126 N. J. Mosquito Extermination Association 



that our budget this year was a little less than half a million dollars. 

 But it pretty nearly scared some people that we had sand enough 

 to come forward and ask for that much. 



We have considered the complete reclamation of the salt-marsh 

 area and its recovery to agriculture at the proper time. Our con- 

 clusion is that that time has not arrived. But that is apart from the 

 question. This is one of the tremendous opportunities that reside in 

 the state. The feeding of our people in good fashion and at low cost 

 is one of the vital questions which are now before us. But New 

 Jersey has simply been absolutely oblivious of her own interest and 

 advantage in thus neglecting to develop her farming facilities and 

 opportunities. Our people have gone almost mad over industrialism. 

 1 do not mean that industrialism is not a good thing ; but we cannot 

 live if we are withdrawing all our people or too large a proportion 

 of our people from the production of food to those pursuits that 

 involve the consumption of food. 



Now we have these opportunities. We have got some of the most 

 wonderful food-producing land within this state that anybody ever 

 heard of. Yet it remains of record here, there and everywhere that 

 Jersey soil is nothing but sand and is no good. I can point out to you 

 any number of farms that are producing 350 bushels of potatoes 

 to the acre ; and if that is not a pretty good crop, I want to know 

 what is. We are now producing $17,000,000 worth of corn in this 

 little state, and $25,000,00 worth of milk; and still we have not 

 begun to supply the demand that rests right here at our doors. 



As to undeveloped Jersey, 45 per cent of our area is still in wood- 

 land, and woodland that is of very little good, because it is ravaged 

 by fires instead of being devoted to the production of timber that we 

 need in our industries. That again is neglectful, slothful Jersey. I 

 don't want to see two million acres of forest in this state, forester 

 as I am, but I want to see that two million acres cut off, and I am 

 doing all I can to bring it about. We want a million acres of that 

 forest cleared off and devoted to food raising. There is no guess 

 about it ; I know that these two million acres are of such a character 

 and quality, though still in forest, that they are well worth clearing 

 and devoting to these purposes. 



Incidentally I believe it will be more economical to clear that land 

 iind get it under the plow before we turn to the marshes, because 

 the expense of making the latter arable is so much higher than the 

 expense of making the woodland arable. 



