The Editor's Outlook. 



THE YEAR just closed has been a 

 trying one to fruit growers nearly 

 everywhere east of the Rocky mountains. 

 Not only have fruit crops failed more completely 

 than ever before, but fungi and insects have been 

 abundant and have injured or destroyed much of the 

 fruit that set. In other branches of horticulture 

 results have been fair or good, although field crops 

 have given indifferent returns. In general farming 

 the year has not been a pleasant one, in most 

 regions. 



These general failures have come at a time, too, 

 when agricultural interests are peculiarly de- 

 pressed, and for that reason they have attracted 

 unusual attention. Perhaps it has needed such a 

 combination of unfortunate circumstances to set 

 the people thinking. Farmers have never before 

 made such earnest endeavors to overcome obstacles 

 and to free themselves from the bondage of tradi- 

 tions. The effort amounts almost to revolution, 

 both in methods of farming and in political think- 

 ing. The tariff discussion has complicated the 

 general unrest, and has been a prime factor in 

 awakening the rural population to intellectual 

 activity. 



In the long run, the outcome of the year must be 

 beneficent. The general upheaval must purify the 

 agricultural atmosphere. Farmers will know their 

 definite wants and will have made some progress 

 towards supplying them. The connections between 

 the rural population and the colleges and stations 

 are being strengthened. Farmers are demanding 

 aid everywhere, and the institutions are doing their 

 utmost to help them. The greatest misfortune of 

 the year will probably be the impatience for results 

 and recognition which nearly always follows a 

 period of trial and unrest. 



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THE WINTER A ^TI VE farming extends through 

 VOID. ^ scarcely more than half the 

 year in the northern states. With 

 winter comes comparative inactivity and the culti- 

 vator draws upon the results of the summer for his 

 support. The farmer should be one of the best 

 read of men, with so much time at his disposal as 

 the long winter season brings. 



It is a wonder that farming returns even a liveli- 

 hood when one half of it is a consumption of the 



other half. It is only a good business which can 

 be followed even with a scant profit with so long an 

 intermission each year. The closeness and depres- 

 sion of the times must tend to fill up this wasteful 

 void of winter. The farmer must extend his ener- 

 gies over the whole year, and he has ample oppor- 

 tunity to do so in the management of his stock. 

 The horticulturist especially, who is supposed to 

 pursue intenser methods, should contrive to carry 

 his business throughout the twelvemonth. Winter 

 should mean only a change of occupation, a shift- 

 ing of methods and energies. The changing seasons 

 are inspirations to the thoughtful cultivator. They 

 relieve the monotony and should train to more com- 

 plete and skilful methods. At present, the cultiva- 

 tor bends his energies to the utmost to provide for 

 the winter, while the winter should provide for itself. 

 The ideal farming is one which brings in a more or 

 less continuous return the year around, rather than 

 the whole of it in one month. 



Horticultural industries often allow of the grow- 

 ing of crops which mature at nearly all seasons, 

 from asparagus in April to celery in November, and 

 many of these crops are eminently adapted to farm 

 conditions. Asparagus, for instance, is a farm crop 

 in some regions, and it requires less labor than 

 wheat, with much surer profits. The most promis- 

 ing secondary field for horticulturists in easy reach 

 of good markets is the forcing of plants under 

 glass. Certain crops are easily and cheaply grown, 

 and with good management the profits are nearly 

 always satisfactory. This vegetable gardening under 

 glass is sure to increase in extent and importance 

 every year. But it demands a certain alertness and 

 painstaking which are not common among horticul- 

 turists. It requires a good training, and the diffi- 

 culties of it become greater each year, as new com- 

 petitions, new conditions and new enemies arise. 

 Such industries are the ones which pay. 



But we cannot advise particular methods or occu- 

 pations in a general discussion. We only wish to im- 

 press the fact upon those who live by tilling the soil 

 that a business cannot long remain profitable which 

 is followed but four or five months out of twelve. 

 Reform your rotations, combine stock or poultry 

 with your business, or in some way contrive to 

 make the winter months pay for themselves, at least. 

 If nothing more can be done, the time can be spent 



