South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-27

rs J. VINCENT larger tracts OF
land and produce larger crops in
order to properly feed our ever in
creasing population.
OTHERS viii point 20 the many facts
which they believe prove that our
present wastefuI methods are re-
sqousble FOR the scarcity OF good
land and the. compare lively small
acreage now being titled by the
American farmer
Both seem Right
Iu way it would seem both par
tics were right THere is no doubt
hut our present day methods Of
farming. while they are much more
scientific and more economical than
those practiced a decade ago. have
ample room for improvement. and
that improvement eventually will
come about
one well informed farmer was
heard recently 10 say that 40-acre
farm properly handled should pro-
vide "a comfortable income and pro-
vide all the necessities OF life for a
family OF five persons. Not so very
long ago one Indian farmer claimed
he was making "a comfortable living
fer himself and family on FIVE acres
q ground.
oliver r.. Shearer. OF Hyde Park.
Pa. claims 20 be able 20 obtain a
yearly income OF 81 500 a year on
three and one-half acres two and
one-half Of which he has under Gull
tvation. According 20 his report he
has educated three children and paid
for his property. which cost him
Sc SEQ. out of profits Of his intensive
farming.
Naturally wonders il these figures
are true why It is that many farm
ers are working hundreds of acres
and losing money.
One Crop Not Enough.
II has been learned through ex-
perience that 10 Is not good business
% depend too much on one crop, and
for that reason we now md our pro-
gressive farmer growing three or
more crops In rotation and oft!mes
also doing a trucking business.
Dairying and poultry. IL has been
found. often helps 10 make up losses
sustained in other departments of
the farm. due TO crop failures, or
disease among stock. Thus 1t would
seem that intensive methods are be-
ing gradually adopted generally.
Tax n Vital Question.
since the war the tax question has
been a vital one 10 the farmer with
large acreage Many are begin
ming to wonder why they should pay
taxes on enormous acreages planted
d fah vi
a fair return when If put out in
fruit or garden truck providing
they are reasonably near good
MARKET would pay them we'll
It is the prediction OF many that
fruit. potatoes and other vegetables
are going 10 be considered more
favorable by farmers I'M the future
thar I'm the past. This being true,
s-lCh large numbers of acres per
farm viii not be necessary. II Is
said that so acres in truck is equal
to SEQ acres in general farming.
small Farm Has Disadvantages.
on the other hand small farms
have many disadvantage The
amount of work necessary on small
farm is generally too much for one
man and not cough for two or more.
The cost of horse and man labor on
a small farm is excessive. The cost
of producing crops on a small farm
is also increased rs the lack Of ma
ctinery.
Cities Eating Up Farms.
There is another question 20 be
considered when trying 90 determine
the size OF our future farms That
is the continual growth Of our cities
which are eating their way out into
the rural districts
Tn most any modern city during
the past ten years the swollen popu-
laticn has extended itself out into
areas which have only recently been