The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1913-07-11
Talks to Farmers.

are making money, when, in fact
they are growing poorer every year.
Thew grow good crops, they live com
fortably, there is an air of prosper.
ity a:out them, bu when he real
condition is shown it will reveal the
fact that they are really growing
poorer
To illustrate: | have ten thous-
and dollars which | place in the
bank and as | need money / check
on nv capital at the bank ! can
live along comfortable fer a time,
but after a while my capital will be
exhausted.
Just so with a great majority of
our farmers today Their capital is
invested in farm lands, they grow
and market crops year after year,
each crop taking SOM of the pant
food out of the soil: the system Of
farming they practice takes away
plant food, the fertility of their
farms ard returns nothing to the
soil. The same thing happens to
the soil that happens to the bank
account when all is taken out and
nothing is returned. Both will be
exhausted in time.
You all know farmers who are
doing just such farming and every
one. so far as his farm is concerned
is poorer each succeeding year. If
VIZ could get our farmers to realize
this. they would want to change
their system Of farming and adopt
one that would give them a profit
and at the same time build up their
soils They can do so by giving the
proper attention to the live stock
Industry. Tennessee is r.ghtfully
the home of that industry and the
sooner our farmers get to appreciate
our advantages for producing live
stock and the Importance of return
ing vegetable matter to our soils,
the sooner we will stop a loosing
game and go to making a real profit
on our work.
We should get fixed 10 our minds
the fundamental principle and first
law for successful agriculture to cul-
tivate the soil to grow crops to feed
animals to feed the soil. When we
do this our land will grow richer
with intelligent handling. Our crops
will be better and the farmer will
really be making money instead of
simply living off his capital
Conditions are all favorable for
Tennessee farmers engaging in the
i've stock industry, The ives tern
grazif & land is growing less every
year. Because of the vast area of
eyel land, they can farm with la
Dor. saving machinery and make
crops. at less proportionate cost.
They have not yet learned the les
son we have learned, that we can
exhaust the humus in our soils,
md the need Of live stock in our sys-
tenn Of fDrming to rebuild the soil.
Our forefathers thought the same
about their lands, but we have learn
I'd better, We can afford to let the
farmer grow his grain crop
or market: While live stock are
10 much in demand at fancy prices
We have an opportunity to make
money. and rebuild our land at the
anne time.
f we are going to raise live stock,
ct us go at it right. Blood will tell.
cts get good blood, 1t does not
natter SO much in cattle if you are
aising for beef, whether you select
he Shorthorn, Angus, or the Here
ord. But decide on the breed,
hen get thoroughbred with good
Individual points. And let not
very farmerselect different breed;
ut let TIE f farmers in a community
gree on a type and all breed that
ype. It will require fewer service
and by all breeding the
anne, it will be possible for the
to establish "a reputation
n that type that will attract buy
rs. and it will mean the advantage
, the producer in haying the buy
!. cor,1a 70 them and ash What thev