The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-04-05
With the State Press
It Is Up to the Farmer.

The most serious aspect of agricultural oon-
dittons In the United States lies in the fact that
the demands Of domestic consumption as meas
ured by the increase in population. This is a
problem altogether aside from that sought to
be remedied by the reduction or removal of the
tariff natural products or by laws addressed
Ito the chea pening of transportation, or in other
ways lessenng the cost OF distributing the fruits
of the soil among the ultimate consumers. Such
measures OF regulation are beneficial so Tar as
they GO but in a situation where demand outruns
supply no cure goes to the root of the trouble
that will reinforce the latter to an ex-
tent that will restore the balance,
There is no real reason why a relative scarcity
Of foodstuffs should exist in this country. There
are millions millions of acres of fertile land
yet unhroken by the pillow, which only call for
cultivation to bring forth abundant increase;
but even were this not true. there Is quite within
reach of farmers and planters means by
which their havests can be brought to overtake
and exceed the rate of growth In home con-
sumption. They not getting from their
fields anything like the yield of which, under
skilled methods of tilage, they are capable: nor
are they obtaining results at all comparable to
those reached in other countries far less blessed
by nature than our own. Our lands are virginia.,
compared with those which have for ages been
contributing TO human needs in Europe and
the Orient Yet, for instance, the average of
wheat to the acre in America barely amounts
to fifteen bushels which, according to the Of
for centuries threses out thirty eight bush els
| annually, and In the year from the same
! fields gathers tons OF sweet potatoes The re-
turn in the British Isles averages Just double
what the Minnesota farmer reaps. and that fig
ure is regularly maintained in France. Germany
| nd Hungary. The reason is simply more sci
entlfic farming. more generous treatment OF the
ground, careful selection OF the seed. and regular
| repair Of the exhausted elements OF the soil.
We have only to profit by the example and
experience of others speedily fill UP the rapid
and If add only small percentage to the
acre production of our staple crops wheat, corn
and cotton their extra value would mount up to
hundreds of millions year. there would be
more than enough for home consumption. and a
surplus to be sold abroad with profit. II liz
| timated that increase IN the crops OF this
country of only one-fourth. increase to the
acre of four bushels OF wheat. eight Of corn.
and of hundred pounds OF cotton to the
planted acre, would mean increment In the
national wealth for year Of two and a half
billions OF dollars And that" calculates a
| contemporary, would build another Panama
canal every two months, six a year, IL we
wanted and had for the many. It would
provement Of the Mississippi river and the rec
lamatton of its broad and fertile valley In a few
months II would about equal the net annual
earnings OF all tn railroads In the country for
q year. 1t would pay the expenses Of the
tire educational system OF the United States
for that me."-Norfolk virginian- Pilot