The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-03
Farm Products and Markets.

The master of the State grange, in an address
at the Agricultural School of Pennsylvania State
College, predicted that it will be 100 years before
there will be sufficient markets in this country
ito justify intensive farming. "Our population OF
thirty-one persons to the square mile is entirely
too scanty to warrant the adoption of intensive
farming methods in America" said this represent
ative OF the farmers; and he added that the
farmers are not much interested in growing
the other blade OF grass they in knowing
who gets it after it is grown.
/ There has been deal of discussion of this
question OF food supply in recent years, and Con-
gross every year is asked TO make larger appro-
priations for the Department OF Agriculture to
enable the experts to teach the farmers how to
grow more wheat, corn, cotton and potatoes.
The appropriation now amounts to about Sco-
600 900 a year and it has doubt been wisely
expended. But the master of the grange plainly
says that the farmers do not want to increase
their crops until there is a greater market for
them. He insists that agricultural products
are now greater than the demand for them, and
that prices too low. If the master of the
grange is correct, what becomes OF all the argu-
ments that have been presented for the conscr-
walton of the SOIL the education of the farmer.
and the necessity for preserving the grain for
bread and the fruit for jam instead Of converting
it into beer or whisky wine? We have heard
these arguments from the conservation experts,
and we have also been told by the experts that
We needed reciprocity with Canada and to re-
move the tariff agricultural products, because
VIC did not produce enough for home
sumption. Congress is urged to pass Law
putting tax on exports to keep our wheat and
corn and meat at home, but this grange author
ity says the farmers will not listen to the argu-
cd
there arc more markets for food products.
The master of the grange probably knows as
much about the farmers view OF the question
do the experts, who thcorize over it and draw
economic and moral arguments from it. The
agricultural products OF the country have largely
increased in value in the last dozen years but the
amount OF corn, wheat and meat has not increased
in the same proportion. Nor has the farm popu-
lation increased largely. In the last census dec
ado the population OF Continental United States
Increased about sixteen million but there
80 counties which decreased in population. The
land area OF these counties 472l6c square
miles, or 10 per cent OF the land area OF the
United States. Iowa, the banner agricultural
State, suffered a decrease OF population in
Scvcnty-onc OF the nncty-ninc counties, and also
for tho State as a whole. Missouri suffered de-
crease in scvcnty-onc counties. representing 81
per cent OF the land area OF the state; Illinois
and Ohio. decrease in rural counties which
a. per cent OF the land area. and
Indiana a corresponding decrease for 90 per cent
OF the land There only five States in
the Union that were without county showing
a decrease OF population. These were Rhode
Island, Connecticut. Idaho, New Mexico and
Arizona. New York increased I.S5oooo in popu
lation. but in thrty-cight counties OF the State
there was a decrease.
The rural population has decreased in nearly
all the great agricultural States which bears out
the suggestion OF the master OF the grange, that
the farmers are not as anxious to increase the
agricultural output they to increase the
market value OF that product. The cities supply
the market for the farmers. and it might be as
we'll for them to acknowledge that they in
tcrcstcd in the growth OF the cities, instead OF
sending to Congress whose sole occupation
is the abuse OF the cities and to urge legislation
Tor the embarrassment OF the industrial centers.
Ii the master OF the grange IS correct in his
statements. he might have tho farmers consider
the old motto, You cannot cat your cake and
have IT,"