G60 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



when it will not produce a full crop. The object of every farmer should 

 be to put his crops in such condition that they will withstand the extremes 

 of different seasons in the best possible manner. No part of the wort 

 should be too small to enlist his attention, as the success or failure of his 

 ventures often depends upon the manner in which the little things are 

 performed. 



There is much written and said about the production of grass, and it 

 is well that we should obtain information from every possible source. 

 But it is not always advisable to discard our own ideas and plans for 

 others. We often see others successful along certain lines and when we 

 attempt to pattern after them failure is the result. We believe that success 

 in raising grass and pasture is best attained by having a matured plan 

 of our own which can be modified by studying the ideas and works of 

 others and by our own experiences. The time has come that more labor 

 must be expended in the production of a crop than when land was less 

 valuable. High priced land has come to stay and we must adapt ourselves 

 to these conditions. A paying return for the value of land, labor and 

 money expended in the production of a grass crop can only be had by the 

 closest study and attention to the small details and to see that every foot 

 of land contributes its share to the aggregate of the crop. I am aware that 

 upon no question is there a greater diversity of opinion. I submit this 

 paper as an introduction to the subject and leave the question for the gen- 

 tlemen who are to follow. , 



AGRICULTURAL PROBLEMS FOR THE FUTURE. 



George F. Coburn, before the Farmers' Institute, WasMa, Cherokee, County. 

 When one looks back a quarter of a century and compares the condi- 

 tion of Iowa farmers with the present conditions and then draws a picture 

 of the conditions that will exist in twenty-five years hence, it is very doubt- 

 fult to my mind if one could color the picture too highly. If any one were 

 to remind you now of one-half of the century that is gone and foretell one- 

 half of our present century to come he would be regarded as a dangerous 

 man and rickety and it would be used against him in the next campaign 

 no matter on what ticket he ran. The fact is that not many realize the 

 rate at which the world is traveling. Time is so noiseless that it wakens 

 very few. The Rip Van Winkles are as numerous as the Smiths and 

 Joneses. While we are yet shaking hands with the events of yesterday 

 Genius taps us on the shoulder and introduces a stranger and we exclaim 

 what imposter is this? With an increase of 15,000 of people every decade 

 the question is asked, Where are they going? What will they do? One 

 thing sure — there is no room for the rising generation of the rural dis- 

 tricts in the cities and towns and if they go there they seldom ever acquire 

 a competency. If upon the other hand they would stay on the farm and 

 farm the farm (for there is a vast difference between staying on the farm 



