The Monroe journal., 1921-05-17
BETTER LAND NEEDED SO
FARMERS CAN WORK LESS
ihieiS Of the Soil. says Broom.
Ought to Have More Time for
Recreation and Development
WORK TOO HARD FOR A LIVING
by 4. D. ". BROOM,
Conty Farm Demonstrator.


seventy five bushels per acre ant
many are producing much less thar
twenty bushels per acre. The CHIEF
cause for low yields is lack of humus
and nitrogen IN the soil Humus is
decayed vegetable matter. Vegetable
matter contains nitrogen. and il tn,
vegetable matter is in the form OF
legumes. such as soybeans. velvet
beans. cowpeas, clovers, or vetche:
II is much more valuable in that
about two-thirds of its nitrogen con-
tent is taken from the air and not
from the soil as is the case with
weeds and other non-leguminous
plants. The easiest and most econ
omical way to get the humus and the
nitrogen that is so essential TO
larger yields is to grow these legumes
as catch crops. that Is to grow them
along with crops that are to be re-
moved as feed or cash crops. for in
stance, soybeans. velvet beans. or
cowpeas can be grown with the corn
crop and IL the entire crop Is left on
the land much organic matter and
nitrogen will be added, or cowpeas,
soybeans. velvet beans. lespedeza. or
red clover can occupy the land after
the removal of the wheat and oat
crop. Then during the late fall. win
ter. and early spring months. GRIM
son clover. bur clover, and vetch can
be made to good service.
We need better land, not to make
more stuff. We are making more now
than we can market profitably. but
we need the better alnd that We may
make living easier. not have to
work so hard to get il, have time to
attend to other things that need at
tention. and have time for recreation
and the development of our higher
faculties. When we cultivate land
for twenty bushels of corn to the
acre and less, one-thrd to one-half
bale of cotton, ten to fifteen bushels
of oats, or seven TO eight bushels of
wheat. we have to work too hard and
long to get living. so long and hard
do We have to work, that we do not
have the time for rest and recrea-
tion and the proper development of
our social, intellectual and spiritual
faculties.
Don't Work Our Heads Enough.
Ii We are to develop a high civili-
cation In the rural districts. such as
will make our young people content
No remain in the country. we have got
|to make conditions such as will give
en opportunity for rest. recreation.
and social enjoyment. and intellectu-
|al and spiritual deyeObment. Moth
|ing but hard work. and in some in
Stances, grinding poverty, is the lot
|of many who are living in the rural
districts today. Now work is not a
curse, nor do We wish to convey the |
Idea that we should not have to work |
hard for our daily bread, for we be-
lieve that man would have become |
extinct long ago but for the edict is
sued by God Almighty to Adam. I'm
the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat
bread" The trouble is we are work
ing our muscles too much and our
head not enough and with many of
ns apparently not working our heads
lat all. Now, Il we are ever to build |
hp great rural civilization we have
got to use our heads more, and now
is the time to begin. Readjustments
in our institutions OF government, OF
and of business are going
on everywhere, and there must neces-
sarily be readjustment In methods
of agriculture and In the marketing
of agricultural crops II the agricult-
ural civilization OF this country is to
be saved from decay and ruin.
II takes money to build and main
tain a high civilization. TO get mon
ey in agricultural communities crops
have got to be grown. and grown In
an economical manner. Now to grow
crops economically. large per acre
yields are necessary. To grow large
per acre yields we have got to have
4 fertile soil In which TO grow these
crops. Now the fifteen to twenty
bushels of corn, the one-third to one
half bale OF cotton. the ten to fifteen
bushels of oats, and the seven to
eight bushels of wheat that many of
is are now growing. represents mus
lie work. But II we will use our !
heads some we can double and trib-
bic the average yield OF all crops 1
crown In the county and by using on !
v one-half to one-third the land can
.educe the muscle work correspond
ngly. Now for the head work. Il
Good Farm Headwork.
When God created the world and
placed man therein he commanded
lim to multiply and replenish It,"
lie knew what man would need in his
forts to carry out this command, so
very provision was made In creation
or keeping the earth fertile. Plants
we're given to man that have the fac
llty OF getting nitrogen from the air. O
lime and potash mines G
we're prepared that man might have !
he wherewith to replenish the soil a
When II became exhausted OF these
dement's. The truth is. all nature is q
me great store house Of wealth and
sod hath delivered to man the keys "
o this store house and saye.h unto
i'm. as thou wilt so be IL unto thee.
Are we using to the extent of our y
bility the resources that our Creator
las provided for our enrichment in r