812 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



As long as the early farmer was satisfied with his wooden plow there 

 was no hope for improvement, but when the possibiltiy of something 

 better dawned upon his mind an improved inplement soon took its place. 



The thought in the mind of the possibility of something better than 

 the flaii for threshing grain brought about the cylinder driven by some 

 power other than himself to accomplish the same work. Then the 

 possibility of separating the grain and chaff from the straw by machinery, 

 the separator was brought into existence. Then the possibility of 

 cleaning the grain from the chaff, and the fanning mill was made. So we 

 might follow through all its improvements until we have the present steam 

 outfit which it seems is beyond the possibility of improvement. Yet some 

 day some mind will see an hitherto unthought of method to do this 

 work and from this vision will develop a way which we now consider 

 impossible. 



As long as we thought it was not possible to do otherwise we cut 

 our grain with a sickle and bound it by hand, but when it became 

 evident that it was possible to do this v/ork by machinery we soon had 

 first, the reaper, next the self rake, then the harvester and last the self- 

 binder, all of which have been invented because some man thought it was 

 possible to do so. 



Some of you can remember the time when you thought you couM 

 only plow one side of a row of corn at a time. Now cultivators plowing 

 two rows at a time are upon the market. 



Many, especially among the younger generation, think there are now 

 no possibilities before us. That we have reached the limit it is possible 

 for us to attain along agricultural lines and that our occupation is simply 

 a matter of routine. If we are among this number there is no hope for 

 our advancement. It will be for those that believe there are great 

 things in store for us and that all things are possible who will bring about 

 these things some of us are looking for. In other occupations wonder- 

 ful possibilities have been brought about. Men communicate through the 

 air; thought travels around the world on cabel and wire; substances 

 without life will repeat every sound that is communicated to them. 

 Electricity will give man light, propell his conveyances and drive his 

 machinery. Machines have been invented that seem to have more 

 than human inteligence and perform their work with greater accuracy 

 than the human hand and mind. If all this has been done in other lines 

 of occupation, is it unreasonable to believe there are great possibilties 

 before us in the growth of animal and plant life 



If we have failed to reach our highest standard it is largely because 

 of our new and undeveloped lands. We have believed there was more 

 wealth in acquiring and developing these, than in staying in the older 

 parts and bringing agriculture to its highest perfection. With the pass- 

 ing of these, we must look more to our home lands for our prosperity. 



If you will but glance over our agricultural statistical reports and 

 notice the low average of our principal productions you will be fully 

 convinced that we are only on the border land of our agricultural 

 possibilities. 



