Evening star., 1924-12-12
S6(D,0D0,O(O GAIN
|NFARMERS' FUNDS
Grain Growers Have More
Money Than for Years.
Dearth of Men Feared.
BY J. C. ROYLE.
special pispa tch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, December 12-"Christ-
mas money" Is the main thing in the
minds of the farmers of the country
this week, and their needs, which
have a marked effect on nearly every
industry in America, are going to lead
vessel owners and sailors into dan
ger on the Great Lakes, in conse-
quence. in order to get wheat to
market The time lint of insurance
rates on lake traffic expired Noyem-
ber 80, but boat owners were given
the privilege Of insuring vessels and
grain cargoes at increased rates up-
til December 12. when navigation Of
fcially closes. After today they sail
at their own risk, but this is not
likely to check shipments entirely.
Gain of $500. 100000.
well over the 15o,o00,ooo bushels
those and other shipments from the
grain belt, growers of grain have
approximately $500, 900, 900 more to
spend than they had at this time last
year. There are some 100000 farm
ers in the country. so each is nearly
500 better off than a year ago.
Some of that 500 apiece is going to
be spent in the next two. weeks, and
retailers all over the country have
been shooting in orders for extra
goods In consequence.
There VIII be no lack of Christmas
funds among those agriculturists who
have specialized in other products
than wheat The cotton growers who
have not marketed their crops have
received strong advances from CO.
operative associations which are
l. II.
conditions. The same applies to to-
bacco growers, dairymen and wool
growers. Most producers have mark
eted enough of their corn direct to
give them ample cash to see them
through until the live stock, to which
the remainder is fed, is sold. Sugar
beet growers have had substantial
advances and Santa Claus can have
no Ill fed reindeer when he pulls his
big loads up to the farm house Chin
neys on December "a.
Farmers rs Amateurs
The farmers. although many of
them have laughed at the agricultural
school graduates and the so-called
gentleman farmer" for years, are
apparently anxious TO get into the
amateur class. This has resulted
from the awards given at recent agri-
toitui a. dIiu uNe STOCK SHOWS. Inc
dirt" farmer says that he is unable
to compete successfully for these
prizes with grain and animals pro-
duced at educational institutions and
experimental farms subsidized by
Federal or State governments or with
the products of gentlemen farmers
who care nothing for expense.
He, therefore, asks that he be
placed in an amateur" class from
which rivals, except from his own
class, are excluded They saw the
purpose OF the prizes is to encourage
farmers to breed better cattle and
grow better grain, whereas in reality
there is no incentive to that end, since
they feel that they cannot compete
with those supported by large public
or private funds and supplied with
every facility science has devised, no
matter how expensive.
Dearth of Farmers Feared.
Experts declare it will not b. many
years before America is using all the
farm products produced in this ceun-
try and must import from other lands.
Leaders in agricultural a school devel-
opment are seriously worried over
where the country viii get farmers to
produce the commodities needed
There has been a marked decrease in
enrolment of students at the agricul-
tural colleges.
since 1914 the enrolment of stu
dents in agricultural colleges de-
clined at alarming rate said
Henry Sandholt. executive secretary
of the Blue Valley Creamery Insti-
tute. today. I'm "a of these institu-
tions, or which we depend to educate
the country's future farmers and to
make more money for those engaged
in agriculture, our investigation
shows that the average enrolment
has decreased from 4JS in 1914 to 2S9
| this year.
'As a matter of protection 10 the
development of the nations basic in
dustry. upon which prosperity hinges,
we need more trained leaders"