to $500.
ITO much stress can scarcely be
laid upon the fact that a greater
amount of free capital is required on
our farms. This must ordinarily be
brought about either through the sale
of some Of the lands already held. the
use of the eturns in making produce
tive the farm home or through far
Their loans obtained on mortgages. A
mortgage does not indicate that a
that agricultural conditions are bad.
If it has been incurred in order to
obtain productive capital for use on
the farm, it indicates that conditions
are improving. If, however, loans
have been used in further extending
the speculative interest in lands, the
tendency is wholly bad. Our farm
operators must soon realize that on
the greater number of our farms the
portion of working capital. rather
than farther speculative or other in
vestments in land. Until this read
justment of capital is brought about
we cannot expect our farms to be as
profitable as they should be.
Cropping Methods.
Certain methods Of cropping are
most profitable Of these methods
should be developed on each farm.
Under the climatic and soil condi-
tions Of the Red river valley. wheat
and fax will continue to represent
our principal money crops. These
crops ear only be grown to advantage
when in a rotation that will keep up
the fertility of the soil. prevent weeds.
plant diseases and insect pests. Under
six or eve veal rotation can be used
to the hest advantage. Under this
system of rotation. at least one-sev-
enth of the farm is devoted to culti-
waited crops and t~wo-sevenths to our
grass crops The plea is often adj
vanced hat a farmer connot afford
to keep the necessary land down to
grass n cultivated crops. but must
raise the small grains in order to
make expenses. or sufficient income
to live. The very opposite of this
is true. Farming can only DC follow
cd profitably when yields are suffi-
cient to give a profit over the cost Of
production. This is not possible I'M
der any single crop system of farm
ing. The net profit from an acre of
wheat on rundown soil. is very small.
der such conditions will not materially
decrease the net nroft of the farm.
but will often decrease the net loss.
A 90 bushel crop OF wheat at the
average price which has prevailed
for the past ten years. and with the
average cost of production will give
a net profit OF owe $3.50 an acre.
A Is bushel crop of wheat under
ii of slightly over s2.32 an acre, or
less than half the profit obtained from
a 20 bushel crop. A 12 bushel crop,
about the average. obtained from
North Dakota farms gives a loss of
% cents an acre. One acre which
will produce 90 bushels is worth moro
than 4 acres producing at the rate
Of IA bushels. The gross profit or
case the operator handles the
money obtained from Sc bushels of
wheat. while in the other he only
handles that obtained from 20 BUSH
els. The net profit, however, which
is the essential factor. is greater from
the one acre than can be obtained
from the -four.
Yields Cannot Be Maintained.
Under average farm conditions In
256 acres of small grains. principally
wheat. ~ acres Of nax. 40 acres OF
hay and forage. mostly our wild grss-
es. and S acres Of cultivated crops.
corn and potatoes. Yields cannot
possibly be maintained by such a sys-
lem of agriculture. Grass crops the
~clovers. alfalfa and corn. or potatoes
seventies Of the land, This, would
mean that under average farm con-
ditions the area devoted to small
grain would be decreased approx
mately 80 acres, and that the area
devoted to grass and cultivated crops
would be increased by that amount.
II such a method were uniformly
pursued on the farms of, this county.
the quantity OF grain produced would
remain practically the same. or slight
ly. increased. The profits (there il
little actual profit now, obtained per
farm. in spite of the decreased. acre.
age Of the small grains. would be
four times greater than under pres.
ent conditions. In addition. 1t would
1900 to $1,000 of additional income
from the farm. This income would
be secured and produced at the ex-
pense Of an additional mans labor