Page:LA2-NSRW-1-0047.jpg

AGRICULTURE vicissitudes of their environment were many and hazardous. Wild beasts, unfriendly Indians and the absence of adequate facilities all retarded the country's development. For approximately two centuries farming in America was confined to a comparatively narrow area adjacent to the Atlantic. The first of the farmer’s implements were of the crudest, and his practices were wasteful. The conserving of the land’s fertility was ignored; such vast areas, uncultivated and unclaimed, encouraged no other practice; and if a field was exhausted it was abandoned and another cleared and tilled. Buildings, equipment and other necessities were had at the expense of the soil. Thus an indifference to the maintaining of the soil’s fertility was inherited by succeeding generations, with the result that one of the great problems of our times in the older portions of America is to remedy the evil done in days gone by and inaugurate a system that tends in the other direction. Agricultural chemistry is quite clearly pointing the way. It required a full century for Americans to realize that the productivity of their land was limited, and that the deep fertile soil could become exhausted.

In the aggregate of its field productions the United States is without a close competitor among the nations, but it must be confessed that from the viewpoint of the acre-yield we do not favorably compare with others whose density of population makes small holdings and intensive cultivation a necessity. That our average yields are low may be accounted for by the fact of abundant land in proportion to population. The capabilities of some portions are yet but partially comprehended and of others well-nigh unknown. Owing to the country’s vast area the developments already achieved are comparatively superficial because of the largeness of the farms and lack of sufficient labor. These conditions scarcely make possible the use of methods adapted to producing the maximum per acre, although the use of modern machinery has made farming on an extensive scale exceedingly profitable. As the country more nearly approaches a maximum development, with the inevitable increase in population, smaller farms and benefits of the revelations and teachings of science, it may be expected that average yields per acre will show continual increases until the maximum has been attained. Recent economic revolutions in the art and science of agriculture have had a noticeable effect already, as evidenced in the nation’s enlarged prosperity.

At the close of the eighteenth century the great percentage of our population were farmers. The farms were comparatively small in area, and tilled sparingly and mostly for self-support; because of lack of adequate transportation facilities markets were not available, and hence there could be little incentive to produce more than was required for home consumption. Inefficient equipment was also a barrier to any surplus that might have been desired. Under these conditions none but the simplest methods were employed, and but scant attention given to cultivation. Providence was the main reliance. In those days it was commonly said that “anybody can farm,” and in truth nearly everybody did. With a population the greater part of whom raised their own supplies, and the exporting of any surplus being practically impossible, the situation of the American farmer about the close of the eighteenth century was one that created little enthusiasm. About this time, however, the discoveries of science led to the belief that chemistry would greatly promote the art of agriculture; new ideas were entertained, better implements sought, improved methods were adopted, and a general awakening marked the first great stride in a progress that has become the admiration of the world.

As the population increased and the frontier was gradually pushed further into the interior of the continent the pioneers in the westward movement were required to adapt themselves to yet other conditions and solve new problems. Each new outpost of civilization was in a sense an agricultural experiment station. The vast expanse of country presented a variety of soils and climates, and to learn what crops and methods were best adapted to their differing conditions was tedious and expensive. This gave birth to the state agricultural experiment stations, and with their help many obstacles have been overcome and the development of the country steadily expanded.

The first society for the promotion of agriculture in the United States was organized in 1785; this was followed by others in rapid succession, and at the present time nearly every community has its agricultural association. Agricultural fairs have been helpful educators, and nearly if not all the states have their boards of agriculture or other similar organizations supported with public funds for the purpose of advancing the farming interests. From these are issued reports, bulletins and other useful publications, which are usually distributed free. An extensive agricultural literature has grown up, including not only many general and special works but a long list of periodicals, some of them devoted exclusively to special products of the farm, some particular breed of live stock, or branch of industry, such as dairying, poultry raising, market gardening, fruit-growing, bee-keeping and the like.

Agricultural Colleges. The educational movement inaugurated by the early agricultural societies has grown into the excellent agricultural colleges, with which are generally connected the experiment stations, in every state and territory. These are given 