Norwich bulletin., 1916-09-09

+ seems that, while the Prussian masters of Germany were planning ahead for the war, they not only made immense preparations in mechanlcaA ways but also in agricultural matters So far back as 1887 they were pegin- ming to work fer an agricultural de- velopment that should render them self-supporting if war shut them OH from outside supplies.
 They couldn't very largely increase the area which was suitable for crop ping. So they set at the task or m creasing the production from the acre age they already possessed.
 If they couldn't get more acres, they proposed to make each acre they had yield more. T.
 That they have succeeded is indl- cated by figures adduced by Herr Helfferich in a formal interview which he gave the Associated Press at Berlin, last week.
 They measure their land by "hec- tares" and not acres. A 'hectare" IS about two acres and a half.
 Comparing the four years 1SS3-l86f with the four 1909-1913 Herr Helner1ch shows that the average annual yield 20 hundredweight to 31: in wheat rom 27 hundredweight to Al: in oats from 22 hundre dweight to 3S: in barley from 25 hundredweight to 40: in potatoes from 175 hundredweight to 267.
 There had been hunted up a little additional land in the quarter century intervening so that about $ per cent more was cropped in 1913 than in 1887 but the increase in total crops was al most 88 per cent. Herr Helfferich fig ures the exact increase in net return per hectare at TIT per cent.
 This increase, keeping pace with the increase of population. enables Dr. Helfferich, who is Germany's new min iSter of the interior, to boast lhat without any imports whatsoever, our breadstuffs are still more plentiful per capita, than they were thirty years ago." conclusion that no blockade will be able to starve Germany out.
 Asked how the increase in produc- ton had been secured, he answered.: "Improvenents were effected by means of more scientific cultivation, agr1cul- tural schools and associations, and bet ter methods generally not forgetting rational systems of irrigation, drain age rotation of crops and application of artificial fertilization"
 Unfortunately. the too many times manifested desire of German govern nent officials to put the best face on a rather bad situation by coloring facts a little roser than their natural hue makes it scarcely safe to accept all their statements and all their reason ing. But, as the years compared by Herr Helfferich were all before the outbreak of the war and the statistics for them must have been compiled and published without any immediate temptation to falsify the returns, they seem to have real claim on credence.
 Therefore, assuming them to be fair tU b;a fact ont that. in twenty five years or so German az ricuIture has so advanced that 1t is able to get TIT per cent. better crops, per hectare or acre, than it got from century ago. That is, the acre which formerly produced. we'll say, hun 'dred bushels now produces a hundred and seventy-seven and seven-tenths bushels. This is the average gain whether of rye or wheat or oats or barley or potatoes. the staple field crops of the empire.
 The same "German efficiency" of which so much talk is made when it is applied. to factories and shops and mechanical production generally, it thus appears, was at the same time it was stimulating these former indus tries to increase performance, also fostering and spurring farm industries to enlarged production.
 Ih1S was CtOne, not some one striking outbUrst of wonderful genius, but by slow and continuous drilling and discipline in more scientific eul- tivation;" better methods generally; " and rational systems" of irrigation, rotation, etc.
 There was no epoch making discov- cry of anything new behind it. There was TO outburst of special enthusiasm to stimulate it. There was no compe- tition for premiums" or records" to make it boil
 It was brought about solely by steady, persistent, Gnspectacular work on individual farms and with indi- vfdT1al farmers, studying out and measuring the capacities and the needs of the land. as well as teaching and training the land-worker in better methods, more rational systems and more truly scientific adoption of means to ends.
 Moreover, Germany began this cam paign for increased production when her already better worked farms were producing much higher average yields than those of this country. Her low water mark in production was above us; yet by more scientific cultivation, 5 better methods" and rational sys- terns" she has increased her existing lead by over three quarters.
 NOW, IL doesne really make very much difference what you and I think or think we tkink,-a,bout scientific farming" It doesn't affect the facts the leasc little bit whether we advo- cate 1t or whether we are dead sot agin'" it, and don't want no sech foldero1."
 When, over a whole empire, the com l3ination of more scientific farming with better methods of work ard more rational systems of fertilization, etc, has resulted in increasing the average acre production of all staple crops by three quarters in about one quarter of a. century, 1t is high time for those who have favored such things to stop saying "T told you so" and for those who have opposed them to look the facts in the face and learn something. The situation doesn't call for either growing cocks or mud -inhabfting clans, but for fair minded men able to see through the hole In 9 millstone and willing to look if there's anything the other side worth seeing.
 There's not the slightest room for doubt that the farmers of this country could make their farms exceed the production of those in Gernaany.-it they really wanted ft0tord <1nera wi Ilsr7 Q