Page:The truth about the railroads (IA truthaboutrailro00elli).pdf/174

Rh To the extent that the people of the country as a whole appreciate their growing needs, there will grow up a public sentiment and demand for better farming. There is a personal responsibility upon every farmer to meet the demand of consumption. The average wheat-yield, which for a year like 1909 in these three States was 14.8 bushels an acre, must be raised ten years from now not merely one bushel an acre a year, which would add to the income from this crop from $10,000,000 to $15,000,000, depending on the price of wheat, but a bushel and a half, to make an average of 16.2 bushels. Within twenty years the average will have to be raised to 17.8 bushels.

If only ten men farm well, and their fellow-farmers in a county farm poorly, these averages cannot be met. It is the consistent result, rather than the occasional exploit of a brilliant man, that counts. In these three States there are men who are making good profits out of farming, producing yields far better than the average, and not only maintaining, but in some cases increasing, the fertility of their fields. Rh