Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-10-28
land as has any real agricultural
value will soon be utilized.

The matter OF the increase or nfty-
eight per cent in the amount of
mortgages upon Maine farm property
has also been dwelt upon. It should
be borne in mind that this increase
is practically all taken care Of il. a
corresponding increase in the value
of the farm property during the
same period. We hear no mention of
the fact that Maine has the lowest
per cent of tenant farmers of any
state and this percentage also de-
Reascd from 1910 to 1920. The per-
centage of tenant farmers varies all
the way from four and two tenths in
Maine, to forty-one in Iowa and
sixty-siX in Georgia. Certainly a
mortgagcd farm is no worse han a
tcnanted farm, and it is no greater
dscrodit to have cheap land that the
operator can own than to have land
SO high in value that no one but a
capitalist can hold it.
There arc certain other advantages
that should be placed upon the credit
side of Maine agricultural ledger. We
lead the country in the production
of potatoes per acre and very fire.
qucntly lead in per acre production
OF oats. wheat and corn. Added to
this We have a higher standard of
living. There are fewer children and
women at work in the barns and
fields of Maine farms than in those
of any other state in proportion to
farm population. This high standard
we are bound to maintain and for
this reason many OF those most in
tcrestcd in OR agricultural progress.
have not been enthusiastic over any
plan of pcopling our idle acres with
foreign farmers. In some instances,
notably that of the Swedish settle
ments in AroostoOk, this plan has
worked out well in the past, but In
less very careful selection can be
made. there is a danger OF lowering
the standard of farm living without
greatly bcncfitting business condi-
tions in our country towns as alien
farmers are usually poor buyers
But after al. is it wholly a prohl, m
Of the number of farms, or the acre
age under cultivation? is it not
rather a question Of the prosperity
and contcntmcnt of those now upon
our farms. There is already an over
production Of Maincs four greatest
agricultural products. potatoes. ay.
milk and apples. and the disposal of
these products should he our greatest
concern. We should get away rom
the old urban idcs, that all the farm
or needs is to stop complaining, Nor,,
harder, and cconOmizc moro.
oar farmers have for MANY years.
especially during and following. the
war period. been engaged in a i1ust
heroic effort to produce. without re-
card 10 outlay or reward. They rave
l,cn too lusy to count tho cost. They
have uccitg tcd the marketing cn1
of tb,ir business. They nave for
cotton 10 advertise. They have gi,cn
poor support to their organizations,
and they have taken little interest
in matters of legislation. Nor are
they entirely to blame for this. The
man who has from five to twenty
thousand dclllrs invested in a po-
tato farm or dairying enterprise,
and who is forced by unfavorable
labor conditions to perform most of
the actual labor himself, has little
time to work out improved methods
of marketing or finance, or ever to
see over the wall of hard work which
he is surrounded 1t is not surpiis-
ing that in the rush and worry of
farm life. in the never ending con-
test with seasons, insects, and dis
ease, certain essentials &C rural de-
velopmcnt have been left out and the
progress of our farming communi-
ties retarded.
II is not the purpose of this article
to belittle the gravity of the situation,
or the efforts of those who are work.
ing 10 improve it. 1t was the hope
and expectation of all that the year
1922 would bring about greatly i'm
proved conditions. and that our low
est point had been reached. The I'M
usual condition of a small crop and
a low price occurring simultaneously
have, however, postponed the hour of
our advance. The purchasing power
of the Maine farmers crop is now
the lowest per bushel ever known. 1t
will be an anxious period for all, but
we shall come through it. We are
not yet ready to accept the situation
rs hopeless, or the idea that it is too
late to plan for Improvement. Maine
farmers are not the only unfortun-
ates. Those in other states are hav-
ing their difficulties as well, and it is
not perhaps after all. such misfor-
tune to have $21 land upon which to
pay interest and taxes instead of
property valued at $3.50 to 5000 per
acre.
1t is gratifying to note the interest
md concern expressed by many pub
lie spirited citizens and business men.
Il is hoped. however. that at least a
portion of their efforts may be turned
toward an Improvement of the condi-
ion Of those now on the farms rath-
~ than in mourning over a few un-
illable acres and improbable farms
hat have been left behind us. If our
would turn to the aid of CO.
operation between producers and con-