The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-01-09
MUCH LAND IS VACANT

Discussing the problem of land set
Element, the Secretary Of Agriculture
in his annual report says that with
wise foresight and increased employ
ment of scientific practice, under the
stimulation of intelligent agencies,
America can take care Of and pro-
vide for a very much larger population
under even more favorable circum-
stances and In greater prosperity.
Interest in land for homes and
farms increases in the nation as the
population grows. II has become more
marked as the area of public land
suitable and available for agriculture
has diminished" says the secretary.
1T is intensified at the present time
by reason Of the suggestion and de-
sire that returned soldiers and others
who may wish to secure farms shall
have an opportunity to do so under
suitable conditions. 1t finds express
sion. too, in discussions OF the number
Of tenant farmers and in it's meaning
diiu SlSHIlCdHCt.
That there is still room in the ma
ton for many more people on farms
is clear. The United States proper
contains about 1900. 000, 900 acres of
land, of which an area Of LAO, 900 900
acres, or 60 per cent, Is tillable. AID,
proximately 367, 600, 900 acres, or 80
per cent, Of this was planted in crops
in 1918. In other words, for every
100 acres now titled 300 acres may
be utilized when the country is fully
settled. or course, much of the best
land, especially that most easily
brought under cultivation and in reas-
onably easy reach of large consuming
centers, is in use, though much of it.,
possibly IS per cent Is not yielding
full returns. Extension OF the farmed
area will consequently be made with
greater expense for clearing, prepare.
ton, drainage, and irrigation, and for
profitable operation will involve mar
keting arrangements of a high degree
Of perfection and the discriminating
selection of crops having a relatively
high unit value.
Increased production can therefore
be secured in two ways, namely,
through the use Of more land and
through the adoption of improved pro-
Of cultivation OF all land and
of marketing. The latter involves the
general application Of the best
methods used by the most skillful far
mers and urged by experienced, prac-
tical, and scientific experts. II will
necessitate seed selection and i'm
provement, plant and animal breeding,
soil development through rotation, the
discriminating use Of fertilizers, the
control and eradication OF plant and
animal diseases, good business prac-
tice and thrift, and many other things.
1t means that farming must be profit
able and that society must be willing
to pay the price. Under no other con-
ditions can farming expand. 1t means,
too, that only as many will or need
stay on farms as may be necessary
to supply what the will
take at prices which will justify pro-
duction. Many people speak as II they
thought there should be no limit 10
the number engaged in agriculture or
to production Of crops. The farmer
must consider his balance just as
much as any other business man. The
number OF individuals remaining in
the farming industry will, in the long
run, continue to adjust itself roughly
to the economic demand and will in