The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1918-08-30
BY j < RiICK

BY J. e. BUCK.
we rave come to the dividing of fbs
"ays-we have reached a critical
point In the history of our agricul-
tural development Aside from the
So.OOO.Oe0 acres In the United States
that can be reclaimed by IRRIGATION
and the 74.00o. 900 acres of farm lands
'hat can De made available for cult
Vaton BY means OF drainage. no very
large areas OF virgin soil remain to
De brought under cultivation in our
country. In time, of course. these
barren landc will be made to WELD
ABUNDANT harvests-but for the pres-
ent we must look elsewhere to find a
eoiutlon or the problem with which we
are confronted. II we are tn koen
on going forward 1t will be necessary
Tor us to secure larger yields from tho
heids that are already under cultiv..
''oh. Inat Is to say, our problem is
no. 30 much how to increase the popu
iaeon In rural communities as II ia
20 increase the producing capacity OF
ene people already on the farm.
Average Yields.
Inc average yield of corn nor .cre
IN the United States is only about 27
bushels. "oou' 81
our average yield of wheat ,s only
io-f Dusheis per acre-and the avar
age yield OF nearly everything ve
grow on the farm is exceedins,v ,o
compared with the yields In other
countries. s'Aei
1t is high time we were waking m
and doing something up
'e'ter Farm Management Needed.
One hundred years ago the Mohawk
Vaiiey In New York was the won6or -,
Europe, was the wonder of the world
ior its FERTILITY, and thousands of cor.
'oaos OF cattle. hogs and farm crone
were shipped out of that yaIley until
ies fertility has been exhausted The
settiers then moved westward into tbe
Miami and Scioto valleys of Ohio ana
uio the same thing over again. Fol.
"ue the exhaustion OF these rich
valleys. the magnificent broad pra,rie.
Vi iAnois and Iowa were brought nm
uer cultivation, and the same process
- nov oeing repeated. Even in the
"eo faver Valley OF the North. where
city bushels of wheat to the acre wa.
not unusual. today not more than az.
teen bushels is grown.
Food Supply and Population.
TO make 1t possible for the peonle
'i the United States to raise. clothel
ma feed future generations. we must
,hahge our system Of agriculture. We
'annoe depend upon Uncle Sam for
my more land. and the only method
y which we can keep the United $
states on the map Is to make two &
'iades OF grass grow where only one q
rev befose q
During the last decade the non,se $
lon OF the United States increased 25 =
er cent During the same period the :
reduction of beef In the United z
tates fell of % per cent s
"A ie" years ago 1t cost the labor.
lg man $52-05 for his yearly supply q,
the same number Of
'unds OF meat cost $s5.O5. an in.
ease OF $4,000.
In view OF this what shall we do, s
careful analysis shows that We ,
'ed more fertile fields, or rather {
lbs with greater fertility. 5
We need larger and better herds
We need better roads.
We need larger bank accounts ,
We need better homes.
We need better citizenship.
How can al this be donef
ferhaps no one thing VIII do more
secure these things than growing
alfa.
4 that is true. why haven't we bee,
'wing alfalfa?
10.
We Can Grow Arf,tS.