ALL IN THE DAY’S WORK ... 
Age Increase 
Recent surveys indicate the 
average age of farmers is 
lengthening: Some sociologists 
find cause for alarm on the 
theory that younger men are 
not assuming agricultural re- 
sponsibilities. But the statistics 
may be misinterpreted. As 
farming becomes more and 
more mechanical, men don’t 
wear out as early as they once 
did. Power is prolonging their 
working years. 
Changes 
In colonial days 19 out of every 
20 people were farmers, pro- 
ducing enough to supply their 
own needs, plus a little for the 
20th person in town. During 
the record farm production of 
the war, less than ¥% of the 
population was on the land. 
Today farmers are producing, 
with the help of improved ma- 
chinery, twice as much per 
worker as in 1910. 
Debts 
Secretary of Agriculture An- 
derson pointed out recently 
that this year’s farm income 
was the highest in_ history— 
almost 15 billion dollars, with 
farm mortgage debt around 5 
billion, the lowest in 31 years. 
Looks like good business to ap- 
ply all possible income to re- 
ducing mortgage debts to be 
in the best possible shape to 
weather any economic storm 
which may come along in the 
future. 
Careful! 
Shop carefully when buying 
surplus military equipment for 
farm use, advises one U.S.D.A. 
man. Much of it requires re- 
modeling before it is suited for 
farm operations. Also check up 
on the availability of spare 
parts and_= servicing when 
needed. 
Washington 
George Washington, in his last 
message to Congress on De- 
cember 7, 1796, recommended 
the use of public funds to aid 
agriculture and the establish- 
ment of boards to collect and 
diituse agricultural informa- 
ion. 
Potatoes 
How spud was_named. Two 
centuries ago S-P-U-D stood 
for the Society for the Preven- 
tion of Unwholesome Diet. The 
society was formed in protest 
against the introduction of po- 
tatoes into Great Britain. Po- 
tatoes were looked upon as 
something unfit for food. 
R. F. D. 
After 50 years of R. F. D. there 
are now 32,118 routes, coverin 
1,436,153 miles each day an 
serving about 8,000,000 rural 
families. 
Accidents 
Lives are still rationed—one to 
each person. Farm _ people 
should guard theirs against ac- 
cidents which exact a heavy 
penalty. 
Lights 
If you worry about prowlers, 
both animal and human, about 
the farm buildings, give a 
thought to the installation of 
lights in the yard. Electric 
lights well placed about the 
premises help keep the fox, 
weasel, and thief a safe dis- 
tance away. 
Potato Men 
Some potato growers are find- 
ne mixtures of orchard grass, 
ladino and the clovers excel- 
lent on a short rotation to add 
organic matter to the soil and 
give a luxuriant green growth 
to plow under. 
A. H. HOFFMAN, Inc., Landisville (Lancaster County), Pa. 
