The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-02-24
scientific manner, as the fields all
proclaim.

Florida is pretty much underlaid
with coral and rock and while some
of the hammock lands there have rich
soil, they require great labor and large
expense before they are in shape to
raise paying crops. Then the swamp
lands. which are SO much advertised
as a paradise on earth. mostly prove
on close inspection to be mostly wa
ter and palmetto, bushes inhabited by
myriads of mosquitoes, snakes and al
| ligators.
The east coast of Florida as far
south as Palm Beach has a delightful
winter climate, though one needs to
migrate north to Daytona and finally
to ST. Augustine and finally to Jack
sofville towards April LIST.
Texas for the most part is semi
arid like all our country farther north
when you approach the one hundredth
meridian, and when you get near the
gulf the winters are succession OF
heavy rains not surpassed in any coun-
try | have visited, with the exceptions
of the rainy season in Java, Sumatra
and Borneo, all south of the equator.
West of the one hundredth meridian
in the United States agricultural land
is in small valleys for the most part
and while some of these valleys are
very fertile. and the land can be suf-
ficiently irrigated, the expense and
labor necessary to produce good crops
is sure to be disappointment to the
real farmer, accustomed to real ag-
riculture.
Saskatchewan is by far the best ag
ricultural portion OF Canada. 1t has
vast quantities OF good soil, but in
many places water is as hard to OBJ
tain as in northwestern Kansas, AMI
q we'll costs more than the average
moor man can command. Then, too,
that is small grain country and crops
cannot be rotated With any degree OF
success such as we can have here.
Then, too, where the land is good, 1t
has already reached d high price, $50
to $S5 per acre, and the long winters
ami short summers rob the country OF
half the JOY Of life to those accustomed
to comfortable weather.
Alberta is more of n cattle country
and in many parts the soil is Very thin
over sub stratum of red gravel and
then cobble stones.
Manitoba is for the most part too
low and has not sufficient drainage,
and on top of this the Canadian thistle
has taken possession and no way has
been discovered to get it to go.
Ontario has much good land and is
not so liable to early frosts as the 9TH
er provinces. but lands here are high
in price and the same condition OF
crop rotation is operative.
And so | might go OH almost in
definitely in this country. In most
countries of Europe land runs from
$3.50 to $500 per acre, but is not for
sale. This land is for the most part
intensely farmed at great expense OF
hand labor under conditions which
would not be enjoyed in this country.
In Egypt, where the English have
partially established modern irriga-
ton. the land is worth from $1,000 to
So 900 per acre anil pays small inter.
/ est only because of the very cheap
labor, about cents q day being the
pay of the poor Egyptian people whose
ancestors were compelled to build pyr-
amids without pay
Western India or Hindustan has
many kinds of soil and much variety
in climate. Much of its surface is
mountainous, and some of its valleys
are very rich in fertility, while the
low lands in the south are simply silt,
or clay, washed from the higher lands
above, and are suitable only for rice,
and this is not paying crop, though
the labor costs only cents day and
the laborer must board and clothe
himself. Rice and fish an,i bananas
are his food, and his only garment is
one yard of calico. This land is
worth SIS to $35 per acre. as is the
same character of land in Ceylon, but
back where the land is we'll drained
and even on in the mountains where
they can raise wheat in northern Hin
dustan, land is worth 5000 to $1,000 per
acre, and in the mountains OF Ceylon,
where they raise rubber and tea and
cocoa plants the land is still higher,
even before it is cleareds and two or
three times as much when in cultlva-
ton.
British East India is mountains ami
iungles and while the Hinterland con-
tains much fertile soil, it is very mac
cessible and one must remember that
the government will not allow an ali
en- to acquire this land, though the
same government greets with open
arms the peoples Of all nations VINO
will take up land in Canada.
Sumatra, Java and Borneo are each
very productive, but the climate is
abominable at all seasons ami in jan
uary they have rains often when 1t
may rain two feet of water in one
shower. Add to this bubonic plague.
cholera and smallpox galore, and we
stay away.
The Philippine islands are volcanic
in their formation with plenty OF active
volcanoes still doing business. The
soil is very uneven both in surface and
in quality, and grass is almost curl
osity as we know grass. So much so
is this that no cows are raised there
to mention, ami babies die. by thous-
ands. on account of milk supply.
coupled with the ignorance OF moth
ers.
China is wonderful country Of
great resources, but these resources
are mostly undeveloped.
Southern China raises much rice
along the rivers on the low lands and
grass is abundant over the low mlly