White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-02-19

these seeds. They can raise better
seed than we import, and could be
making more money at it.
Since 1920 we have been importing
from fourteen to twenty-five million
bushels of flaxseed. Part of that
flax no doubt could be profitably
produced on some Of the land that
has been raising wheat.
These are but few illustrations Of
what may be- done to bring about a
better adjustment of production to
demand. Farmers who make use Of
the fund of information that is avail
able will profit by it. Obtaining and
distributing information necessary to
these ends is one of the methods by
which the government, through the
Department of Agriculture or it's
other agencies, can help farmers. But
even though we furnish all the infor-
nation in the world it will help only
those who use it.
/ am not proposing that the Ameri-
can farmer should grow no SURPRISES
whatever for export. But the Ameri-
can market is the worlds best mar
ket. The American people can and do
consume a wider variety Of higher
quality products than any other peo-
pie in the world. In ten years we
probably will have fifteen million
more of these people to feed. We
may also find it possible to-. expand
materially our foreign outlets. But
we need to get away from the idea
that our agricultural prosperity de-
ponds largely upon our ability to pro-
duce SURPRISES for sale abroad. After
all, the home market is our most i'm
portant market and adjustments in
production should be made with spe-
cial reference to domestic needs.
The capital invested in agriculture
has expanded enormously during the
last several decades. Between 1900
and 1920 the average value of land
in the United States more than ire
bled, and in some states it increased
smuch as twelve or thirteen times.
Although land values have declined
since 1920, yet it is hard to believe
that farm land in general will become
any cheaper, except perhaps in
regions where it was greatly inflated
in value. We have no more rich, free
lands The best land is already I'M
der cultivation, our population is
rapidly increasing and the growing
demand for foodstuffs and raw ma
terials will tend to maintain land
values at relatively high levels. If,
however, adequate returns are to be
obtained on high-priced lands, we
must employ the best methods Of
farming, the best seed and the best
breeding stock. We can i'll afford
slipshod methods and inferior seed
and stock on costly land.
The average hen lays around 65
eggs year. There are many hens
that lay $50 eggs year. Which kind
Of hen belongs on your high-priced
acres? To raise production to, say 125
eggs per hen needs only the applica-
ton Of information readily available
to everyone.
The average COW yields about 165
pounds Of butterfat a year. Cows Of
superior quality produce 500 or even
1000 pounds a year. We have not
nearly approached our possibilities Of
profitable production per COW. Bal
anced and more efficient production
will result in better adjustment of
supply to demand. 1t will mean turn
ing back to grazing and forests GER
tain marginal and submarginal lands.
1t will mean elimination Of the in
efficient unit, whether it be the acre