Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-11-05

for tho time from tho cold Statistical
viewpoint and consider The situation
from mat OF human lifc ON the farm
In its reintiOn 10 VIVA, we call eco
Monies. ~" md that The situation
holds promise strangely I'm contrast
10 the present unhappy conditions I,
may sound raradoHical TO say tina, the
economic crisis through which We
are now passing promises i'm rhr long
run TO MAX. for better Farm homes
ana higher STANDARD "f living on
IN" farm, but thcr" is an ASPECT in
which our present loss seems to fore
shadow decided gain in THAI; re-
spect
We ar" al familiar with tho farm
or. OF that TYP" 50 common in tho
Dast. wh"s" only idea of efficiency
~ 10 rob tn" SOIL 10 tho limit, and
whose only idea Of way to use
profits is 10 invest them IN more
land. aud stiII more land Strangely
enough, this course. which wouid
seem To lead at least TO financial
prosperity serves so defeat It's own
ned. Tho continual EFFORT To invest
farm proits In NOR" land tends To
blh mp TIA. pric" ui land beyond The
level justified by return from IN.
. land. ana thus To in"rcax" TN" cost of
production by increasing tn. charge
tor III" US" "' land. Al the same
. Time. the effort to Justify the in
v"stmcnt tends ia iucyeas. uru,lu,.-
/ ION, irr'Spcc'iv" Of marh.t demands
! nus We have vicious circle ;ibou.
which the farmer Chas,S the wili-o'-
lh"-wisp OF, profit. only go nud that
las effort has Increased N" nricc of
i"nd and lowered the price OF the
products Of the land
The day % this Kind Of farming is
about over In" farn"- of tho u.w
day k"pws that such tactics arc ihosc
III avn :Ilrl siV aulsrWa 1"p .ul 20
't'"' they s"rv" I" rut him in com
petition with himself. and tina, ,hev
I"Ii periodically ia agricultural de-
preston. He knows that FARMING 10
u fundamental Industry. tina, the la
h"rcr is worthy az his hire ana that
~" is entering upon an era ia which
sound aSronomy and sound business
pra"tiv"s must prevail! owe: the hap
hazard methods of the soil-cAploita-
/ non era Of American agriculiure
moving this hc VIII realize thu; IN,
steady flow OF profit necessary to tho
successful prosecution Of MS hus,
ness and tn" happiness Of his f,mI-
- VIII depend on tho way in which
n" gauges his production with -.t
"rcnc~ I" demand aud on tn. ef-
hci'ncy with which Ia. grows and
markets his products. rather ,han on
MS skill or luck in handling r.,,
cstai"
Fr" mthis viewpoint. ut least. IN.
hGr'cul'ural slump is not an un,riy.d
I 'ViL since is tendency is to sbaL.
'u' NJ tn" running tho type OF farmer
who's" influence has tended to- kocr
h"wn IN" prices ~ farm products and
/ l'Wfr ~" standard Of living cn the
/ farr'. 7" tho provr~ssiv" farmer who
7 "a
[ stump, ;his may seem poor cousola-
/ ton now, hut as the situation de.
'"I"ps ~ seems likely that The ad
| vantage xii swing more and more
| I" his side. Tn" farmer who is fit
/ ted I" cope win the new situation
/ IS tho farmer wh" is able to adjust
! himself promptly 20 the new condi-
/ TONS. and who scss that. In the long
/ run. the cause ~ agriculture and
/ ~ rural III" in general is served
! by ma intn'ninc or raising m. stan
/ Gard OF living on tho farm. rather
/ than 10y using all surplus profit to
/ bid M 'hr rrir" 81 land when there
, ar" NOR" bidders than the praits ~
| the soil vii, Justify.
I After al, hotter living is tho true
goal ~ the EARNING business Th~r.
is no NOR" biting commentary on our
modern life than that cynical aphor-
/ ISM To which u has given currency
business is business" That business
should become ITS own synonym" as
some one has put It. * shameful
thing. aud that farmer who thinks OF
the farming business as having no
object beyond mere financial success
is in a fair way TO miss tho best OF
life.
There is great class Of forward
looking farmers in this country who
know hrttar than that We may rest
assured that these men. In working
out the vcxlng problems that the
agricultural slump has spawned. will
no, be SO foolish as to forget that tho
question az the financial future Of
American farming Is ineNtricahly con-
nccted with tn" question OF better
living in the farm homo and the farm
community.