The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-03-01
NEW ENGLAND
FACESCRISIS
IN Ming
Aroused Over Abandoned
Farms Seeks Way to Lure
People to Land

Boston. March New England,
thoroughly aroused over its aban-
doned farms and the drift Of popu-
lation from the country to the city,
which has been more marked than
ever since the war, is making a de-
hermined effort to build up an agri-
cultural prosper ity which shall rest
on firm foundation. Cooperation
is being stressed as the great nee
essity. and not merely cooperation
among the farmers themselves and
between the farmers and the agri-
cultural colleges and the state ex
pertinent stations, but between all
these elements, and the industrial
interests of this section of the
country.
At a recent agricultural confer
ence in Boston the interdependence
of agriculture and industry was en-
phasized, and means of making New
England more nearly self-support
ing in its farm products were dis
cussed. 1t was brought out that such
products to the value of approx
illdlclS man d bllIiOu "SIS
brought into New England annually
from other parts of the country. ,
Even under present conditions the
New England farmer is we'll off as
compared with those Of other sec
tions. according to state and college
authorities. President Ralph n.
Hetzel, of New Hampshire Colleg,
of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts,
said in recent address that the
old-time trend to the west had pass
ed. and that western farmers were
now coming to New England becaus Sc
they saw a bright future for agr.
culture here, due to the nearness Of
markets, The Massachusetts depart
ment of agriculture, in one of It's
publications, said it could be proved
that the average Massachusetts
farmer was more prosperous and g OF
more out Of life than the average
farmer in any of the wheat-growing
western state.
"Farming in Massachusetts, said
this publication, "has changed from
extensive to intensive crop prOduc-
Dion. The Importance of state agri.
culturally is usually rated accord.
ing to her production of grain, beef
cattle and swine, with little atten.
ton to such crops as potatoes, on,
ions, market garden vegetables. or
chard fruits and berries. 1t 10 IL
these agricultural specialtes that
Massachusetts and the other New
England states excel"
Value of Crops
Giving detailed figures COMPARING
farm costs and production in Massa.
.chusetts and in certain western
grain growing state, the publicati or
sets the general value of the whole
farm crop per acre here at $50.
and in the western state at 1920.
Various methods to bring abou
the desired result are being worked
out Farmers are being encouraged
to devote thousands of acres of land
which have been proved too barrer
for raising crops, to the creation Of
new forests to replace those GU
down by lumbermen. Dairy farmers
livestock owners, and fruit grower:
are forming cooperative association.
for buy ing feed, fertilizer and othe'
supplies, and for marketing thei1
products.
In Aroostook county, Maine, which
leads the country in potato raising
a campaign is in progress to in
crease interest in lettering the crop
grading it properly for market, ant
selling it to the best advantage. Ir
Vermont livestock owners are get
ting together in "better sires, bet
ter stock" effort.
In New Hampshire the extensio,
service of New Hampshire Colleg
has mapped out program of assist
ance to farmers which includes dc
tailed studies Of selected farms il
different parts of the stat6 in or
der to point the way to better or
) ganized farm unit; surveys Of tn
best methods of crop rotation il
order to promote soil fertility
and examination of production an,
cost records to determine the mos
profitable farm methods. Prunin
and spraying demonstrations are be
ing arranged for fruit growers.
Professor John c. Graham, of tn
Massachusetts Agricultural College
thinks that New England should e.
in more extensively for poultr,
p, Saising "a great and growing agri
cultural production" he says, "ca
be based upon the hen as it can no