The farmer and mechanic., 1915-06-08
BY ". j. SPILLMAN.

How to restore and maintain the
productivity Of the soil is the most
important phase Of the conservation
problem. We are no longer new
nation. We have deluded ourselves
with the idea that We have unlimited
resources in land in forests. in min
eral wealth We have been prodigal
in the utilization of these resources
We must now pay the penalty of this
prodigality. In many of our older
communities soil fertility has been re-
duced below the point of profitable
production Nation wide effort at the
present time, through federal and
state agency. is directed toward the
restoration of fertility in these lOcali-
ties. 1t is now necessary that intelli-
gent and vigorous effort be made to
farm correctly. We must cease abuS-
ing the soil The domestic animal,
with well-managed pastures and ra-
tional systems Of crop rotation, is pre-
eminently adapted to the development
Of permanent systems of profitable
farming. Land owners must realize
this and must take steps to improve
renting methods by stocking farms
with full complement of domestic
animals. where the renter is not able
to do this for himself. and by giving
longer leases. whereby the renter may
agement
Land owned originally by the gov
ernment has. in the main. beer wisely
given into the hands of millions of
small owners. each of whom man
ages his own holdings as an ~independ-
ent proprietor. This method of dis
posing of the national domain has led
to the rapid creation of we'll distrib-
uted wealth. 1t has meant cOnserva-
n 1a IT.
maximum number of private owners.
| But the very magnitude and richness
| OF this heritage has led to such prOdi-
Sallty in it's use that now, when the
period of settlement is practically
| past we find ourselves confronted with
! increased demands for food, which
must be met by soils that have been
depleted Of much Of their yielding
| power. This is an important factor
| in the recent increase in the cost OF
| food.
The problem Of cheap and abundant
| food is a fundamental one in all in
| dustrlal development. 1t was the
| abundance and cheapness Of food that
| made possible the marvellous progress
| witnessed in this country during the
| past century. Ruring the last sixty
years we have brought into cultiva-
| ton the largest and richest body OF
agricultural land in the world While
| this land was new and rich the pro-
duction Of abundant crops was accom-
plished at little expense and with lit
tie knowledge Of the principles OF
conservation Of soil fertility This
period Of eXploitive farming is now
past. The cost of production is now
enhanced by low yields, or the use
Of expensive methods Of maintaining
| high yields Whether the era O1
cheap and abundant food is past de-
pends on our ability as a people tt
develop cheaper and better means O.
production than now prevail We ne
longer have unlimited undevelopel
agricultural resources Future in.
crease in production must come
largely from better methods of farm
ing. Whether we, as a nation shall
attain these improved methods afte]
long period of depression, accom-
panied by slow adjustment to nev
conditions, as has been the case il
older countries, or whether we shall
attack the problem resolutely and in
telligenuy and adopt improved meth
DDS as soon as the situation demands
depends on the efficiency Of thOs,
agencies that in recent years hay,
: been built up in this country with ;
view to meeting the problems of sol