Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1919-12-19
LABOR AND FARM
PRODUCTION

college of agriculture and director
OF the state experiment station At
the state College of Washington:
Farming is rapidly increasing in
Importance in the minds of the peo-
pie. Even before the war. ponpla-
ton began to catch up with produc-
ton and in some instances to pass it.
We began to hear of beef imported
from the Argentine, eggs from China.
wool from Australia etc Farm
prices were slowly increasing while
prices on the consumers tables in
creased even more. With the COM
ing OF the war, the production of
1000 received greater emphasis.
Everyone then recognized that with
out an abundance of food the war
could not be won.
The increasing cost of food en-
phasized in the minds of the con-
sumer the fundamental Importance
OF food production and of agricul-
ture so that now there is greater in
terest in agricultural production
than ever before.
The production of food is very
closely related to the labor supply
on the farm and the type Of equip
ment used. Back in 1900, when the
implements used in agricultural pro-
duction were primitive and none Of
the modern machinery had been in
vented more than SO per cent of the
people were engaged in agricultural
production, and only four per cent
OF the people lived in cities of more
than 5000 population In other
words, the family on the farm at
that time was able to raise enough
for its own use and to have only a
=, very small surplus. This surplus
was so small as to be insufficient to
supply the needs of a single indi-
vidual in addition to itself, let
alone an entire family. Between
1900 and ! $50 there was much prog
ress in agriculture. New lands were
opened up which required less clear
ing than those previously farmed and
some of the implements now well
known on the farm were invented
; An outstanding example is the steel
pillow, which in that period began to
, replace the old wooden plow. AS a
result the effectiveness of agricul-
tural labor increased and in 1850
> only 70 per cent of the entire popu.
> lation was engaged in agricultural
production In other words, each
sufficient food to support itself anu
. almost one additional family. Towns
and cities now developed rapidly.
| The very great advance in effect
iyeness of farm implements and in
| productive land acreage came be.
tween 1850 and 1900. During that
time the greater portion of the mod
| ern implements and modern machin-
: cry were invented. The gang pillow
the mower and the hay rake, the
modern harvester. the modern
thresher, the combine, the corn cul-
tivator and the disc harrow are only
few examples. Modern Transports
ton had its great development dur
ing that period. The great Missis-
sippi valley was opened to farming
and the non-wooded plains which
i needed only the pioneers pillow to
make them productive were now
I utilized. The effectiveness of farm
. labor increased tremendously and in
1900 only about 80 per cent of the
entire population was engaged in az
ricultural production. In other
words, one farm family was now able
TO support itself and two additional
families. The growth of the cities
and OF industries other than agricul-
tural during that period was unpre-
cedented.
From 1900 to the present time
there has been constant improve
ment in farm implements and in
farm power so that the productive
capacity per agricultural laborer has
been increased from year TO year. At
the present time less than 20 per
cent of the entire population is en-
gagged in agricultural production and
one family on the farm produces
enough for its own subsistence and
in addition almost enough for four
other families. This has made pos
sible very large Increase in ne ur-
ban population and in the develop
ment of industries other than farm
ing. Many of these industries, OF
course. are concerned with the max
ing OF implements and materials
used in agricultural production as
well as in the farm home. Merchan-
dising and trade developed with the