Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-16
Farmers Part in World Crisis

Editor kennebec Journal:
One of the most important problems
that is being discussed through the press
and by public speakers of late, is that Of
encouraging,-and trying to induce,-the
farmers to largely increase their acreage
devoted to growing crops, and to produce
as much as possible to supply the needs
of this country and of the allies. But
there are some serious propositions con-
fronting the farmer at the present time
the high prices and difficulties of getting
good seed; high prices of fertilizers, and
evidently a not over-abundant supply; the
need with a great many just at this sea-
son of the year, of a little ready money
and, more especially, the need of suffi-
cient help to do the work required. The
national and state governments are offer
ing to help the farmers" by loaning 4
little money. Con good security of course)
but at a fairly high rate of interest, to
furnish seed and fertilizer at cost, and
it has been proposed to close some OF the
schools part of the time, 50 that the
older scholars can work for the farmers
and it has been proposed. too, to close
some Of the manufactures part of the
time, SO that the farmers may secure help
from this source
1t is a reasonable supposition that much
Of such help knows nothing about farm
ing, many have never planted a hill of
would take the farmer nearly as long to
teach them how to do this work, and get
it DONE as 1t would take him to do the
work himself. Very few men who have
been working under cover, (and especially
in cotton or wooden mills), are in poor
condition to work in the hot sunshine as
we usually have a little later in the sea-
son, and one or two days would be all
they would want; they would probably
work but eight hours, and would expect
and demand as much pay as they are get
ting In the city.
But where does the farmer come in. in
this deal, and what is he going to get OUT
of it? 1t is claimed by many, that prices
of farm products will rule high for the
next few years, but no one can say posi-
lively that this will be the case. Farm
Is a gamble, for there are climatic condi-
tons over which the farmer has no con-
troll. A farm may have a fertile soil and
be favorably located the farmer may
thoroughly prepare his ground. plant good
seed, fertilize literally, cultivate thor
oughly during the growing season, and
yet his crops be nearly a failure The
season Of seeding may be late (as is GER
tainly the case this spring., there NAV
be late frost after the plants are IN
and they will be nearly ruined, and when
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early frcst in the fall sometime before
the crops are matured; or the season may
be exceedingly wet and cold, or there
may be severe drouth so that his crops
are very nearly. If not quite, failure.
If crops generally are much below the
average. prices are high because the sup
ply is not equal to the demand. but this
does not help the farmer much. because
he has but little to sell. If, on the other
hand, crops are good everywhere, there
is an over supply and prices so low thai,
the farmer does not get enough out OF
them to cover cost of production, What
the fields will be this year no one Knows
and we venture the prediction that con-
dtions as to prices will depend very
largely on those who make prices, There
must and will be good demand for all
farm products this year. but no one can
state positively that prices will be high
Looking at this whole problem from tho
point of view. Of the farmer. it looks yery
much like another case OF farming the
farmer"
Farmers are practically the only peo-
pie who do not make price on wba.
they produce and sell The manufacture,