INCREASING GRAIN PRODUCTION. 



By Don Blair, 



Sugar Grove, 111. 



There is but little question that the matter of increasing grain pro- 

 duction is of vital importance not only to the agricultural public but to 

 the commonwealth as a whole. 



Our farmers in the Middle West, especially, have been exceedingly 

 worried in the last few years, in the endeavor to make the owning of 

 two and three hundred dollar per acre land a paying investment and to do 

 this from year to year by practicing general farming. The failure in this 

 has resulted in a widespread movement towards better farming. More 

 net returns per acre tilled is the one thought uppermost in the minds of 

 both the thinking farmer and his city cousin. This tendency towards 

 better agricultural practice has become so widespread that it is being 

 taken up by all classes, from the richest in the land to the poorest, and 

 in no other period in the growth of this country has such an interest been 

 taken in the farmer and his results. 



Naturally there is the usual following of faddists and as a result, 

 unfortunately, people of this class often occupy more of the limelight 

 than the more serious, conscientious workman. Hearsay utterances 

 based on plausible theories have done much to retard systematic develop- 

 ment. Many theories have been built on a veritable foundation of sand 

 and by constant repetition have been calmly accepted as proven facts. 

 Thus, the farmer who ultimately tries them all out is becoming somewhat 

 skeptical of things new. However, I believe that we are rapidly passing 

 through this stage of theoretical fancies and are now reaching the second 

 stage of agricultural improvement or that of practical common-sense 

 bettering of conditions, based on proven facts. Consequently, there will 

 be fewer theories advanced and more practical results obtained. 



Increased grain production is essential and is comparatively easy of 

 accompHshment. System is the greatest need. It is the little things 

 that will make the difference. If the average farmer could have as clear 

 an understanding of the business of farming as the manufacturer has of 

 his business and, further, if the farmer would pay as strict attention to 

 details as the same manufacturer, a wonderful increase in net return 

 would be the result. 



It is true that very little is known by the average farmer relative 

 to the plants grown commercially on his farm; taking this as a depart- 

 ment practically no attention has been given it as compared with the 



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