Lower coast gazette., 1913-07-05
Facts and Fiction About Crops.

If "the farm is the basis of all industry" as
was recently stated by James j. Hill, then sci
ence should not fail in this duty; for American
agriculture is approaching a crisis, and the use
of science must be depended upon to provide
adequate support for our rapidly increasing
population.
Already the question of food has begun to
exert dangerous pressure in the United States,
but SO much of error and deception has been
promulgated that even those who are to occupy
the places of highest authority and influence
are likely to be led into false positions whose
foundations can only crumble beneath their feet.
There is no fiction in the starving poverty OF
our race in India, nor in the frequent famlnes.
of Russia, nor in the history OF the dark ages
following the ancient civilization of our peo-
pie in the Mediterranean countries; and neither
should be the plans for the future prosperity
of the Aryan in America be based upon fiction.
EXAGGERATED CROP REPORTS.
Careful investigation reveals the fact that
the reports from the Federal bureau OF status
tics, as published by the Secretary OF Agrlcul-
ture, are highly exaggerated and deserving OF
the strongest condemnation, although all would
be glad to give praise if these glowing reports
were true; and, if the progeny of ninety-two
million people and added millions Of immigrants
could live upon blind optimism or mere boast
ing, then duty would not compel this contrlou-
ton toward the protection of truth and pros
neritv. nv exposing error.
The following quotations are taken from the
annual reports of the secretary Of agriculture:
From 1905 Report-Another year OF unsur-
passed prosperity to the farmers OF this country
has been added to the most remarkable series OF
similar years that has come to the farmers OF
any country in the annals of the worlds agrl-
culture. Production has been unequaled; It's
value has reached the highest figure yet at
tanned.
From 1906 Report-Economic revolution in
the art and science of agriculture, which be-
came noticeable in this country half a dozen
wears ago, has continued during 1906, with ire
mendous effect upon the nations prosperity.
Crops so large as to be beyond any rational COM
prehension have strained the frelght-carrylng
ability of the railroads.
From 1910 Republican after year II mas
been my privilege to record another most pros.
nerous wear in agriculture" Nothing short
of omniscience can grasp the value Of the farm
products this year. At no time in the worlds
history has a country produced farm products
within one year with a value reaching $685..
600 600. which is the value of the agricultural
products of this country for 1910. This amount
Is larger than that of 1909 by $305, 900 900, an
amount of increase over the preceding year
which is small for the more recent years.
A notable feature of corn production thls
year is the growing importance OF the South.
This has been manifested in a small way IN
very recent years, but now the Increased magnl-
tude of the crop in that section, both absolute
and relative to national production, forces it.
self upon the attention.
The demonstration work among Southern
farmers is rapidly increasing. Organized in
1904 for the purpose of fighting the boll-Weevll
in Texas, this work has now extended to all OF
the Southern States. From 1904 to 1909
there was an increase from ! to 1862 agents in
the field. The number has now reached $50,
and the demand for more is urgent. In
1909 figures from a large number OF demon
s~trators showed a comparative increase from
SO to 400 per cent in the average yield Of stand
ard crops land the figures for 1910 indicate
similar results.
From 1911 Rep0ft-OWlng to the prevalence
of high prices there has developed a general inn
preston that the agriculture of this country is
unequal to the needs of the increasing popula-
ton. Al investigation of the facts with regard
to this condition failed to establish any cause
for alarm. On the contrary, it is evident that
this country has been passing through phases
of agriculture in which declines in production
per acre are the result of exploiting new land
and in which regeneration follows with a great
err pace than that of increase of population.
The Department of Agriculture has had sue
cess in the South through object lessons in the
field, where the best Southern farmers in their
counties were the instructors. This method
should be organized in all the States.
From 1919 Report-The record OF sixteen
years has been written. It begins with a yearly
farm production worth 1000, 0OO, 900 and ends
with 1882, 600, 1000. During the past
Is years the farmer has steadily increased his
wealth production year by year, with the excep-
ton of 1911. Beginnings have been made
III d production per acre increasing faster than
the natural increase of population.
In the issue of February, 1913, Of the Crop
Reporter, published by authority of the secre-