Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-07-02
Tho Game of Tickling the Farmer.

A friend seems to disagree. in a
measure, with the kenebec Journal in
its stand against those interests which
juggIe with supply and demand to
such extent as always to maintain
outrageous dividends. whether pro-
ducers suffer or consumers starve.
Our friend sends several pages of
Chicago lication-published on So.
Dearborn St, and APPARENTLY in the in
terests of Stock Breeders" This pub
location, among other things written
from the same viewpoint and, obvious
ly. for the same effect. offers the fol-
lowing:
No business is SO safe and sure as
that of producing human food Men
who own land and devote ii intelligently
to the production of the essentials OF
life enjoy an unsurpassed economic ad-
vantage
Every problem dwindles down to ulti-
mate insignificance when compared
with that Of bread and meat People
must and will live. which means that
they must eat. Population is increasing;
profigate waste continues; much of the
land long under cultivation Is producing
little more lldn enough To meet tue tA-
pense. and many farmers apparently are
content with the returns from one
crop system. In this complex situation
lies an extraordinary opportunity Tor
alert. enterprising farmers everywhere
to prosper by growing a variety of hui
man food.
1t is practicable and commercially fas
cinating to make every cultivable acre
yield more than twice the quantity ordi-
narily obtained from an acre. To do this
means raising a variety of crops and
stock. with steady output of staple
products. insuring a consequent steadi-
ness of cash income, A small farm can
be made prodgiously productive of the
things that people will buy for the stom-
achs sake, let the times be piping or
hard.
More and more are wise farmers com
ing to look upon their business as some
manufacturers of staples look upon
theirs; what they produce is a necessity.
For this reason the farm may be re-
garded as manufacturing plant As
such il should be continuously in action,
constantly turning out raw or finished
goods. This is the farm of the future.
Best of ALL the manufacture of many
kinds of human food on a farm tends to
broaden and enrich individual and family
life 1t multiples interests and compels
social and business activities. IL makes
farming varied and creative. The man
who deVotes his energies and land to the
growing of things for people to eat in
evitably will succeed.
We agree that it Is Fascinating to
make every cultivabie acre yield
more" than a grinding. drudging living
out of the ceaseless and muscle strain
ing toll of every member of the farm
er's household
Those talking for big interests paint
beautiful pictures of those who ''en-
JOY an unsurpassed economic advan-
tage" on a farm. But, if they know
anything at all about it, they care
much less about the drudgery and the
hazards of farm life.
Business interests are forever pratt
ing about the hazards" of placing
| their capital in this or that; that they
are entitled TO large returns, etc, be-
cause of these chances. But what of
| the farmer? After he has fought the
season through against pests, and
frosts, and rusts. and drouth, and
food and combinations of all, and
more, he finds the market manipulated
against him by big combinations
which must maintain their dividends
eyen II they have to dump vegetables