564 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



And yet the man who will do this work just right each year will grow twice 

 the average yield per acre for his county and with but little additional ex- 

 pense. 



The average crop is worth but little more than the cost of production. 

 But the man who does his work so skillfully that he raises a crop twenty 

 bushels per acre greater than the average has a handsome profit. 



These are the things we must get from and give to each other and the 

 institute is the place for exchange. 



Many of us know better than we do. We need more enthusiasm to urge 

 us on to greater efifort, to bring forth the best that is in us. We must be 

 awake and doing, making a stronger effort each day and each year if we 

 are worthy and useful citizens of the community and State. The man who 

 sits still and complains, the grumbler, is of no use in the world. He is sim- 

 ply a parasite sucking the blood from the world of action and giving noth- 

 ing in return. It is necessary for us to get together, to learn that our 

 interests are mutual, that there are many things that make us better men 

 and aid us in our work, that need our united support. The College of Ag- 

 riculture at Ames is surely doing a great work to aid the farmers of Iowa. 

 Every farmer should receive and study their bulletins which explain and 

 give results of the work they are doing. These bulletins will be sent free to 

 any one who writes to Professor Curtiss and asks for them. 



The short course in corn and stock judging, and domestic science at 

 Ames, the first two weeks in January, each year, is probably the best far- 

 mers' institute in the world and any person who can attend will find it in- 

 tensely interesting and of great value. 



It is our duty to attend and encourage both the State and county fairs 

 when they are intelligently and honestly conducted. 



Because the farmers have not been united and aggressive their interests 

 have too often suffered. We have too often allowed the policies of our 

 parties to be controlled by the political bosses and then walked up to the 

 polls and voted the ticket straight, although our interests had been 

 sacrificed. 



It is not right that we should pay from fifty to one hundred per cent more 

 to ship a car of live stock from here to Chicago than the packers pay to 

 ship a car of dressed meat from the Missouri river to Chicago. 



It is not right that we should sell our products in competition with Rus- 

 sia's and India's pauper labor, and yet be compelled to buy in a high pro- 

 tection market. These are things we have not given the careful attention 

 they deserve. 



The tariff and Interstate Commerce Laws are economic questions of vital 

 interest to the farmer and we should study them as they relate to our inter- 

 ests and not as partisan measures. 



Our Governor and the President are urging Congress to pass a bill which 

 will give the Interstate Commerce Commission power to make a rate that 

 shall be effective until set aside by the courts. Lets do what we can and urge 

 our congressmen and senators to support this bill. Our prosperity depends 

 on our market and the cost of delivering our products to that market. The 

 railroads have taken the lions share of our profits. It seems the awaking is 

 here and something must be done. Lets join hands and pull together and 

 we can in this way better our own condition and that of our fellow man. 



