94 FARMERS' UNION AND FEDERATION 



ing. Soil sand loam of fair quality, but shows evidence of lack of suffi- 

 cient live stock or artificial fertilizers to keep up fertility. He said he 

 had worked his farm all his working days, but at no time had he found 

 getting a living out of the soil so difficult as in the last two years ; crop 

 yields have dwindled, chance for profitable returns from dairy (which 

 he Jias abandoned) or stock raising is dubious, hired help is out of the 

 question, for the wages that must be paid is beyond the possibility of 

 coming out even on the expense, and his health does not permit him now 

 to do a full day's work. He has two g*rown-up sons, both steady and 

 sturdy boys, but the impossibility of getting enough returns from apply- 

 ing their labor to the farm caused them both to leave it ; one is now the 

 driver of rural mail route, while the other secured employment in a De- 

 troit store. Mr. Matthews' failing health made it impossible for him 

 to do the farm work this year, so his son sacrificed a $100.00 a month 

 job and good future prospects in Detroit and is now helping him on the 

 farm. He says he has been trying to sell his farm for several years, and 

 finally did sell it last fall. Then at an auction he sold off all his tools, 

 machinery and live stock ; but when the time came for the buyer to take 

 possession of the farm this spring, he "backed out" and the tools, ma- 

 chinery and live stock which he had to replace, though inadequately, 

 has caused a severe financial loss." 



R, M. Bates, ex-Justice of the Peace, Hastings Township: 



"Says he sold his rye at $2.70, wheat $2; says price regulation is a 

 cheat. Wheat is lowest because at a set price is regulated and other 

 cereals are not regulated; wheat production is very unsatisfactory* 

 more so than rye, which winters better and is a surer crop, besides seed 

 wheat costs $4 a bushel. Says he has 40 acres of wheat from which he 

 will not get his seed back, 30 acres more will yield 8 to 10 bushels to the 

 acre. Last year he raised 150 hogs, this year he has but one brood sow. 

 Claims he made nothing on his hogs last year because of the price of 

 corn, and that there isn't any foodstuff now at a price that will permit 

 the raising of hogs, and that the government has not made a move but 

 what has hurt the farmer. Mr. Bates is a graduate of the Michigan 

 Agricultural College, a well read and studious farmer. Has several 

 hundred acres." 



James Ollette, Van Buren Township: 



"Farm of 50 acres, good land, well cultivated. He has coops and 

 complete plant for chicken farm, and until last year carried 1,000 hens ; 

 now only 15 or 20 running around loose. Says he could not make 

 chickens pay with chicken feed at $4.80 per hundred pounds and gram 

 equally high. Says also there is no money in milk, so he is keeping less 



