The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-06-03
Exposing the Great Fanacy of
American Soil Exhaustion

~ Robert W. Bruere In the Atlantic
Monthly.
The abandoned farms of Merrimac coun-
", New Hampshire, were the alarm OF the
Jtate. Thu legislature was considering an
appropriation to systematic the refor-
,~station threatened by nature. The men
u III bureau went from farm to deserted
tarm, taking samples n analysing the
Ioils. But they discovered mo evidence OF
any general deterioration 80 far as the
pIls were concerned"
From Blue Earth county, Minnesota, the
aeart. OF q famous wheat area. came o
complaints that within a period Of 10 years
he depletion of the soil had cut down crop
.y1elds to a third OF their former luxuri-
lnce. The state records from 1874 to 1888
were searched. No fluctuations could be
found, whether for individual counties or
for the stats az a whole, that were not
clearly explained by seasonal variations In
temperature and rainfall. Indeed, the
highest single harvest for the state-an
average OF B.S bushels-was entered for
1896; while next to the lowest-s.6 bushels
dated back 10 the glorined period Of 1876.
Even Minnesota II not too young to have
It's golden age.
But what OF the poverty stricken and
even derelict soils of New England and
the east? Starting from 1876. the recorded
average per acre yields OF wheat In Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York,
taken together, show a steady rise, decade
BY decade, from las to q fraction over ~
bushels. The richest harvest for any sin
tle year was gathered In 1905, the last year
considered by the bureau, when the aV-
brage per acre yield OF wheat went up to
a. bushels. Incidentally, this yield from
Shs Oldest OF our American soils was the
arRest produced In any section of the
country at any time during the 10 years
for which reliable statistics were avail
able. The highest single yield for the
wheat belt states-taken a. q group-Mln-
7esota, Wisconsin, Michigan. Iowa, I'LL
hois, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri, was
1914, the harvest OF 1904.
Land Values and Economic Conditions.
Land values In the rural sections OF the
east have suffered q marked decline.
But observes the United States Bureau
Of Soils. so far an wheat may be taken
10 . guide, this has not been due to the
wearing out Of soils. The explanation
must be sought in changed economic con-
ditions."
And is It not possible that changed and
changing economic conditions" are &C.
countable for the rumors about the de-
clining fertility OF the western lands
which have circulated 30 briskly since the
recent spectacular exodus OF American
farmers to the Canadian northwest? ]
Travelled recently through the middle west
orn states from which q considerable part
Of this emigration started. On n grimy.
slow-moving train I fell IN with n party OF
Ix-rowans returning home for q visit.
TT does seem good to get back east
again. they exclaimed over n over
again. mo land like this up In Canada.
Why, up there you look out OF h win
dow, and. there amt q thing In sight; and
next morning you look again, and there's
q town. But what the towns live on when
they get EN- built beats me! The land
amt in IL with Ioway. Why didn't I stay
here, to start within Where would you get
land to stay on7 Who's selling land round
here3 Sstin' 'tight7 Sure. Amt many
thatIl sell to their own son. Everybody
looking for q rise, and gettin' II, tool"
AZ o fishing lake In wisconsin 1 met
a retired farmer who owned two farms in
Illinois. Work them? DID I know what
hard work farming wasr Sell them ?