The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1913-05-30
PART ~
"Hot Air Experts Detriment to Bet.
ter Farming.

Ter farminy.
There is no doubt whatever in nv
mind but that all Of the funds raised
by private subscription by all of the
better farming associations in YOUR
state would be used TO much greater
advantage if they were turned into a
common fund to be devoted. first OF
all. to this fundamental investigation
of your soils. even though you delay
the employment of a special county
agricultural adviser for a dozen years.
True progress is not made by having
the blind lead the blind, or by put
ting the cart before the horse. and
even the extensive advertising in
many states of the plans similar to
those you have under contemplation
does not change the absolute facts.
Thus the cooperative farm demon
stration movement is advertised TO
have revolutionized southern agri-
culture, particularly in the produc-
ton of corn which farmers have been
encouraged to grow in the place of cot
ton, on account of the agricultural ad-
visers employed in the southern states
seems unbounded. and is exceeded
perhaps only by that Of the southern
real estate agents. Even the crop re-
porters of the south who may in some
cases be in close contact, if not iden-
tical, with the county agricultural ad-
visers. seems to have shared this en-
thusiasm and all this has increased
the optimism Of the United States Sec
retary Of agriculture, who has adopted
the practice of awarding diplomas to
the farm boys of the south who excel
in the production of corn on an acre
of land
1t is claimed that thirteen southern
states lying south of the Potomac and
Ohio and extending westward to Ar
kansas and Texas, are sharing i'm this
New South" movement and, accord
ing to the crop statistics published in
the year books of the United Sites de-
partment of agriculture, the total pro-
duction of corn in those thirteen
states increased from 481 900, 900 bush.
els in 1899 to 720,O00.000 bushels in
1909 This represents gain
of 239, ,000,0 900 bushels, or an
increase of so per cent in the
production of corn during the ten-year
period In every one Of the thirteen
states the increase was marked, and
in some cases it exceeded 100 per
cent On the contrary if you will turn
to the reports of the United States bu-
reau of census which have recently
become available you will find that
according to the sworn statements to
the census takers of the farmers who
produced the corn these same thir-
teen states produced 81 million
bushels less corn in 1909 than in 1899
thus showing a positive decrease OF
per cent, according TO the trust
worthy data from the bureau of CEN
sus as compared with an estimated
increase Of so per cent reported by
the official" crop reporters who seem
to be engaged chiefly in the business
OF boosting"
cannot believe that the substantial
business men of Watertown desire to
tl4' Jul a ilOt an iAlOFtHiN vi
this sort On the other hand the SUBJ
iect of permanent soil fertility is one
OF the most fundamental importance
and it deserves and should receive the
most thought and persistent consider
alton by all influential people. Water
town is in position to insist upon the
state experiment station being recog-
nized as real public-service institu-
tion and not as belonging TO any par
ticular locality, and you may thus be
able 70 exert much greater influence
in directing this movement along sane
and substantial lines in the interest
of the whole state as we'll as your own
community than could any city whose
acts or efforts could be attributed TO
selfish motives, because of local inter.
est in some state institution.
Very sincerely yours,