566 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The present topography of the whole of southern and western Iowa 

 is rolling. It would be hard to find in the whole region a quarter section 

 of land that has not been reached and drained by some natural drainage 

 channel. The surface has been cut up by streams into a succession of 

 valleys and divides. As showing the difference in this respect between 

 the oldest and the newest sheet of drift it will be interesting to compare 

 on the accompanying soil map the number of streamrs flowing through 

 such counties as Page and Ringgold with the number to be found in such 

 counties as Pocahontas or Buena Vista. An examination of the map 

 will reveal several other indications of the differences in the topography. 

 In the rugged southern counties, the railroads follow the streams or dodge 

 over the divides by the easiest route; they are therefore necessarily 

 crcoked; in the flat Wisconsin area they disregard the streams and go in 

 straight courses for many miles. The Wisconsin area is dotted over with 

 numerous lakes; the lakes, which once must have stood on the Kansan, 

 have long since been drained and their basins obliterated. 



It is not to be inferred, however, that drainage by tiling is superfluous 

 in this region. The extensive bottom lands need it very much. The flatter 

 divides also would be benefited by it. 



The fact that Iowa is decreasing in population has been the subject 

 of much comment by newspapers and magazines during the last few 

 months. Better systems of farm management, improved agricultural ma- 

 chinery, and state-wide prosperity which has sent thousands of land- 

 owners to the towns and cities, are among the facto i-s which have reduced 

 the rural population. This reduction in population, however, is not an 

 indication of agricultural retrogression. Iowa soil is no less productive; 

 the present season brought unbounded prosperity to the Iowa farmer. 

 The land is all farmed, but under present conditions, with larger and 

 better machinery and with vast areas in permanent pasture, fewer meu 

 are required. Iowa is as truly the land of agricultural opportunity today 

 as it has been for a period of more than half a century. 



SHOULD THE YOUNG MAN WHO INTENDS TO BECOME A FARMER 



SPEND TWO YEARS OR MORE IN OBTAINING A COLLEGE 



EDUCATION OR SHOULD THE TLME BE SPENT 



IN GETTING A FINANCIAL START? 



Robert Johnson. Primghar. loica. Before O'Brien County Farmers' In- 

 stitute. 



The question of obtaining a better education or spending the time get- 

 ting a financial start is one that confronts every young man, the more 

 anxious he may be to succeed, the more seriously will he consider this 

 proposition. The requirements of a successful farmer are increasing as 

 rapidly as in other vocations in life. Farming nowadays is not a means 

 of existence, but a business, and the more it is conducted on a business 

 basis the more profitable it becomes. The young man who expects to 

 succeed must have the practical education that is necessary to succeed. 



