434 



FOOD SUPPLY PROBLEM 



$2500. In other words, the drainage system represented a cost 

 of $44 an acre. 



(3) Fertilizers. Nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash were 

 supplied to the land in the form of commercial fertilizer. The 

 quantity of commercial fertilizer used was reduced each year as 

 the improvement of the farm fertility made its use less necessary. 



Some results of the scientific methods used are shown in the 

 wheat yields, which were as follows: 



The potato yield showed an even more striking gain for the 

 later years. The average potato yield for the first 9-year period 

 was 132 bushels per acre; for the next 9-year period, 282 bushels 

 per acre. 



The Farm Income. The increase in the farm income is as 

 impressive as the increase in crop yields. The average annual 

 receipts, for the first nine years, were $1094.40; the average income 

 for the next nine years was $2786.33, an increase of 155 per cent. 

 And while the income increased 155 per cent, the expenses in- 

 creased but 102 per cent, thus exhibiting a striking case of in- 

 creasing returns in agriculture. The author of the bulletin states, 

 on this point : 



"The profitableness of this farm may be measured in another way. The 

 owner began with a debt of $3,000 and several hundred dollars on the equip- 

 ment. All indebtedness had been paid. In addition, a tile drainage system 

 costing $2500 has been put into operation on the farm. The farm, shop, and 

 house equipments have been increased to the maximum of efficiency. These 

 and other improvements have doubled the value of the farm and have left a 

 considerable cash balance in the bank. All this must be credited to 18 years 

 of good farming which may be called fairly successful financial management." 



Conclusions. If one-half the farmers would employ the suc- 

 cessful methods now used by the few best farmers, there would be 

 no soil exhaustion problem for many years to come. If all farmers 

 were to use the skill and science now used by a few farmers, there 

 would be no soil exhaustion problem for many generations. 



