JOUFINA'
Gardeh.
VOL. LXVI
INDIANAPOLIS, FEB. 11, 1911.
NO 6.
Written for Indiana Farmer:
COMING CROPS OF 1011.
By J. H. Haynes.
Three billion bushels corn and nearly
one billion of oats are the reported crops
of 1910, and that with an increase]
acreage but a decreased average per
acre.
We are told what is wanted this year
is an increased acreage and an increased average, giving us an increased output
Shall we have it? That depends on
what conditions they are to be grown.
In order to Uo so two things should be
considered. First, there must be suf-
licient and well paid help, so that the
crops can have careful culture. The
second; the farmer should have an equitable share of his crops for his labor,
time and expense and the consumer
should have a fighting chance to live.
I! these conditions can be secured then
ul- favor the advances as indicated
above. If they cannot be secured then
wc favor letting the plow stand idle in
the furrow and we will tell you why.
If the reader were told that the entire corn and oats crops grown in the
I'nited States during the last 20 years
were produced at a loss to the farmers
of the United States he could not believe it. Yet it can be easily demonstrated. We will use the oats crop to
show it and the same calculations on
any other crop will show the same fact
fo be true of it.
From government statistics we find
that the average yield of oats per acre
for the past 20 years in the United
States was 28.6 bushels. We find that
the average price per bushel for oats
ii the first day of January of each of
those 20 years was 25.3 cents in the city
of Chicago (Board of Trade price).  The
• average for the entire year based on
these monthly prices given would not
exceed this one average, 25.3 cents.
Remember Board of Trade prices are
not what the farmer receives in the
local market, but assuming that they
are, then the farmers of the United
States received an average of $7.24 per
acre for their oats crop. Can an acre
of oats be grown for $7.24?
The very best. authorities give the
eost to do this at $9.26 per acre and
the item of fertilizers not considered.
Some gfve tlic cost higher; none lower.
If the statistical figures are correct
and the estimated costs are right, then
'here Is a loss of $2.03 on every acre of
Cro-ttl, The only way this condition can be remedied  is lay getting bet-
r averages per acre and by giving the
• rs more equitable prices for their
tops.
« is not to be inferred from the fore-
fl|ng that the eorn and oats crops are
Without value, but we do claim that the
farmer suffers a loss, while others profit
by the growing of these crops, as well
as all others and these profits are taken
' "i from the producer and the    con-
* timer.
Three queries now arise. Who are
those that profit from the farm prod-
!'«■ of the land ? Why are the prices
*'f living so hiKh ?     And why are    the
arming   classes   refused   an   equitable
th»re 0f their earnings?
thi       arC tOM through    the Press that
• country is to become an "empire of
heef  and   pork"   and   in   another
' l**raph we read that "the commer
cial world demands this."
Who ls the "commercial world," that
presumes to dictate affairs? Not the
farming nor the laboring classes surely. But it Is composed of the common
carriers of produce on sea and land, the
railroads and the ocean steamers.      So
This Is due to the vast expositions of
American products from UM oountry
causing an apparent shortage In the
home markets, and an advantage is
taken from this apparent shortage to
raise prices on the consumer. This ls
why   our   yellow  Journals   are   growing
,'i.*' -
. m'.^\sSMj^_'_TT,'_T»
Single  Comb  BufT  Orpingtons.
it is to be inferred that this combine
of commercial interests are the ones
that demand of us to keep on growing
crops and raising stock, even if we
have to do so at a loss so that they
may profit thereby. Well, If our work
brought us a revenue commensurate
with our labor we might be Inclined to
keep   on.      But  every  product  of   the
hoarse calling on Congress for a "Merchant Marine," "an armed navy" to
force trade into every port on the
globe. Can these things be proven'.'
Let us see: Take the one Item of eggs.
In 1890 there were imported or brought
into the port at New York 15 million
dozen eggs, which were sold to the people at 13  cents per dozen.     The same
Silver Laced    Wyandottes.
farm yields a better revenue to the
commercial classes than it does to the
farmer. And now we come to the second   query;   why   are   living   prices   so
high?
Because American products can be
bought In any foreign market in the
world cheaper than they can be bought
in   the  home   markets  of  the  country.
year there were one-third of a million
sisszcii eggs taken from the port of New
York to foreign markets. Now BOM
the change. In 1909 there were
brought into the port of New York one-
quarter of a million dozen ep>rs and I
million dozen wen- taken away to foreign markets, and the people of New
York paid 27 rents per dozen for them.
In 1SU0, 4f. eggs were brought In for
-ii |   one taken out.
In 1909, one egg was brought in for
every 20 taken out Haul wa tbe time
and space we could show the same ra-
(io am! iti pj other farm prod
uct thai a.... ■ ...it ..I thla country.
But one asks, bow can tins be? a
irorj tow word* will explain, The "commercial WOrtd" is I vast une. It croaaea
launl by rail and mean by steam. The
mails nl the World are carried on these
ait  robbef   prtCQa   tO     the     governments
that employ them. The Idle rich of all
lands are always on tlia go, this makes
the paaaenger train, am.i the revenue
derived from It Immense affairs.
' >n the mail and the passenger trafllc
the "commercial world" fattens, but
Dure ll one nther thiujj tO be considered. Tin safe
on the high seas must be well bait
In former yvars this ballast wag sand or
some tnexpenafr                        red away
In the hold of the vessel. This material wais very Inconvenient In handle and
cunning mlnda soon found that treight-
i "in.  i<< a I. pork or anything elee
could be carried In tin- vi illaat,
and a small freightage to eov< t expenai
of loading and unloading would put
American fnrm producta in any port in
the world, freightage virtually tree, and
these products could be ottered in those
ports at prices then current. On the
return of these vessels foreign freight
are stowed away In the holds and
brought to this country under similar
return of these vessels foreign freights
conditions. Only that Imports are
rapidly decreaalng while exports are on
the increase. The r.iilrn.'ials as part of
this eomne t> m rush our prod
ucts to the seaports. The ocean steam-
arry them abroad! and our consuming world is told that short Crops
cause the high  price  aal   living.
If there Is nothing true in the foregoing why are bills now being brought
both In the House and the Senate to
stop combines of railroads and ocean
lines, to put an end to this combine In
rebates and to forbid railroads from
holding stocks In ocean lines, or vice
versa ?
Xow we come baek to our query, shall
we increase our crops? That depends
—on what? A just allowance to the
producer and a fair share to the consumer. If these can not be had stop
the plow.
KILLIXf. MOM 8.
Editor* Indiana Farmer:
Would like to ask through your paper
how to deal with ground moles. Tiny
are a pest on our farm every season.
|l. I .4 tur   «'o. J.   D.   O.
Answer: There are a good many
forms of mole traps on the market
which are used for getting rid of moles.
Carbon bisulphide is often used advantageously. Pour the liquid Into the
mole hole and cover the opening with
earth. The liquid forms a suffocating
gas which Is heavier than air. It will
l until It reaches the mole and
will cause Its death. Be careful not to
be close to any fire while using this
chemical as it ignites readily.
Representative Foor of Terre Haute
Introduced a bill to provide guardians
for habitual drunkards and to prohibit
the sale of liquor to such persons. Why
not prohibit them from getting drunk,
by shutting up the saloons?