The Irish standard., 1915-09-01

unknown, an Impotence with tempo
rary hardships, guessing that per-
haps elsewhere fortunes smiles might
be more radiant, could impel farmers
in Minnesota to fold their tents and
wander far afeld into the untried and
the uncertain. Within recent years
certain number did sell off their farm
lands in Minnesota, believing that
elsewhere there might be more ample
gain. AS a rule, results have not
justified their expectations. Not
small number cast backward longing
glances, to discover that their former
lands could be repurchased only at
price double that for which they were
sold, and that former neighbors, wise
in their stability of purpose, have ev-
cry reason to rejoice that they had
faith in the olden homes rather than
in the Turing mirage of distant fields
But migration from Minnesota has
ceased. Our farmers have learnt to
prize the unequalled advantages of
their own state; and where a benign
Providence has placed them, there
they will stay.
Minnesota should be widely adver-
tised in America and in Europe.
Much in this direction is being done
by the State Board of immigration;
more yet would be done if sufficient
means to do it with were within
reach. The next session of the Leg
islature, let us hope, will be generous
to the Board of immigration. Now is
the propitious moment. AS never be-
fore, the value of the farm is under
stood in America and in Europe. As
never before, there is rush to the
land. All that is needed to turn the
current to Minnesota is to make
known far and wide the advantages
it offers to the homeseeker. With an
area of $4,000 square miles, we have
scarcely today a population of $780,
600. We should quickly double, at
least, this figure. An immense acre
age of our arabic lands is yet I'M
touched by plough or harrow. We
are sure that none whom we bring
hither will be disappointed or will fail
in their venture. 1t is shame that
every year tens of thousands pass
through our gateways bound for 9TH
err regions, less likely to satisfy them,
simply because we permit them to be
ignorant of conditions in our own
state We count too much on the at
Effectiveness of Minnesota. This is
mistake. The fairest must be known
Minnesota known far and wide, and
eoor ,,o+:11aJ Ho1Je ,,,:11 ha fa,,,
within its borders.
Our farmers, those who are today
in Minnesota, those who will be here
tomorrow, must learn the lesson of
good farming. 1t is the plain truth,
that so far good farming has been
rare among us. Farming is an exact
science, to be learnt through diligence
and application. The land has been
so generous that, satisfied with what
it gives us, we leave to itself to give
what it wills; forgetting that, with
proper help, it would give immensely
more; forgetting that, if unassisted
year after year, it loses gradually it's
native fertility Only recently has the
idea of diversified farming and of ro-
tation of crops entered the minds of
our farmers; only recently have they
ceased burning their straw-piles in
stead of changing them into fertil-
izers. There is too little study of
soils, too little search for the seed
best fitted to each kind of soil, too
little deep ploughing and careful har-
rowing, too little selection of breeds
of cattle, and too little care of cattle
during the winter months. How few,
comparatively, of our farmers have
their vegetable gardens or their poul-
try yards; from which, nevertheless,
so much revenue could be derived and
such wholesome food obtained for
the family table? I mention those
few instances of miserable farming
that have come more prominently un-