The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1915-01-15

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BY J. z. BUCK.
We have come to the diyi6one oe1G
ways-we have reached Q ssitt(nl
point IN the history Of our agricuI-
tural development Aside from the
S5.o0o.000 acres IN the United siats6
that can be reclaimed BY it5lgasioa,
and the 74,000.000 acres of farm lands
that can be made available tsr eulti.
vation by means Of drainage, no vsry
large areas OF virgin Noil remain to
be brought under cultivation In our
country. In time. OF course. these
barren lands will be made to Yield
abundant harvests-but n the pres
ent we must look else TO fnd Q
solution of the problem which We
are confronted. IL W, a,> to keep
on going forward 1t will be necessary
Tor US to secure larger yields from the
fields that are already under cultiva.
ton. That Is to say. our problem In
not so much how to increase the popu-
latton In rural communities a Il IN
TO Increase the producing capacity OF
the people already on the farm.
Average Yields.
The average yield Of corn per acre
In the United States Is only about 81
bushels. N - =
Our average yield OF wheat is only
1871 bushels per acre--and the aver.
age yield OF nearly everything we
grow on the farm is exceedingly low.
compared with the yields in other
countries.
1t is high time we were waking up
and doing something.
Better Farm Management Needed.
One hundred years ago the Mohawk
valley In New York was the wonder of
Europe. was the wonder OF The world
for its fertility. and thousands OF car
loads Of cattle. hogs and farm crops
we're shipped out Of that valley unttl
fts fertility has been exhausted. The
setssers then moved westward into the
Miami and Scioto valleys Of Ohia. and
did the same thing over again. poi
lowing the exhaustion Of these rich
valleys. the magnificent broad prairies
OF Illinois and Iowa were bsodeht un-
der cultivation, and the Same process
10 now being repeated Even IN the
Red River Valley OF the North. where
--.4 - s-ts sIe.Ts ~
nifty bushels Of wheat to the acre was
not unusual. today not more than ds.
teen bushels isErown.
Food Suppiv and poo,l>4!eA
To make II possible for the people
OF tho United States to raise. clothe
and feed fntrus xeserstiona. We must
change cur g" o. agriculture. We /
cannot dep NtUncls Sam for
any more J. ~ only method
by which Eoso the United
States on ap - 70 make two
blades OF & grow whses oaly ono
grew befoI .
During the last decade the lopula,
tion OF the United States increased -
per cent During the same period the
production Of beef In. the United
States fell OF 20 per cent. 80 -.
A few years ago 1t cost Tho labor
Ing man $s2.ss for his yearly supply Of
meat-today tho same number ,ot
pounds OF meat cost Sss:06. an inl +
crease OF $s3.00.
In view OF this what shall We dos
A careful analysis shows that vei
need more fertile nslAs. - rStAsr L
nelds with sreeter rsrtsnty. s.ss-e ~,
We need larger ana kstt4r hSsda q l.
We need better rua6Ga. - iiS- Il,
We need larger bank accouhAa. I,
We need better homes. js
We need better cftf1snshaA
How can all this Be donSS =. l.
Perhaps no enc thIny WIN Do nSnSs :
20 secure these things than gfovtrs
llfalfa- - rsm Il
X that Is true, why haven't We bsan I
growing alfalfaf - H.
Because We thought It was ia,pos- !
lible. H.
We Can Grow Alfalfa
Many farmers In the corn halt do
lot believe that they can grow alfalfa
They are under the impression that Il
equires peculiar climatic conditions.
md peculiar type OF soil. such as Ia
cund in the western states. parrScu-
ariy Kansas. Nebraska, Colorado.
'aIifornia and Utah-the great alfalfa