The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-12-19
NOTE sook EvcHEs

The minister of agriculture has in his
annual report made public many facts
OF interest to the whole nation, and es-
pecialiy to the agricultural portion of
it. 1t is shown what may be done
when the whole population of produc-
ers begin to pull together for large
output. In spite of the fact that SO
large number of the best labor was
withdrawn from the farms during the
period of the war, the country produced
more during the war than at any time
before. The value of the 1919 crop of
agricultural produce is three times as
great as the average value of the
crops produced during the five year
period previous to the war. The high
prices did, of course, serve TO send the
figures up, but the actual increase in
production was notable. While the crop
values before the war averaged nearly
6 billion dollars, the 1919 crop is worth
nearly l6 billion dollars. The fact is
also brought out that the amount of
agricultural raw material produced per
individual on the American farm is con-
siderably greater than that produced
by agriculturists anywhere else in the
world. The American farmer produces
two and one-half times as much an
nually as the Belgian and German
farmer, 2. times more than the Brit
ish, 3.2 times as much as the French
brother, and six times more than the
Italian farmer. This is due to the fact
that the American farmer makes use
of more and better farm machinery
than his European rival, and that on
the whole his labor tempo is higher.
He works faster On the other hand,
When it comes to intensive production
per acre, then the European farmer far
outstrips the American. Belgium, Den
mark and other nations have in this re-
spect much TO teach the American
farmer.
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/
the tobacco culture is carried on most
extensively would lend themselves to
intensive farming and higher produc-
tioE better than, perhaps. any other
section OF the state. Ehe soil is pro-
ductive, the type of people working
the land is favorable to progress, the
opportunities of intelligent study of
soil culture are steadily growing bet
ter, and the desire toa take advantage
of improved methods of soil culture,
seed selection, stock breeding and road
construction, is taking hold on the av-
erage Wisconsin farmer as never be-
fore. Labor saving machinery, the
truck, the automobile, the tractor and
the milking machine are gradually solv-
ing the serious problem of the scarcity
of farm labor And the wider use of
electricity and gas is going TO take care
of the problem of power. With these
factors coming to the assistance of the
farmer in his handling of the question
Of increased production, it seems rea-
sonable that the American farmer
would be in q position not only to pro-
duce more per man, but also to produce
as much per acre as the best European
farmer can do. To lead In the march
of this progress the Wisconsin tobacco
farmer should have good chance The
combination of the dairy industry with
the tobacco culture in Wisconsin may
not necessarily lead to an increased
acreage of tobacco, but it should lead
to the maintenance of steady pro-
ductlOn upon an acreage at least equal
to the one now under cultivation. with
an added power Of production of every
acre of the farm not used for the rails
ing of tobacco. This is the real prob
lem before the farmer in the tobacco
sections OF the state, and there is ev-s
cry reason TO believe that it will be
taken care of by the persistence and
intelligence of the farmers so engaged.
From the point of view of the tobacco
industry, nothing is of greater
Importance than that the grower is able
to make the land used for general crops
produce so well that the tobacco field
shall not be looked upon as a drain up
on the productivity of the rest of the
farm, but as an asset to the grower,
furnishing him with an income that
will materially aid him in keeping up
the best cultivation Of his farm as a
whole. Intensive farming in general
will aid the intensive culture of tobacco.
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The results of the national conven-
ton of the Society of Equity. held at
Madison last week, do not show COM
plete healing of the unfortunate breach
that has agitated the society for more
| than a year The convention lacked
nothing in picturesqueness action and
maneuver The farmers proved their
skill as parliamentarians, orators and
| fighters. The Wisconsin element was
invincible, and though Tittemore's cam
didate to succeed himself in the presi-
dency, was defeated by j. I'll. Carna-
han, an anti-Tittemore man, the board
of directors was chosen from the group