The evening times., 1913-06-07

WHO are we'll aCQudlnled With the dlf-
f1culties and the expense of obtaining
settlers for lands that are unoccupied
They have also had an opportunity 20
compare the ease with which settlers
are obtained for regions that show
profitable development. The need ut
the present time is not more farms
but more profitable farms. The 1885,
600 farms of the state, with an aver
age acreage of III acres, and a to-
tai valuation of almost $1,500, 200. 900,
are probably producing a cash income
that is. of products actually sold
from the farm-of $1,000 to $1,000
per farm. Real estate development of
a kind that is permanent will be OBJ
tanned by increasing the income that
Is obtained from this average farm,
or by decreasing the expense of its
operation. An increase of 800 per
farm would mean an increase in buy
ing power of over s15.0OO,0OO. This,
a relatively small increase. can be OBJ
tanned without great difficulty. 1t is
we'll within the range of possibility,
and in fact. of probability. that the
earnings and the consequent spending
power of the farms of any section of
the state can be increased from 25 to
40 per cent annually. In other words,
the cash farm income Of this state
may be increased from $35,0OO,OOO to
$60, 100000 year.
Income Can Be Doubled.
THE state demonstration farms
have illustrated beyond a doubt that
income may be very rapidly increased
through comparatively slight changes
IN management and organization. In
the four years that these farms have
been operated several show double
income, others show increases of 10
to so per cent. This has been made
possible through the application of
scientific e.en knowledge to their organi-
zatlon and management. Increasing
the income of the farm so per cent is
even better than adding another farm
family with an average farm income.
The Minnesota experiment station has
accurate records of farms with cash
incomes per acre of two to four times
the average Of the neighborhood or
state. Likewise the profits to the
farmers are many times greater than
form of development that Is of great
est value and that yields the largest
returns. The mere increase in earn
lngs from the farm is perhaps the fac
tor of least Importance in the de-
velopment of the state. The import
ant factor is that such prosperity
and such farm development would in
evitably lead to very much increased
immigration and desire to possess the
iands of this state. Thus fundament-
ally. better farming becomes the basis
OF state development.
Basis Of Better Farming.
THE basis of better farming and
the consequent development of agri-
culture must rest upon wide dissem
nation of knowledge and a collection
of fact which may be applied and
made useful in farm practice. A soil
survey Is essential to the proper de-
Velopment of agriculture, especially in
, our newer agricultural districts. This
gives the basis OF fact as to the crop
ping systems which should be deyelop
ed that Will give the largest return II
VIII indicate the soil areas that are
well adapted to certain crops and be-
comes the basis upon which farm de-
velopment will rest. It is upon the
SOIL that the future of region very
largely depends. The soil should be
SO titled and so cared for that maxi
mum returns may be obtained from
II. II Is the one resource which should
ne permanent in character. Lack Of
proper knowledge in regard to the soil
may easily lead to methods of aericul-
tural exploitation which will be ruin
GUS 10 the country aud will result In a
temporary type Of agriculture. In
many instances lands have been i'm
properly farmed by newly arrived set.
tlers because Of the fact that they
were not acquainted with the char
acter OF the soil or with the soil de-
manos. Facts must be collected and
made available to all sections ~ the
state which will prevent this occur
renee in the future.
An Important Feature.
BY means Of the soil survey. areas
OF land which are non-agricultural or
which for economic reasons should he
segregated for a period of years. viii
De taken of the market, thus making
1t possible to use the human energy
which might be wasted in their dc.
velopment In the development OF the
better lands in areas more suitable in
agricultural production. This phase
OF the matter is an important one.
especially through northern Minne-
sofa. A distinction should be made
between lands that are so located with
reference to railroads. markets. etc.
that they may be economically and
profitably developed, and lands 40
situated that the possibility of earn
Ing reasonable returns from them 10
limited. From the large Viewpoint.
the greatest good accrues to the state
when the labor, energy and thought
OF its people are applied to areas that
VIII give the largest returns. The less
prontable areas should be segregated
until the time arrives when they may
be developed upon profitable basis. y
FIG CELEBRATION.