Evening star., 1931-06-24
Henry Ford's Farm Science
Is Applauded and Deplored

Henry Fords experiment in irving
to find a way to profitable mass pro-
duction Of farm products, through the
placing Of thousands of acres under
cultivation and operating the project
by scientific methods, is generally
viewed by the public as a worthy effort
to solve an outstanding problem, but
doubts are expressed as to even Mr..
Ford's ability to overcome the obstacles
to profit from the soil Some see in
the experiment the possibility of chain
farming on scale that will eliminate
the small landowner and reduce farm
workers to the status of European
peasants.
More power to Mr.. Ford'S reforming
and constructive arm!" exclaims the
Boston Transcript, which finds that
how to get profit with less labor seems
to the ordinary farmer a great secret" :"
and expresses the hope that Mr.. Ford
will lay bare the secret" in view of
the generally accepted theory that "a
nations prosperity begins with the
prosperity of the farmer" The Daven-
port Democrat advises that farms of
millionaireS, as a rule, are considered
their Fairgrounds and their hobbies
places to show and to entertain their
friends. regardless of the cost-but
with Mr.. Ford it Is different" The
Democrat concludes: Mr.. Ford is him
self devoting much of his time and
mind to the work. He believes the
solution of the farmers problem lies
in increased efficiency and the discov-
cry of new markets for farm products
He hopes to solve these problems If
any one man can accomplish this gi-
gantic task, he appears to be the
chosen one. Success to htm!"
We'll, II Mr.. Ford can get alcohol
from cantaloUpes, and his compatriot,
Mr.. Edison, can get rubber from weeds.
perhaps the time Is not far of when
we shall see that old parable reversed
and get blood out of a turnip," says
the Rochester Times Union The New
York Evening Post comments: THE
consumption Of farm products is limit
ed by individual capacities which no
advertising can increase. Perhaps this
problem can be solved by the discovery
Of new uses for farm products. In fact.
we should not be at all surprised If
Mr. Ford found ways in which the
products OF the soil could be turned
into material for automobiles, with
compressed carrots or dehydrated
squash going into the chassis"
Twenty years ago." says the st.
Louis Times, "hiS method would have
found wider field for improvements
than now In that time million
farmers have improved their methods.
Tractors have helped. Roads have
aided. Science has contributed through
the radio, the telephone. lights, gas
and housing. There is yet, however,
vast room FOR advancement. I'M
mediately we shall hear that he cannot
anticipate weather. We are not so sure
Of that. A water supply may be a
part Of the plan. At all events, the
new plan may be one Of those large
things that make economic history.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer comments:
Ford has the courage OF his convic-
ticns. Because of or in spite Of this
courage he has made enough 50 he can
do some expensive experimenting IN
farming. Usually gentleman farmers
fnd their chief crop is batch Of can
celed checks. Can Henry upset this
tradition, too, and not only make
farming pay, but gentleman farming
pay? Nothing seems impossible to the
man who made Lizzie's rattle heard
around the world"
"It appears that efici2nt forming is
expensive" declares the st. Louis
Globe-Democrat. "At present 100 men
arc CLllplOycu dt % q dny 4OL uIl 6lBIiJ-
hour day. It is hardly to be expected
that the eight-hour day for farm hands
win be generally adopted, or that IS a
day win become the standard wage It
Is doubtful If even Mr.. Ford can make
farming pay If 1t costs him $500 day
in wages. He has just begun to farm,
however. and operating expenses may
be reduced lster AS all others have
failed tessolve the farm problem, he is