No. 4.] EASTERN AND WESTERN FARMING. 1G9 



I should be pleased to enter into the philosophy of a tillage 

 rotation, but time will not permit. It is well-nigh true to 

 say that there can be no high agriculture without a high order 

 of crop rotations, involving a large amount of tillage. I 

 need not ofler the demonstration that tillage aids in soil 

 decomposition, — we have seen it in the west; but ours 

 should stop short of continuous tillage, rather being that sys- 

 tem that alternates tillage and covered crops, the one to aid 

 decomposition and the other to absorb its products that 

 might be wasted by continuous tillage as in the west. This 

 would require an immense increase of capital, labor, ma- 

 chinery, manures and skill. Can we aftbrd these and other 

 necessary factors ? Yes, if we are to measure steel with our 

 western brothers, who have outrun us in aggressive progres- 

 sive measures where they have seen the opportunity to apply 

 them. 



First, we have the cheapest lands in America, saving the 

 dark belt of the south. The increase of renters in the west 

 is due to the absence in the market either of free or low- 

 priced desirable lands. Very few areas in the country are 

 holding land at less than fifty dollars per acre, where a man 

 cares to live. Incidentally I may say that New England 

 to-day ofters the best opportunity of the continent for a poor 

 man to procure a farm home. Our cheap capital, now net- 

 ting but three per cent in New Hampshire, and I presume 

 the same in Massachusetts, leaves but a little net income on 

 the purchase price of land at fifteen to twentj^-five dollars per 

 acre, as it can be purchased for over one-half of New Eng- 

 land, to pay the interest, — not more than fift}' to ninety 

 dollars being thus absorbed by a one hundred and fifty acre 

 farm. Here to-day is the most promising opening for capital, 

 for little has to be realized to make the investment a pa}'ing 

 one. The west cannot be met with any hope of success 

 without using the tools that have served them so well. 

 Muscle is foolishly governed that knows no better than to 

 contend with machinery, and deserves any fate that may 

 happen to it, speaking economically. 



I am told that we cannot use machinery on the farms of 

 New England. If this is so, let us throw thorn away, and 

 be done with the vain strufftrle. The assumption is a false 



