The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-24
YIELD FALLS OFF
Startling Crop Data Given by
Truman Ct. Palmer.
Prediction Made That Farms
VIII Become Valueless.

WASHINGTON. March 24.-The yield
per acre of every one Of the import
ant crops OF Kansas is lower today
than it was 40 years ago, and unless
the present wasteful methods of hand
ling farm lands are changed the state
will be without farms or farmers with
in a few more decades. This is the
startling message conveyed to the peo-
pie of the Sunhower state through a
letter made public on Kansas farming
conditions addressed to Senator w. H.
Thompson by Truman G. Palmer, who
has devoted many years to agricultural
investigation in the United States and
Europe.
I'm 1862" writes Mr.. Palmer. your
collective average yield of the four
cereal crops, wheat, rye, oats and bar
ley, was 20 bushels per acre, and it
never since has been as high. Never
since 1873 has it reached 21.5 bushels,
and not during the last nine years has
it reached 20 bushels per acre, or two
thirds Of what it was A years ago.
In 1869 the average yield of potatoes
was 149 bushels and in the succeeding
43 years it never once had reached that
figure. In but five years has 1t ex-
ceeded 100 bushels, while in four diff
ferent years it dropped below 80 BUSH
els. Corn makes a worse showing than
the other crops. In 1869 the average
yield was 48 bushels to the acre. 1t
not for % years has it reached 80 bush
els. 1t has been less during the last
five years than during the five pre-
ceding. Wheat is the only crop that
has not shown a falling off during
the last 80 years and the wheat yield
has gained less than half a bushel to
the acre, although Kansas is the third
greatest wheat growing state in the
Union"
Comparisons With Germany.
Mr.. Palmer contrasts the poor show
ing made by Kansas crops with the
great improvement in acreage yields
that have been obtained in Germany
during the same period. with soil far
inferior to that OF Kansas. He ex-
plains that this increase is due to the
cultivation of root crops one year in
four in rotation with cereals and points
out that Kansas is well adapted to the
very best of such root crops, the sugar
beet It is the sugar beet, according
to Mr.. Palmer. that has done more
than any other agency in increasing
the farm yields Of Germany and its
Importance has been recognized by the
German government which has en-
couraged sugar beet culture not only
by heavy tariff duties on imported su-
gar but also by direct export bounties
and by every other possible means.
1.-The climate and soil OF Kansas are
well adapted to the growing of sugar
beets.'' he reminds Senator Thompson.
"as has been demonstrated by the ex-
perience of farmers in sections of the
state with which you are familiar and
by the successful operation of a beet
sugar factory in your own city. Kan
sas has at hand, therefore, the means
of working out her agricultural regen-
Grafton. It only remains to extend this
industry throughout the state in order
to replace the present decrease in the
average yield of staple crops by great
and continuous increase. This result
will not be accomplished, however, if
the tariff on foreign grown sugar be
removed or seriously reduced, because
capital will not invest in new enter
prises under conditions of certain loss
and failure"