The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-01-29

Il ~
ployed by the farmers of this country
/ have advanced 90 years of peace times.
/ - Prior to 1914, and even up to the dec
- Iaration of by the United States,
/ 49, there farmers in every communi-
ty who were not interested in county
agents, farmers Institutes, the agri-
cultural colleges, the United States department
of agriculture. But when declared and
Uncle Sam asked the farmers to grow more food
stuffs of every kind, those who had before assumed
attitude of Indifference responded to the call
Throughout the nation these farmers. with spirit
OF patriotism and additional inducement Of fair
prices and an assurance of reasonable cOmpensa-
ton for their expenditures, called upon the fed
eral department and other agencies that could
give them information. The attitude well as
the spirit of the farmers changed from peace-time
wartime farming.
Improved methods and practices adopted and
now being applied have come to stay. In future
farming methods there should be little question
to the practice of the man who has treated his oats
for smut and has increased his yield the who
has applied fertilizer TO his wheat and has in
creased his crops five to ten bushels an acre; the
who has sought information on the feeding of
cattle and has found that by adding protein to the
ration he produce pound of beef with nine
pounds of corn where the old ration required 13
pounds of grain the who encouraged to
build a silo through which he is able to feed a
carload OF cattle with the crops from IS acres of
land when before it required &c acres. Men who
have learned these lessons, have the result
and have prOfted by them, not going back to
Old-time methods. Farmers reaching out in
broader way for additional aid.
Last fall farmers planted 100000 acres of
wheat. and while the early prospective yield was
reduced to extent by reason of adverse
weather and insect enemies a crop of approx
mately q billion bushels is the result. This huge
crop Is the direct result of the good methods of
farming that were employed in the fall of 1918.
There were more tons of fertilizer applied to this
wheat than during any previous year. There was
more early blowing There was better cultivation.
There was better selection of varieties and better
treatment of the seed. There was more top-dress-
known in any other year. Part of the crop
was due to favorable weather in some localities,
some just to plain luck, but the big results
achieved in the wheat fields all over the country
was due TO the improved methods employed by
farmers.
There is large and sufficient evidence to show
that agriculture has made a rapid sure, and sub
stantial advance If that is true, then agriculture
will not readily revert.
At no time has the farmer been called upon to
give greater attention the business side of his
operations. this day of high-priced land labor
seed, fertilizer, machinery, and other materials
and equipment, careful attention must be given to
economical production. Industrial plants have
found it necessary to introduce the coSaccOunting
system in order that the cost of each part manu-
featured may be determined. In the way,
farmers must conduct their business and know
definitely the desirable and profitable lines Of
production.
Not every farmer has it within his power to in
crease his acreage but he can very materially in
crease his income By judiciously increasing the
size OF his business. There is one way of doing
this that seems to be open to farmers IN prac-
tica1Iy all parts Of the country. The simplest and
surest way for the landlocked farmer to make
more money is to produce and better live
stock There is but limited opportunity for ex-
pansfon in the production of the intensiyey grown
crops but there is great opportunity for expansion