Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-01-06
THE FARMER OF THE FUTURE
tBy j. e. Kelley

The old is passing and the new is
almost here. This applies to agricul-
ture with little more force than to
any other line of industry. Super
abuated methods of the past must be
discarded and new and up to date
methods that correspond with scien-
titic research must take their place.
This writer has given but little at
tention to Increased production In
the past, but rather concentrated on
the marketing of farm produce, as 1T
often happens that a big crop brings
less money than a small one. But in
| reality increased production and Inn
proved methods of marketing the
thing produced should go together,
aud remain inseparable; for it will
be seen at once that it would besheer
folly TO produce more stuff to handle
without an added income to at least
| pay for the handling.
| While it is true that the agricul-
tural colleges of the country have
done nothing for the farmers along
the lines of economic marketing, they
have done splendid work in the inter-
est of increased production and the
farmers should take advantage of the
great opportunities offered in the
varied character Of bulletins sent to
all who wish to apply for them. This
is especially true of the S. d. Agri-a
cultural college at Brookings. And
indeed it may be said that, unlike
many of them, the institution at
Brookings is the farmers very own,
for in the estimation of this writer,
the latter will be found to be not on
| ly in sympathy with the farmers of
this state as to the best means of se-
curing the best returns from the land,
but also the best means Of securing
the full value of such in the market
| ing.
| South Dakota is blessed with a soil
80 fertile that 1t IS doubtful il it is
surpassed by the soil of any country
in the world Of like area, and yet we
know that on the majority Of our
farms an average of about Is bushels
Of wheat per acre Is all that is OBJ
tanned, while corn rms about 30
bushels taking the average of de-
cade. Barley is no better. This, of
course, means soil starvation; that
the result of scientific research has
not been applied by the average farm
| er Ii a COW is to give the best re-
suits as a milk giver she will have to
be fed according to the requirements
of milk production, the soil is no
less tenacious of purpose in its re-
quirements.
There are ten constituent elements
that enter into the production of
grain. IT any of those be lacking in
too great degree. just in that pro-
portion shall lessened yield be
realized
OF those phosphorus, potash and
nitrogen are the ones that concern us
most, for they are the most difficult
to obtain save that there is q good
deal of potash in our soil OF this
Germany seems to have monopoly
and is not available at present. Great
quantities of potash may be obtained,
it is authoratively claimed, from kelp.
the calcined ashes of seaweed which
collects along the Pacific coast, and
Hit is also claimed chat means has
been discovered by which the potash
contained in feldspar, q specie of
| common rock, may be extracted and
used for commercial purposes.
Chile has the great nitrate beds but
| we do not need to go there for it, for
we can obtain necessary quantities
from the bacteria that collects on the
roots of plants Of the different yari-
ties of clover.
Phosphorus we get from our own
vast phosphate rock beds, and the
quantity is inexhaustibIe,
Thus a survey of the soils Of our
farms should be had and whatever
elements is found wanting should be
at once supplied.
| NO up to.date farmer should be
satisfied with less yield of wheat
than 80 bushels per acre when sea-
sous are fair; and no corn grower
worthy of the name should be satis-
fed with a yield less than 60 bushels
per acre, IN the southern portion of
this state, under favorable climatic
conditions. If the farmers of this,
state will take advantage of the OPP
portunities which are daily beckon-
ing them, they can easily double the
productivity Of their farms and more
than double their incomes by prac-
ticing cooperation in marketing and
protect themselves against the manip-
Iulations Of the speculative market
raidsrs-don't food the markets at
any time.