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ADDRESSES 
 
 AGRiCULTURAI 
 LIBRARY, 
 DELIVERED AT THE I "UNIVERSITY 
 
 ANNUAL MEETING . CALIFORNIA. 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Ohio State Board of 
 Agriculture __ 
 
 COLUMBUS 
 JANUARY 10 AND 11 
 
 1912 
 
 Columbus, Ohio 
 The F. J. Heer Printing Co. 
 
 1912 
 

 
 
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 V' 
 
Boost Ohio. 
 
 The Ohio State Board of Agricukiire held its most successful annual 
 meeting, at Columbus, January lo and ii. 
 
 The Central Idea of the entire program was an appreciation of the 
 virtues and resources of the "Buckeye State." 
 
 In talent and personality, those persons on the program, are not excel- 
 led. Their -enthusiasm in a good cause is easily a virtue. 
 
 Governors, Ambassadors, College Presidents, and other great leaders 
 of thought, helped to fling more widely the Battle Line of Agriculture. 
 
 The onward march of the Ohio Farmer was given added momentum, 
 by reminding him, that not far away, but right here at home he can 
 shake hands with "Golden Opporunity." 
 
 "Stay in Ohio" and "Boost Ohio" are to be the texts of the future, 
 for all who love their native state and ever called Ohio "Home." 
 
 The attendance was an inspiration to all the speakers. The addresses 
 of such merit as to justify the State Board of Agriculture in comply- 
 ing with many requests for publication, and which are herewith sub- 
 mitted. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 Secretary 
 
 2li'2432 
 
ANNUAL ADDRESS. 
 
 By President C. H. Gaxson, 
 Urhana, Ohio. 
 
 At our annual meeting it is customary for the President to make an adrress, 
 stating the condition of affairs pertaining to past and present work of the State 
 Board of xA.griculture. The President would not be able to do this except for 
 the kindness and help of the Secretary. I have asked the Honorable A. P. 
 Sandles. our very efficient Secretary, who has at his comand the data of all 
 work of our Board, to briefly outline what we are attempting in the interest 
 of agriculture. He is an inveterate as well as an earnest worker ; has the interest 
 of the farmers at heart; and has kindly consented to prepare and present a^ state- 
 ment which will be much more to the point than I can make. ' He understands 
 the business and is today one of the best State Fair .Secretaries in the United 
 States, is all wool and a yard wide. It is a pleasure for any Board to have the 
 services of such a Secretary. Close attention paid to his remarks will inform 
 this convention of our work. 
 
 With the assistance and advice ,of the farmers' friend, Governor Harmon, 
 A. P. Sandles and other broad minded men, agriculture has made rapid strides, 
 and today the farmer need not take a back seat. He is not called the "Old Hay 
 Seed," but a man of affairs with a profession second to none. The successful 
 farmer, and all can be successful (as the word "can't" should not be m the 
 farmer's dictionary) should and does feel that his calling is the best and most 
 useful of all professions as well as the most independent. The farmer need 
 play second fiddel to none, especially the Ohio farmer, as Ohio is one of the 
 best agricultrral states in the Union. It is the garden spot, with its good roads, 
 good water and diversity of first class soils. We should be proud of our grand 
 old state. Let us BOOM OHIO. 
 
 We have one of the best and grandest State Fairs in the Union. T^he past 
 year was it banner year. Profit certified into the state treasury amounted to 
 approximately $20,000. It is conceded by those who know that the Ohio State 
 Fair grounds excel in buildings and beauty any fair grounds in the United States. 
 The State Fair is second to none in exhibits. It is educational as well as at- 
 tractive. The "No Pass System"' was inaugurated at the last State Fair, and the 
 attendance and receipts are the proper answer to its workings. Complaints 
 were not had from people who patronize the Fair from year to year and pay 
 their admissions. It is admitted that the pass question may have two sides and 
 be hard to adjust, but to be fair with the people all should be placed on the same 
 footing. The Ohio State Fair is being well patronized, and the management 
 hopes to make it worthy of commendation and patronage. 
 
 - W^e should have nothing but praise for Ohio and her agricultural institu- 
 tions, - which include the Ohio State University, the Ohio Agricultural Experi- 
 ment Station, the Farmers' Congress, Farmers' Institutes, County Fairs and the 
 different branches of the State Board of Agriculture. Running of agricultural 
 trains by the diffcrert railroads is to be commended and the service of the rail- 
 roads appreciated. The service rendered by speakers on the tra'ns has been 
 very useful. Alore than forty thousand farmers have attended the train meet- 
 ings and have been benefited by the talks. It is an education along the lines of 
 the best methods in agriculture. 
 
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 6 ^ ADDRESSES 
 
 Farmers' Institutes and scliobls are working wonders in the way net only 
 of education, but in exchange of ideas and a closer relation of friendship between 
 our citizens. The state law authorizes four institutes to each county. They have 
 been so useful and popular that counties are wanting more and many counties 
 have independent institutes. 
 
 The State Board of Agriculture has been pushing work on the Serum 
 Farm, and in another year expects to be in position to handle the output of 
 serum to the satisfaction of the farmers. From the good work the serum has 
 done in the past, we have no doubt but that hog cholera will be so much lessened 
 that the breeders and dealers will have little fear of this plague. They will know 
 that a proper treatment with serum will make the pigs immune. Dr. Fischer, 
 State Veterinarian, has t4ie serum proposition in charge. He understands his 
 occupation thoroughly. There is no harder student than he, and no veterinarian 
 his superior. 
 
 Fertilizer inspection has been satisfactory during the past year. The Nursery 
 and Orchard Division has been doing good work. The Live Stock Division — 
 in fact all divisions of the State Board of Agriculture are doing a good work. 
 
 The farmer is the bone, sinew and muscle of the country. Agriculture as 
 a profession is the most useful of all the professions. As a class, the farmers 
 are the most independent and as a rule enjoy life mo3t. When it comes to an 
 election on important questions, the rural districts are generally on the right 
 side and often turn the tide for the betterment of the country. The agriculturist 
 is on top. He has learned the lesson of his position and learned it well. He 
 has gained in knowledge of soil fertility and rotation of crops and in the breed- 
 ing and care of stock until today the farmer is, indeed, to be envied. Our soil, 
 with the knowledge we are gaining and putting into practice, will support our 
 growing population. Let us keep abreast of the times and improve our chances. 
 
 The lessons that we may learn by a careful study of such institutions as 
 the Ohio State University, the Ohio Experiment Station, the Ohio State Fair, 
 the county fair, as well as other useful state institutions, will be very useful to 
 us all. We should lend our aid to all institutions connected with agriculture. 
 We should boom Ohio; boom agriculture; boom your State Fair and other agri- 
 cultural industries. While we are gaining knowledge in our vocations on the 
 farm and putting our knowledge into practice by raising better crops, better 
 stock and by improving our condition in many ways, we must not forget the 
 importan part of farm life — our^ homes. Our good wives, who make our homes 
 pleasant, must be thought of, cared for and appreciated. They are interested. 
 To them we may largely credit our success. Let us make our homes what they 
 should be in doing our duty by our families, who, as a rule, will prefer the 
 country to the city. Let us remember the old saying, "Woman's work is never 
 done." We can materially lessen their labors by appreciating their service with 
 help and kindness, and with beautifying home and its surroundinfys. 
 
 THE IMPROVEMENT OF FARM LIFE. 
 
 By Presidext Charles William Dabney, 
 University of Cincinnati. 
 
 This is not to be a sermon, although I shall take as a text these words of 
 the "Father of his Country" : 
 
 "I know of no pursuit in which more real and important service can be 
 rendered to any country than by improving its agriculture." 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 7 
 
 Soldier and statesman, though he was, George Washington was first of 
 all a farmer. Founder and builder of the nation he, taught that agriculture 
 was to be its chief support through all the ages. He says : "In proportion as 
 nations advance in population and other circumstances of maturity, the primary 
 importance of agriculture becomes apparent and renders the cultivation of the 
 soil more and more an object of public patronage." 
 
 Believing this, what would the "Father of his Country" think if he came 
 back to us today and learned the ratio of our agricultural population to our other 
 populations? What would he think if he found that the agricultural population 
 of the country, which was 96 in 100 in his day, had dwindled to 52 in 100 in 
 qualities the case is quite different. 
 
 our day? Even in this great agricultural state of Ohio, the rural population, 
 which in 1890 amounted to 50 per cent of the total population of the entire 
 state, decreased in 1900 to 42 per cent, and in 1910 to 35 per cent. To put it 
 another way, whereas the total population of Ohio increased about 15 per cent 
 and the urban population increased 30 per cent for each decade above, the rural 
 population actually decreased 4 per cent the first decade and 6^ per cent the 
 second decade. The census brings us the same story from all the older portions 
 of the country. Everywhere the urban population is increasing ahead of the 
 rural, and in most of the old states the total rural population, just as in Ohio, 
 is steadily decreasing. More ominous than the trust menace, the currency ques- 
 tion,, or the labor problem, is this drift of the people away from the farm ; for, 
 as Mr. James J. Hill puts it, "Land -without population is a wilderness, and 
 population without land is a mob." 
 
 The resources of our soil and climate are limitless and unsurpassed by 
 those of any other country in the world, yet, for some reason, the young people 
 in all the older states are escaping from the farm Why? — because the attrac- 
 tions of the town are greater than those of the country. How to change this 
 condition is the question of the hour. Even if there are still enough people in 
 the country to produce all the food needed, and although the relative size of 
 the two classes of population does not as yet disturb our national life very 
 seriously, still we must be deeply concerned to ascertain the causes which have 
 thus upset the economic and social co-ordination of these two important parts 
 of our civilization. 
 
 Daniel Webster once said, "Farmers are the founders of civilization and 
 prosperity" ; and it has been the proud boast of America that the farmer occupied 
 the highest position of independence. Is the farmer now to become submerged 
 in the social order and form only an underlying straturn? He must always be 
 the foundation, but is he to be rammed down below the surface and become a 
 mere mud-sill? This, and not the matter of his relative numbers, is the crux 
 of this question. 
 
 It has always been true that one type of men gathers in the cities, while 
 another grows up in the country. There have always been two classes in human 
 society : one the collective and the oth.er the individualistic. Heretofore, in our 
 civilization, the farmer, the representative of the individualistic class, has steadily 
 developed the greatest power, and has, therefore, maintained^ his own in the 
 republic. Have the city men, the representatives of the collective class, now com- 
 bined to put him down? What's the matter with the farmer? 
 
 If the city lives on the country, the country should logically be able to con- 
 trol; but, as our life is organized today, our cities, like cuttlefish with their great 
 tentacles spread out in every direction, are sucking the life out of the regions 
 around them. The weakness of our civilization lies in the fact that the city and 
 the country seem to be, temporarily at least, opposed in their economic interests. 
 
3 • . ADDRESSES 
 
 Thus it is coming more and more to be a story of fat cities and lean country. 
 Must this be so necessarily and always? 
 
 The relative loss of population by the country threatens every business and 
 every interest. Land values decrease, other farmers move away, the young people 
 drift to the cities, stores and dwellings become vacant, schools and churches 
 dwindle, until finally all life and enterprise drop into decay. Witness the aban- 
 doned farms in New England and in New York; witness the rural schools with 
 their diminishing attendance; witness the pastorless churches in the country; 
 and, worst of all. witness the decay of manhood itself in some of our country 
 districts ! 
 
 This, I say, is the question of the hour. How shall we restore the balance 
 between the urban and the rural forces? Why have men nowhere, worked out 
 a perfect relation betw^een town and country? A fair adjustment must be found 
 before we can have a permanent, happy civilization. Is it not true that we 
 have developed the city civilization far beyond that of the country? Both are 
 necessary adjuncts of human life. "All political economy," Mr. Hill says, "rests 
 upon the ratio of population to land area, the abundance and value of the prod- 
 ucts of the soil, and the proper balance and inter-relation of different industries." 
 If this be true, surely our manufacturing and agricultural industries are out of 
 balance. Why — Because, says ]\Ir. Hill again^ "We have been busy as a nation 
 helping the so-called industrial interests of the country — in fact, everybody ex- 
 cept the man on the farm." No matter how high our culture may rise in its 
 various aspects, until a proper balance between the agricultural and the other 
 industries is established, civilization in America certainly cannot be perfected, 
 nor peace between the classes be long maintained. 
 
 This ominous charge is not explained by any falling off in agricultural 
 production. The farmer is doing his work. Our total agricultural exports keep 
 up. We still hold our own in the world's markets of the great staples. With 
 only 6 per cent of the world's population, we produce 45 per cent of the world's 
 wheat supply and this year 72 per cent of the w^orld's cotton — the greatest crop 
 ever produced. The American farmer's total contribution to the wealth of the 
 nation this year is nearly ten billion's of dollars. The trouble is not with the 
 totals of production, but with the conditions and costs of production in relation 
 to prices. 
 
 What, then, is the matter with agricultural production and why are farm 
 prices not satisfactory? All prices are relative, and if the agricultural industry 
 drags in a given community, it is evident that there is something wrong either 
 with the conditions surrounding the farmer and his family, or with the costs 
 of what he sells, as compared with the prices of what he has to buy. What is 
 wrong? 
 
 In the opinion of the best authorities, like the Country Life Commission-, 
 things are wrong, both with the conditions of rural life and with the farmer's 
 methods, his costs, and the rewards of his labors. Let us begin our study with 
 a consideration of the last of these,, the farmer's rewards, as compared with his 
 costs ; then take up his methods, and, finally, the surroundings of his life. 
 
 In our opinion, one cause of country depopulation is the meager share the 
 farmer actually receives, or is allowed to keep, of the tremendous wealth he 
 produces. The cotton planter receives, we are told, a larger share of what the 
 consumer pays for his product than any other farmer — he gets nearly 70 per 
 cent of the consumer's money. This is because cotton is handled in the farmer's 
 original package and passes directly through the hands of the fewest number 
 of middlemen to the manufacturers. The vegetable and fruit grower gets the 
 smallest part of the consumer's money — only 20 per cent. The patient calcula- 
 tions of the agricultural expert? show that, upon an average, the farmer gets 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. y 
 
 only 35 cents of the consumer's dollar. The consumer pays today a higher price 
 for beef than ever before, but, according to Secretary Wilson, the packers pay 
 the farmers for their cattle barely as much as they did ten or fifteen years ago, 
 ■when butcher's meat was comparatively cheap. It is true, no doubt, that for 
 most products, farm prices are now higher than for many years past, but it 
 is universally recognized abo that everything the farmer buys, including his 
 clothing, tools, and implements, is proportionately higher. The standard of living 
 of his family has advanced greatly during recent decades, making both the volume 
 and grade of his purchases of manufactured goods and luxuries much larger 
 and higher. Owing to our excessively high tariff, the American people are living 
 and working on an abnormally high level of costs. In the last twenty years, 
 the costs of most things have been artificially lifted; the manufactured goods 
 used by farmers most of all, and the farmer's products least of all. The farm- 
 ing class, being imperfectly organized, is thus being made to pay tribute to every 
 other class, especially to the manufacturer, the middleman, and the financier. 
 This is shown clearly in the case of wool by the report of the Tariff Commis- 
 sion, and is acknowledged by all schools of economists, except the representa- 
 tives of the favored interests. It is most unfortunate for the workers of America 
 that these questions have always been decided by political methods. They are 
 not political, in any sense, but economic. They can not, therefore, be omitted 
 from any discussion of agricultural depression. Having stated these facts in 
 our diagnosis of the disease, it will not be necessary in this company to discuss 
 further the remedy. All present, i am sure, believe in a fair, if not a low, 
 tariff. 
 
 In the- above statements we have, I think, presented to you the darkest side 
 of our farmer's life, and may turn now to look upon the bright side of life in 
 Ohio, and consider the measures destined, as I firmly believe, to make our 
 farmer's life happier and still brighter every year. 
 
 The first great truth to be noted is that Ohio is near the centre of gravity 
 of the population, of the manufacturers, and of the wealth 'and trade of this 
 country. The centres of gravity of all these things, as shown by the census, 
 of the state, its climate and resources, make it forever a great field of commerce. 
 
 One conclusion to be drawn from this situation — a conclusion as certain 
 as that growth follows sunshine — is that whatever the economic conditions in 
 the country at large may be at any given time, their results are bound to be 
 most favorable in a state located like ours. If railroads and trusts oppress 
 the farmers throughout the country, coiuHtions being equal all over, they can 
 hurt them less in Ohio, where the markets are near at hand, than in the Dakotas, 
 for example, where all the farmer's products have to be shipped a thousand 
 miles to market and all his goods, hauled back again over the same hundreds 
 of miles. So also, if the tariff takes his little remaining profits, or the money 
 trust wants his last -cent in interest, you may be sure that he has, thanks to 
 these same favorable conditions, a good deal better chance in Ohio than in the 
 Northwest. Whatever the advantages from these general economic conditions 
 and laws, the Ohio- farmer is certain to get a little more good out of them, 
 and whatever the disadvantages, they are sure to bear less heavily upon him 
 than upon his brother in those distant states. All economic laws are bound, 
 in the very nature of things, to favor you here for many years to come. This 
 is as certain as the laws of nature. Then stay in Ohio ! 
 
 This great central trade state, with its urban population constantly increas- 
 ing, with its large mining and manufacturing interests, and its thousands of 
 miles of railroads running through it in every direction, also offers many oppor- 
 tunities, scarcely dreamed of as yet, for agricultural development. By way of 
 illustration, let me speak of the opportunities for co-operation, especially for 
 
10 ADDRESSES 
 
 co-operative marketing of products, offered the farmers of Ohio by these very 
 trade conditions. Why has not the farmer taken advantage of the facilities 
 for communication and transportation to make them serve his interests more 
 perfectly, as the manufacturer and the middleman have done? For example, the 
 either fall in Ohio, or just to the southwest. Our state is now, therefore, the 
 central state of the Union commercialh^ in the sense that a large part of the 
 trade of the country must pass through or over Ohio. The geographic location 
 manufacturer is using the telephone, the mails, the express and freight lines, 
 more and more each year, to sell directly to the farmers and so increase profits. 
 Why does not the farmer organize in similar manner to sell directly to the 
 manufacturer and his other consumers? These facilities are just as good for 
 the one as the other. When one observes the losing way in which most farmers 
 do their business with their city consumers, one would, think that the telephone, 
 the mail, and the railroads did not work both ways, or, at least, that they did 
 not work backward towards town fcr the farmer, but only for the commission 
 merchant. The trouble, of course, is that the farmers are not organized for 
 co-operative marketing.- 
 
 There are no better ilhistrations of the gains of small farming and of 
 co-operation among producers than those found in the experiences of the farmers 
 of Denmark. After the Germans robbed them of their province and took away 
 their markets on the continent, the Danes sank rapidly, 3^ou will remember, into 
 a condition of extreme poverty. Necessity drove them to adopt new methods. 
 After a half century of scientific farming and co-operation, they are now the 
 wealthiest farniers per capita in the world. This remarkable change, which, by 
 the way, has been accompanied by great industrial development in all other direc- 
 tions, is attributed directly to the improvement of agriculture through educa- 
 tional methods and its increased gains through co-operation. 
 
 The Danes have, for instance, developed scientific dairying and stock rais- 
 ing in all its branches. The government employs many ex-^erts to instruct the 
 people in the breeding of live stock. If a group of -farmers wish to purchase a 
 bull, for example, for its co-operative society, it first consults the government 
 man. Even in the breeding of single hogs the individual farmer will consult 
 the expert. These experts furnish their services readily to the farmers who 
 ask them. The result of this has been the "rapid improvement of live stock and 
 a steady increase in the quantity and quality of the milk and the character of 
 all dairy products. In many herds the quantity of milk annually given by each 
 cow has been increased over one hundred gallons. The Danes attribute much 
 of this increase to their scientific methods of milking, as well as to this scien- 
 tific breeding. The creameries impose severe rules upon the farmers as to the 
 methods of feeding the cows and of handling the milk, and the loyalty of the 
 men to their organizations is remarkable. The Danish trade in butter alone — 
 and their butter is considered the best that reaches the London market — has 
 multiplied ten times in twenty years. 
 
 Severe economy is practiced in all matters, with remarkable results. This 
 economy extends even to the cows, which are hitched and required to graze a 
 portion of the pasture urtil it is eaten clean. They milk three times a day, milk 
 tests are systematically applied, and the cows with poor records are discarded, 
 while the calves of record mothers are kept for the farm. 
 
 The Danish co-operative methods of producirig and selling are also most 
 interesting. The co-operative dairy movement now includes one thousand societies 
 with two hundred thousand members, and it delivered last year over five billion 
 pounds of milk, which produced two hundred million pounds of butter worth 
 sixty millior.s of dollars. 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 11 
 
 The increase of wealth in our cities insures markets at the highest price 
 here at home for milk products of fine quality, such as can only be produced 
 with the help of modern science. As Director Thcrne of the Ohio Agricultural 
 Experiment Station testifies, "The dairy^man who can furnish evidence that his 
 cattle are free from disease, and whose product shows that strict attention has 
 been paid to every essential of cleanliness in production, is able to command 
 very remunerative prices." 
 
 Similar co-operative societies market the eggs, bacon, and lambs of the 
 Danish farmers. There are two poultrymen's associations, one with four thou- 
 sand, and the other with six thousand members. Each has some forty centres 
 for experimentation and distribution of pure-bred stock. Each week the associa- 
 tion's collector gathers the eggs, which must be marked with the producer's name, 
 and pays on the spot the market price for them. The man who delivers stale 
 eggs is severely punished. After selection and careful examination, the egg is 
 then stamped with the association's stamp. This simple guarantee has raised the' 
 price of hen's eggs in the English markets until the industry now brings Denmark 
 ten millions of dollars a year. Eggs are now (January 10, 1912) in demand in 
 Cincinnati and Cleveland at 40 cents at retail, and Director Thorne tells me 
 that the Ohio station is selling eggs by the case in Pittsburg at 45 cents a dozen, 
 and hot house lamb at 35 cents per pound dressed. He says : "The demand for 
 such products is steadily increasing, as is also our knowledge of the methods 
 by which they may be produced." Is there not a larger business to be found 
 here ? 
 
 Other market products are handled by co-operative creameries of Denmark 
 in a similar manner. The Danes no longer send their live hogs abroad, but kill,, 
 cure, and manufacture every scrap at home, with the result that pigs which 
 brought Denmark only $7,500,000 a few years ago, now bring $25,000,000. The 
 Dane believes in manufacturing the farm products to the highest degree before 
 he lets them leave his farm or co-operative factory. He sells the finished 
 product and not the raw material, for he believes that the nation which sends 
 away its raw material for a more skilled people to finish is ruined. The factory 
 farm and these co-operative methods are needed in Ohio. 
 
 Another lesson we can learn from the Danes is intensive farming of smaller 
 areas. We are still trying in Ohio to cover too ixkany acres with our poor 
 culture. . We should farm only as many acres as we can cultivate in the best 
 way, and no more. There is, as we know, scarcely a limit to the value each acre 
 of ground may be made to produce. Scientific methods and intensive agriculture 
 are these days within the reach of the poorest farmer, whether they include the 
 study of the soils, the testing of seeds, the rotation of crops, or the raising of 
 live stock. Intelligent fertilizing with chemical manures, or by growing leguminous 
 plants, the use of improved groans and fancy stock — such methods are today 
 within the reach of all. These methods increase the interest in farming, as well 
 as make room for new population, whose presence and added product increase 
 the opportunities for co-operation and all forms of social improvement. The 
 fruit farmer, the dairy farmer, the poultryman, and every cultivator who has 
 specialized in his work have already learned these principles. Our problem is to 
 find a way to teach them to the half million or more farmers in Ohio still 
 engaged in general agriculture. Take /corn culture in Ohio as an illustration. 
 Corn is still our greatest crop, but it does not pay very well to produce it at 
 the rate of 38 bushels per acre. The Experiment Station has shown that if we 
 used tested seed only and so secured a better stand, we might increase this yield 
 to an average of at least 76 bushels per acre, while a perfect stand of plants, 
 each yielding a one-pound ear of corn, would produce 152 bushels per acre. 
 A little South Carolina bov raised over 200 bushels of corn on one acre. Can 
 
12 ADDRESSES 
 
 not the Ohio farmer make at least one-half as much? Ohio cultivates some 
 three million acres of corn annually. Supposing we added 20 bushels only to 
 each acre, the result would be 60,000,000 bushels more corn in Ohio each year, 
 which at 40 cents a bushel, would yield a return of $24,000,000. Think of the 
 gigantic waste resulting from the careless cultivation of too many acres! 
 
 The same can be said in regard to the waste in raising poor stock. . Every 
 farmer must keep some cattle, sheep, and hogs. Why not the best? No farmer 
 ■can prosper until stock raising becomes a considerable part of his agriculture. 
 The natural increase of animals, the butter, milk, lambs, pigs, etc., sent to market 
 add materially to his income. A few forage- fed live stock leave at least one- 
 third of their value on the land in the form of manure that results in fertility 
 and keeps the farm from running down. Only by keeping stock can the farm 
 be made and kept the permanent source of wealth it should be. The keeping of 
 good stock throughout the country creates at once a great industry and makes 
 opportunity for specialists in various lines of stock-breeding to do good business. 
 That we are making progress in this line is well illustrated by Greene County, 
 which already claims to have a larger number of different breeds of pure bred 
 stock than any other equal area in the world. If all our farmers went to work 
 to improve their stock, we would have in Ohio at least- a half dozen Greene 
 Counties. ■ 
 
 It is a narrow view of agriculture, however, which regards this great art 
 only as a means of providing men with the simplest means of existence. We 
 are interested in the progress of agriculture, not only as a means of supplying 
 the food necessary for the increasing peoples of the earth, but also as the art 
 which chiefly supports man's advancement along all lines, intellectual and spiritual, 
 as well as physical. ''Man shall not live by bread alone." It is a condition of 
 civilization that man is not satisfied with a mere subsistence,, but that his wants 
 increase with his development. The modern man is not satisfied with the simplest 
 food, or the plainest raiment, or the barest shelter. Because such food pro- 
 motes health, happiness, and the development of his finer nature, he wants at- 
 tractive and delightful food. Hence there have been developed the various special 
 branches of agriculture and horticulture, and the many arts of milling, manu- 
 facturing, preparing, and preserving the products of the soil which make food 
 substances tempting and delicious, as well as convenient for use. Americans owe 
 much of their success as purveyors to their excellent methods of preparing food 
 materials of all kinds, and to their skill and taste in presenting them to the public. 
 It is not enough that quantity alone should be considered, for, in these days, 
 quality plays, increasingly, a part in food production. Hence the arts of producing 
 choice meats,, cereals of greater attractiveness, etc., which arts may properly be 
 termed the "higher agriculture"; hence also the practical arts of wine-making 
 and canning and preserving fruits, which may be considered a "higher horti- 
 culture." These arts have all been developed in response to man's demand for 
 more refined and delicious food, a demand which is certain to grow more exact- 
 ing with the progress of civilization. 
 
 It does not pay any longer in the older states to grow the staple crops exclu- 
 sively and to sell only the raw materials of food. It may still pay on the great 
 rich prairies, or in new agricultural regions, but the highest profits in the future 
 will come to those who produce a specialty, or manufacture their products into 
 the highest form before putting them on the market. The profits of the future 
 will be in the dairy business, the canning business, or the business of preparing 
 delicate meats for the richer markets. Through these and similar special in- 
 dustries, farm products are greatly advanced in value, while the women and the 
 girls take a part in productive work. 
 
ANNUAL :MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 13 
 
 We come thus to consider the improvement of the educational and social 
 conditions in the country as a means of keeping the young people on the farms. 
 The physical discomforts of farm life have largely been ameliorated in the 
 Central States. As the farm houses are rebuilt, modern comforts and conveni- 
 ences are introduced. With cheap appliances now vi'ithin the reach of every one, 
 there is, for example, little excuse for the farmer who has not provided his 
 home and barn with running water. Good roads, rural free delivery ,tele- 
 phones, automobiles, interurban lines, co-operative reading circles, the new litera^ 
 ture of nature and farm, — and soon, we hope, the parcels post, — will greatly 
 improve the social conditions of the country people. But there is still much to 
 be desired in the way of community spirit and of co-operation for the older 
 people and of social life and amusement for the young. The towns, with their 
 amusement parks and theatres, moving picture shews, and skating rinks, have 
 become steadily more attractive, making the country appear bare and lonesome 
 to the boy and girl. Their influence must be overcome by beautifying the home 
 and farm and by establishing social centres in the country. Rural life must be 
 made not only more profitable ecoromically than urban life, it must also be made 
 more humanly interesting, more richly enjoyable. The farm and the country 
 possess all the elements to make it so ; there resources need only to be developed. 
 
 We should remember that the farmers who desert the country, often the 
 very best men, do so in search of the higher things in life for their families. 
 They tear up their homes and make great sacrifices that they may provide better 
 training in mind and in spirit for their children and better social privileges for 
 their wives. So long as there are better schools, better churches, and better social 
 opportunities in tkc cities, so long will men flock into them. So long as prac- 
 tically no literature, art, and music are to be had in the country, so long will 
 men and women seek them where they are to be found. 
 
 Neither the state nor the church has done its full duty by the farmer. 
 Though eight-tenths of the preachers and teachers are reared in the country, 
 the state puts its best schools in the city and the church usually sends its dullest 
 preachers to the country. And yet we look to the country to feed the city with 
 its best blood, brain, and heart ! We draw constantly upon its sources of physical 
 and spiritual sustenance, but make few plans for renewing this fountain of our 
 life. Let us, therefore, take stock of the country's educational and social re- 
 sources, as we have of its economic resources, for the purpose of seeing how 
 they may be reorganized and directed toward a happier and more profitable 
 social end. 
 
 The country school is to be a large factor in the improvement of country 
 life and the chief agency in keeping the youth on the farm. If the boys and 
 girls are to be induced to, stay on the farm, it will be done, not merely be making 
 the farm attractive and remunerative, but by interesting the youth in the work on 
 the farm. This can only be done by making that work intelligent. Until recently, 
 all our elementary school courses were made by city people to prepare people 
 for city occupations. Even general subjects are taught almost exclusively in the 
 terms of trade. The readers and spellers are filled with stories of city life and 
 the arithmetics are given up to problems of interest and accounts, wnth no refer- 
 ence to the business of the farmer. The rural school finds these courses largely 
 unadapted to the needs of country life. So far, the school has not taken hold of 
 country life. From the soil, out of which the children must make their living; 
 from the animals they must rear and use ; from the plants they must cultivate 
 and the forests they should preserve; and even from the impressive phenomena of 
 sky and weather, which so largely control the every-day life and success of the 
 farmer, the school has not only stood apart, but has actually held the children 
 away, while it stuffed them with antiquated formulas and useless rules, or with 
 
24 ADDRESSES 
 
 facts about the history and geography of foreign countries. The varied resources 
 and exhaustless charm of the country have small part in its teachings. Too 
 often, when the teacher opens man's book before the eyes of the child, he closes 
 to him, as far as he can, the book of nature. All schools should be related to 
 the economic life of the people and prepare them to work under the conditions 
 in which they must earn their livelihood. 
 
 It is very fine to talk about giving every boy and girl a liberal education — 
 which means usually a mere smattering of a literary education — but the fact re- 
 mains that the great majority of our children in cities, as well as country, leave 
 school before they are fifteen, with little education of any kind and no training 
 for re^l life. The result is we have thousands of industrially untrained boys 
 going into the ordinary commercial callings, and few scientific farmers and engi- 
 neers; and thousands of young girls eager to earn the pitiful pittance of a sales- 
 woman, while none can be found for well-paid manufacturing positions. A gentle- 
 man in my city tells me, for example, that an advertisement for a typist at six 
 ■dollars per week brought scores of applications, while one for an expert candy 
 maker at fifteen dollars failed to find him a single competent person. With the 
 sales positions and typewriting places always overcrowded, the wages of girls re- 
 main below the requirements of decent living, with sad results in too many cases. 
 If the rural school is to accomplish what we expect of it, it must not be a 
 thing apart from the life of the people, as the old school was. We must take 
 the life and the work of the people into the school and carry the teaching and 
 influence of the school into the life of the people. The practical work of the 
 farm and the home must go into the school, and the thought and knowledge 
 •of the school must go on to the farm and into the home. ^ The new century 
 found a large, 'growing body of new science related to farm and home voca- 
 tions, and this science is gradually yielding to -organization in text-book and in 
 practice — work in gardens and fields, in barn and dairy, and in home and shop. 
 That this immense body of new knowledge must have a place in the training of 
 our country youth can not now be questioned; and that it will greatly increase 
 the general and economic efficiency of the country people has already been shown 
 "by the work of the agricultural colleges and experiment stations. Various methods 
 of uniting school training with farm and home training have been suggested. 
 Teachers can co-operate with parents, for example, in arranging field and feed- 
 ing experiments, in testing seeds, in studying varieties of plants. The operations 
 of the garden and orchard; pruning, budding, grafting, and spraying trees and 
 vines; testing the value of foods and fertilizers — these activities offer many 
 opportunities for co-operation between teacher and farmer in the interest of the 
 children. 
 
 We must not only take the work of the farm and home into the school, 
 but the school must go into the life of the people. In the old days,, the church 
 was the centre of the life of the people. The whole life of the people, social, 
 educational, and religious, centred around the old church. The protracted meet- 
 ings were the great social events of the year, and practically all social develop- 
 ments, including the weddings, had their source in the church, the school, or the 
 Sunday-school. Now all this is changed. In this sense, I fear the church is 
 losing its hold upon the life of the country people. It has certainly ceased to be 
 the one centre of their life, as it formerly was. The pastor, teacher, and physician 
 should be the joint conservators of country life and they should all work together 
 from one common centre. 
 
 There may be differences of opinion as to where the new centre of the life 
 of our country people should be located. Some think it should be in the town 
 or village; others, that there should be lyceums or agricultural clubs; and still 
 others that it should be in the country school. It is probable that more than one 
 
AXXUAL MEETING OHIO STATE 150ARD UF AGRICULTURE. 15 
 
 social centre will be developed in large, prosperous communities. No church can 
 undertake all this co-operative work, because it is interested in only one phase 
 of life, but the whole community is equally interested in the public school. It 
 would seem, therefore, that the school is the natural, organic centre of country 
 life. If, however, the school is to develop as such a centre, it must concern it- 
 self directly with all the interests of the people and organize all the social forces 
 of the community. 
 
 Such are some of the chief opportunities and needs of the farmers. We 
 have in this state, we see, all the resources and conditions for a prosperous and 
 happy country life. With as good soils and climate as can be found anywhere, 
 with better markets and other economic conditions than are found in most places, 
 with a noble people for friends and neighbors, with good schools now and better 
 ones coming, why should any man wish to leave Ohio? 
 
 How shall we classify these wanderers away from the old state into the 
 West? How shall we analyze their motives? Some are restless and never satis- 
 fied anywhere long; others are essentially land speculators and buy cheap lands 
 in the West to sell to their friends at home. Most of the farmers who are 
 urging you to go West belong to that class. Some good men, having large 
 families of boys and little money, go West to buy cheap lands for them. Some 
 go simply because they have in their blood the pioneering spirit, inherited from 
 their fathers, who settled this great country; but a large majority, including all 
 those who put the things of mind and spirit above material things, will stay at 
 home in Ohio, where all the conditions are favorable for making our children 
 nobler, wiser, truer, and braver than we are ; for this, after all. is the chief end 
 of our living and striving. 
 
 OHIO; A BATTLEGROUND; HER POSSIBILITIES. 
 
 By George W. Brown^ 
 Zanesville, Ohio. 
 
 That Ohio is today a battleground is quite evident to the close observer. 
 Her history from Col. Zane and Tecumseh to this day is replete with characters 
 that have left a deep impress upon her institutions. Her valleys have afforded 
 a natural outlet to the lakes and the Mississippi. Her soil has not only produced 
 an abundance of life-giving qualities but has likewise sent forth from her hill 
 tops and valleys men and women of worth to all the vocations of life. Her 
 churches and schools have been a mighty factor in her development. Today a 
 mighty battle is being fought over the same territory that our forefathers fought 
 over. Ours is a different battle. They fought for the possession of the soil and 
 we are fighting for the retention of its soil and its rehabiliment. Our forefathers 
 contended against a mighty foe who sought to destroy the home life of the 
 whites. We are contending against foes as deadly to home life as were the early 
 men of the forest. Let us see along what lines these battles are being waged. 
 
 Ohio, politically, is a battleground. Adams County vote sellers, grafters and 
 bribers in high places, failure to enforce law until a mighty crisis arises that 
 compels a stern hand; all these are indicative of a mighty contention that must 
 soon bring us to a better day. But this phase does not so much concern in this 
 article. 
 
 Religiously there is a mighty battle raging. This is especially true in the 
 rural districts where the churches have seemingly outlived their usefulness. By 
 that is meant the church that no longer serves the community in which it is 
 
16 ADDRESSES 
 
 situated. The large number of churches in a given community is another mighty 
 problem awaiting a proper solution. That a given community is over churched 
 goes with the mentioning of the fact. One place known to the speaker has, in 
 two hundred square miles, (20 miles long by 10 miles wide) forty-six churches 
 and hardly any of them doing anything to forward the cause of the Master's 
 kingdom. This problem must and will be fought out. 
 
 The rural schools are likewise undergoing transition. Depleted districts are 
 compelling the solution. The little "red school house" has passed into history 
 together with many other things dear to our hearts. The boys and girls of our 
 rural districts . are demanding as good an education today as the boys and girls 
 in the city. That can best be accomplished by the centralization of our rural 
 schools. 
 
 And the greatest battle might well be termed the battle of the soil. The 
 correct solution of this problem will, in a large manner, solve all the rest. ]\Iany 
 of her fields and farms are depleted in fertility and power to produce. The 
 home life they once maintained has passed. The social life in many places a 
 thing of "the long ago." And all this because of a depleted soil which has been 
 robbed by an incompetent husbandman or a type of farmer that hitherto wrought 
 havoc on many Ohio farms. 
 
 ' Having recounted some of the most important battles that are being fought 
 let us turn our attention to possibilities that are awaiting the state of Ohio. 
 That her possibilities lie in the correct solution of her battles is self-evident. 
 And the correct solution is centralization. 
 
 Let me say to you, gentlemen, two things that I want you to forever 
 remember. (1) No people will ever fise higher than their religion. Religion 
 is the fountain-head from whence all might impulses flow, (2) Farmmg is to 
 enable a man to live and not to make a living. That vast numbers of men have 
 only farmed to make a living is evident from the large number of depleted and 
 abandoned farms. Our great aim therefore should be to keep alive our religious 
 interests as well as our farming interests. Let us endeavor to unify them. x\nd 
 in seeking to unify the interests of religion and farming we work for the idea 
 of centralization. 
 
 Our church life has undergone a rapid transition the last decade. It once 
 served well the community. The early pastor visited among the homes, had prayer, 
 kissed the babies and served the church by serving the family group. The idea 
 of serving the community group had not dawned. His service to the community 
 was wholly through the family. But today the new idea has dawned. The 
 pastor serves the entire community. He renders his best service as he serves 
 the entire community. In other words it is not sufficient alone to have prayer,, 
 some squaw talk and kiss the babies, but his interests lie in working for those 
 things that will bring the entire community to higher ideals. And that means to 
 endeavor to establish a community heart or ideal. Without doubt, gentlemen, 
 the establishment of a community ideal will work alike to the good of religion 
 and better farming. Are they not one and the same in a way. And the setting 
 up of a community ideal is what we mean by centralizing. 
 
 Let us see how this community ideal works out. As a specific illustration 
 we will take the farmer and his apples. One farmer may take the blue and red 
 ribbon both at the county fair but the price of apples in his community remain 
 the same. However if it is a community ideal and business to raise good apples, 
 the best, the price of apples will be raised accordingly for the entire output can 
 be handled by a single buyer. (And right here is certainly a good application of 
 the Master's famous saying "Ye shall love your neighbor as yourself.") Hood 
 River apples from Oregon sell on the Ohio market for about three dollars a box 
 (bushel per box) and outsell our apples with three bushels in a barrel. Why? 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 17 
 
 Hood River apples are sent out by a Packers' Association backed up by a com- 
 munity ideal. Apples that will not pass through a two and a half inch hole are 
 sent out as Al apples. Any man who dares to send out apples under that grad- 
 ing is expelled from the association. In some instances his "output" has been 
 destroyed by the community rather than suffer their ideal to be lowered by one 
 stingy cuss whose interests are personal rather than community. Now what, 
 about Ohio apples? No community ideal. Alas how many think it a sharp busi- 
 ness deal to put large apples in the head end of the barrel and fill with cider 
 culls. At a recent apple show in Baltimore, "New York apples were ruled out 
 because of dishonesty in the packing, though on the authority of President 
 Brown of the New York Central, three shipping points of New York State each 
 ship more apples than Washington, and Oregon and Colorado combined." (See 
 Technical World for August, 1911, page 635.) There, gentlemen, is a striking 
 instance for the country pastor to strike for a community ideal and to serve the 
 entire community by bringing it about. Are not the interests of the farmer and 
 pastor one and the same? Again I say — no community can rise higher than her 
 religion. And downright honesty is a basic principle that must be strictly adhered 
 to by all mankind. 
 
 Another striking example is the egg business. Here we see the lack of 
 community ideal or co-operation. Some people do candle their eggs. The price 
 of eggs, however, are determined by the uncandled eggs. The difference in price 
 between the producer and consumer is brought about largely at this very point. 
 Alas, again, how many bring uncandled eggs to market. Rotten apples would be 
 detected at once and the sale spoiled. Rotten eggs are only detected when candled 
 or broken. The dealer must therefore candle and grade the eggs. To do this 
 he must estimate a per cent of bad eggs. The price to the producer is accord- 
 ingly reduced to cover all shortage. But suppose the entire community would 
 candle their eggs. Don't you see that the price of eggs are bound to go up 
 for the producer. Let it become known that Brownville people all candle their 
 eggs, that a case of eggs from that, community have the stamp and approval of 
 the community as an Al grade and the city merchant can afford to pay more 
 for such eggs and will gladly do so. Here is another instance for the pastorial 
 effort. And right here the speaker wants to say that in a case of eggs recently 
 purchased from a community whose religfous belief was one of the strictest at 
 least one- fourth if not one-third were bad. (Confidentially their religion was 
 about as rotten as their eggs.) I contend, gentlemen, that our work is not unlike. 
 I insist that our religion ought to get us somewhere. And I am mighty tired 
 of that sort of preaching that says to the down and out or the unfortunate 
 "Hold on, brother, and in the glorious hereafter you will have a gracious reward." 
 I say let's make heaven right here on earth. Have better homes, better schools, 
 better farms, better social environments and higher community ideals. And right 
 here I want to remind you of what I said a few moments ago, "Farming is to 
 enable a man to live and not to make a living." I believe in the preaching that 
 will enable a man to live better. In other words preach more about living grace 
 than dying grace. 
 
 Now in this idea of co-operation, community interest, etc., lies one of Ohio's 
 greatest possibilities. Around a given community build up a community ideal 
 and commodity. That commodity and ideal becomes known to the world at 
 large. It simplifies advertising and in a vast number of ways adds to the interests 
 of the community. Holstein cattle so largely raised in one of the counties of 
 Ohio is known in South America. So in the matter of raising good horses of 
 whatever breed. It likewise follows concerning sheep, hogs or whatever can be 
 advantageously raised in a given community. 
 
 3 AD. BD. AGR. 
 
18 ADDRESSES 
 
 Again since the church Hfe in the country seems to be waning let us apply 
 the community ideal or more strictly speaking the community center. Make the 
 country church the center of all its activities. Around it revolve its religious 
 life, its social life and everything that pertains to the interests of that community. 
 Its religious life must seek to arouse and define and set up such ideals. In other 
 words it is not sufficient to say "Lord, what must I do to be saved," but "Lord, 
 what can I do to help." Constructive work and not defensive. The social life 
 will likewise seek its community center and that around the church. It will 
 take the place of the' "spelling school," "apple peeling," "carpet rag sewing," "log 
 rollin'," etc. The singing school can yet afford a starting point for such a social 
 life. And certainly no one will deny the need of the rehabiliment of the strong 
 type of social life in the country. 
 
 Around that center will be the centralized school which can best serve the 
 full interest of the community. It will give the very best educational system to 
 the country place. That will give the grades and grade teachers. And the central 
 school will be dependent upon the good roads leading to and from it. The church 
 will here again seek to arouse the community ideal. As I see this whole question 
 every community should be made a place so inviting that people will want to 
 move there to die rather than move to town. That brings us to the idea of the 
 home which we want to speak of for a few moments. 
 
 A few moments ago I said "Farming is to enable a man to live rather than 
 make a living." That is true and evident. "Farming to make a living" is the 
 farmer who robs the soil of its virgin fertility and then leaves for parts beyond 
 rather than like the other thief who leaves for parts unknown. The man who has 
 thus robbed a farm has been a menace to the community. Yea, he has been a 
 veritable thief. On the other hand the man who "farms to live" is the man who 
 will build up the soil, seek the best interests of the community as to her schools 
 and churches, roads, and what not. The home idea is the prevailing thought. And 
 that home idea must not be personal. It must seek the best ideals for the entire 
 community. For the community is not known to the world at large, by the best 
 homes in it but rather by the lowest. It's the individual and home that is on 
 the margin that represents that community to the world at large. The aim and 
 effort, therefore, should be to raise the standard of the marginal man or home. 
 Here again we see these interests converging. Let us take a specific instance. 
 
 Suppose a few farmers are interested in trying to raise the standard of their 
 community by assisting a few marginal men. In addition they are church men 
 seeking to carry out their Master's teaching "Ye shall love your neighbor as 
 yourself." They will, we will say, set aside a few hundred dollars to assist their 
 brothers not so fortunate. So they go to Tom Brown who has lost a team, to 
 Bill Smith who has lost a cow, and Sam Perkins who needs some new machinery 
 and say "Brothers we will help you." Each man is assisted to his want. He is 
 saved the expense of a mortgage, etc. Now the men who loaned the money are 
 interested in seeing Tom Brown, Bill Smith, " and Sam Perkins get a^ good crop, 
 good price and market (brothers keeper). And in turn Tom Brown, Bill Smith, 
 and Sam Perkins are interested in the church that relieves the present needs as 
 w^ell as tJwse to come and says : "By Gum ! this is the very sort of a community 
 and church that I want to 'tie up' to." As a result three good homes are soon 
 established and that community strengthened just that much. Such a church and 
 community ideals will eventually build up a home community of the strongest 
 type. Men believe in a religion and community like that and will seek to con- 
 tribute to its welfare themselves. 
 
 Gentlemen of The Ohio Agricultural Society, we must seek to establish the 
 community idea throughout our state to bring about the largest results. Then 
 in turn these community groups centralize into larger circles and these in turn 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTUI^E. 19 
 
 into the larger or state itself. Small communities blessed with good roads will 
 be interested in working for good roads throughout the entire state, the central- 
 ization of schools, nine foot stage of the Ohio for the counties bordering on the 
 Ohio, etc. But our greatest possibility will be in working out the greatest trust 
 reposed in us by the Creator of the universe when he said "Thou madest him 
 to have dominion over the works of Thy hands : Thou hast put all things under 
 his feet." Farming will be, or should be, considered a holy calling. God created 
 the universe. God is holy. Everything He created is holy. The earth is holy 
 and therefore everything that comes out of it is holy. It is ours to feed the 
 other two-thirds of the peoplne. But until we reach up to our highest ideals we 
 can never do it. We are taught to pray and say "Give us this day our daily 
 bread," but how can we see that prayer answered if we hang our hoe on the 
 fence and leave the plow in the shed? Impossible. And yet in this state there 
 are thirty-four counties producing less corn, wheat, and small grain than twenty- 
 five years ago, while there are, possibly, a million more people to feed. Shall 
 we offer the same prayer and expect to see the people fed? Never. We must 
 follow the laws of almighty God. He says "Thou shalt not steal," so we must 
 cease our robbing the soil of its fertility and put back again the elements that it 
 originally contained. The highest type of dominion is brain not brawn. Our 
 greatest aim is in Scientific Agriculture. To answer our own prayer will mean 
 to raise two bushels where now only one grows. To make it bloom like the rose 
 of Sharon. 
 
 In conclusion, gentlemen, let me use a few verses written for this occasion : 
 Boost Ohio, boost her high. 
 Boost Ohio and boost her dry. 
 Boost her valleys — up and down 
 Boost her country, village, town. 
 
 Boost her — North, East, South and West ; 
 Boost her — outside but inside best. 
 Boost her roads, schools, farms and church. 
 Boost not alone by words but work. 
 
 Build her government broad and deep: 
 Make social conditions all races keep. 
 Centralize and work and plan 
 Her markets, railroads to best serve man. 
 
 But in our boosting don't forget 
 
 God's will and plans are working yet. ^ 
 
 To boost Ohio and make her rare 
 
 Have boys and girls of character. 
 
 OHIO'S INFLUENCE AND PRESTIGE IN THE LIVE STOCK 
 
 WORLD. 
 
 By Prof. C. S. Plumb, 
 Ohio State University. 
 
 Those sections which seem best suited to live stock, have what we term 
 a temperate climate and a reasonably fertile soil. If that is so, in what respect 
 is Ohio adapted to the raising of farm animals? 
 
20 ADDRESSES 
 
 Without going into too much detail, the following facts may be credited 
 to Ohio. Our climate is of the moderate sort, such as might be expected of 
 territory lying approximately from 41° to 38° North. We have but very little 
 severe heat or cold, and over the southern half of the state, in winter snow is 
 the exception and not the rule. In central Ohio, winter is hardly expected be- 
 fore January, and in March the grass begins to take on new life. In southern 
 Ohio, live stock may be grazed on the fields for twelve months in the year. In 
 the northern section, snow is more abundant, closed stables in winter are com- 
 mon, and the conditions are more vigorous than farther south. However, over 
 much of the State, farm animals require much less winter shelter than is custom- 
 ary in the east and north. In the southern half of the State, the winter con- 
 ditions usually allow for much freedom of the stock in the open, to its advantage. 
 
 The soil of Ohio is variable, but there is hardly a section in which standard 
 forage crops and cereals will not grow to perfection under proper management. 
 There are two crops, universally recognized as playing a most important part in 
 farm economy as applied to stock, namely blue grass and Indian corn. These 
 two plants may be found in every section of the State. Better blue grass 
 cannot be. found in the famous region of Kentucky, than one finds here and 
 there in the pastures of Ohio. Blue grass is universal to Ohio, and where this 
 grass thrives, horses, cattle, sheep and. hogs are most economically kept for the 
 growing season of the year. Ohio is famous for its corn crop, and in yield per 
 acre this State stands up among the leaders, in 1909 producing over 150,000,000 
 bushels, ranking seventh among the states in the quantity produced. In average 
 yield per acre, Ohio ranked second among all the so-called corn growing states. 
 
 In the production of the other standard cereals, grasses and clovers, Ohio 
 is one of the leaders. Red clover is a universal crop, while alfalfa is rapidly 
 securing a strong clientage- in the State, some 20,000 acres reported as grown 
 in 1911. Any soil that will grow blue grass, corn, red clover, alfalfa and 
 timothy hay abundantly, can compete with the world in the breeding and feed- 
 ing of farm animals. This can generally be done on the farms in Ohio. 
 
 So far as markets and shipping facilities are concerned, no State is more 
 advantageously situated. We have a population of over 5,000,000 people. We 
 have five cities widely separated in the State, with populations ranging from 
 over 100,000 to 500,000 with many good sized towns and smaller cities. In 
 these is a market for the producer of meat. No State is better supplied with 
 railways and shipping facilities. In less than 24 hours we may deliver meat 
 stock by freight to the largest stock yards in America, while by express we can 
 deliver into New York, Philadelphia or Boston within a similar period of time. 
 Steam railways penetrate all but one of Ohio's eighty-eight counties, whereby 
 the farmer at a minimum of expense can easily reach a shipping point. 
 
 Ohio assumed a most important place in American live stock affairs at a 
 very early date. Vei-y early in the last century, before the day of the rail- 
 roads, cattle were driven overland from southern Ohio to Baltimore- and New 
 York. Ohio cattle were recognized as the best produced on the continent. In 
 1833 at Chillicothe, there was organized the Ohio Company for Importing and 
 Breeding Shorthorn Cattle. This company sent men to England to purchase 
 Shorthorns, and their 1834 importations is oue of the notable events in Am- 
 erican Shorthorn history. As a result of the success of this company, others 
 were organized in other counties in Ohio, and in other states. From that day 
 to this, Ohio has been regarded as one of the most important Shorthorn breed- 
 ing grounds in America. Today we have in the State, three herds of Short- 
 horns second to none on the continent, viz., that of Thomas Johnson of Colum- 
 bus, Carpenter and Ross of Mansfield, and D. R. Hanna of Ravenna. The herds 
 of these men have won the highest honors in tl.e most severe competitions in 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 21 
 
 the greatest of our shows. ^ The most famous Shorthorn bull of this genera- 
 tion, Whitehall Sultan, was calved at Yellow Springs on the farm of Mr. E. 
 S. Kelly, and a part of his long and notable service as a sire was in this State. 
 Three of his greatest sons, Avondale, Glenbrook Sultan and Fair Sultan, have 
 done much in these latter days to add to the laurels of our Ohio, breeders. 
 Our Shorthorn breeders have purchased the choicest breeding stock abroad, 
 regardless of expense, since the thirties, when Young Mary and Rose of Sharon, 
 founders of distinguished families, found their way to the Buckeye State. About 
 ten years ago, Mr. E. S. Kelly paid $6,000 in Scotland for Brave Archer, and 
 within the past few years both Carpenter and Ross and D. R. Hanna have im- 
 ported sires that in their herds are creating results that are of the very best 
 sort. At our state fair the Shorthorn assumes a place of great popularity. 
 Here in Ohio came the first development of the Polled Durham, and the names 
 of Miller of Ottawa and Crane of Tippecanoe City, will always hold a most 
 important place in the development of this breed. They were long recognized 
 as the master breeders of this Shorthorn family. 
 
 One of the greatest recognized beef breeds of today is that black, horn- 
 less one from Northern Scotland — The Aberdeen-Angus: In the beef show 
 competitions during the past ten years, the Angus has more than held its own, 
 — it has led. While there are comparatively few herds in Ohio of this breed, 
 we have long had a recognized place on the map. Mr. D. N. Hine of Erie 
 County introduced the Angus to Ohio about 1880. Almost thirty years ago, 
 Mr, Benton Garringer of Washington Court House, showed the Angus and 
 was a noted winner at the fairs, his bull Buffalo Bill being one of the . famous 
 early sires and show bulls of the breed. O. E. Bradfute and Son of Cedar- 
 ville and Dr. H. M. Brown of Hillsboro, have for years been active Angus 
 breeders. The Bradfute Meadowbrook herd is one of the noted ones of the 
 continent. One may be safe in saying that no herd in this country has done 
 more for the breed than that of Meadowbrook. Zaire 5th and Lucy's Prince, 
 long in service in this herd, may be regarded as two of the most valuable sires 
 of the breed, while as a show bull, the latter had a remarkable career,- such as 
 rarely comes to one animal. Each year sees the Bradfute herd lined up in the 
 most severe show ring competition and holding high place in the list of awards. 
 
 In beef production, since early days, Ohio has held high rank. Early in 
 the 19th century herds were driven overland from Ohio to Baltimore, Phila- 
 delphia and New York, after being fattened on our rich pastures. Since those 
 early days our feeders have been consistent shippers to Chicago, Cincinnati and 
 Pittsburgh markets, and each year hundreds of cattle are fed in Ohio for 
 export. It was our distinction as a beef and pork producing state that resulted 
 in the establishment of the stock yards and packing houses at Cincinnati, long 
 the leading institutions of their kind in America. While we do not produce fat 
 cattle for feeding as much as formerly, large numbers or cattle are shipped 
 into Ohio for feeding, later to be sent to the markets in finished condition. In 
 southwestern and western Ohio, thousands of feeders have fattened on our 
 grass and corn. Mr. D. W. Black of Lyndon, for years showed car load lots 
 at Chicago at the International Exposition, where his exhibit secured the highest 
 honors, that of grand championship, and attracted national attention. Mr. J. 
 D. Rogers of Bloomingburg for many years fed extensively and has been a 
 successful exhibitor at Chicago. Humphrey Jones of Washington Court House 
 has fed large numbers of steers, in which silage has been an important feature 
 of the rations, so that his feeding methods have attracted wide attention in the 
 middle West. 
 
 The dairy breeds of cattle have long had a strong foothold in Ohio, and 
 much more so today than ever. The great increase of population in our cities, 
 
22 ADDRESSES 
 
 the enormous increased demand for milk, and the better compensation for its 
 production, has stimulated the dairy industry. Today we have about 1,000,000 
 milch cows in the State. 
 
 The Jersey breed of cattle was first introduced to Ohio in Hamilton County, 
 in 1865. The breed found favor, and for many years, this State Jias led in 
 Jersey cattle production. In recent years, more transfers of cattle of this breed 
 have taken place in Ohio than in any other State. In 1911, there were trans- 
 ferred 3,140 Jerseys in Ohio. There have been many men prominent in Jersey 
 development in the State. The late Mr. Frank Hart of Clevveland, had a very 
 noted herd, and King of St. Lambert's King, his leading sire, was recognized as 
 one of the great bulls of the breed. Mr. Hart had many great producers and 
 was for years one of the great promoters of the St. Lambert family. Later he 
 turned to the Island for stock, and made important importations, and was the 
 first man in Ohio to introduce in a serious way, cattle of Island blood lines and 
 type. He brought from the Island, Eminent's Raleigh, noted as a sire of high 
 class females. Judge Bradbury of Pomeroy has long been a prominent Jersey 
 breeder, as have Messrs. D. H. Olds of Springfield, Henry Dubois of Vigo, 
 L. P. Bailey of Tacoma and Hugh Stewart of Washington Court House. Jerseys 
 are found on every side in Ohio, and are generally popular. The Ohio Jersey 
 Cattle Club is the most wide-awake local State Club in this country. Among 
 the three notable Jersey herds of America today are those of Sheffield Farm, 
 Glendale, Ohio, Hartman Farm, Columbus, and Goodhold Farm, Mentor. Shef- 
 field Farm paid $11,000 for imported Plymouth Lad, Hartman Farm purchased 
 Lucy's Prince in the East, and Goodhold Farm secured Raleigh, each famous 
 sires. 
 
 In recent years the Holstein-Friesian has gained rapidly in favor in Ohio, 
 especially in the northern part contiguous to Cleveland. In 1866, O. F. Jones 
 of Wooster, Ohio, is credited with bringing the first cattle of the breed to 
 Ohio, a bull purchased from Chenery of Massachusetts. In 1882 it is said there 
 were just 1,000 Holsteins in Ohio. In the nineties, W. B. Smith & Son of 
 Columbus, had a famous herd and showed over much of the middle West with 
 great success. In their herd were many prominent producers. They had in 
 service Paul De Kol, Aaggie Beauty Seconds' Statesman and Clyde Paul De 
 Kol, sires of many advanced registry cows. This herd now is in the owner- 
 ship of Derrer & Son of Columbus, and is each year well represented on the 
 show circuit. In northern Ohio, the Horr herd for many years was prominent, 
 and today in Geauga County, herd of Dimmick & Brother is attracting national 
 attention. Here may be found Daisy Grace De Kol, with a world's record for 
 7, 60 and 90 days, for producing more butter fat than any other cow of her 
 age has done. From her milk was produced 32.5 pounds of 80% estimated 
 butter. They have five cows that in their two year form produced 20 or more 
 pounds each of estimated 80% butter, the. greatest showing of any herd in Am- 
 erica for this class. Their bull Pontiac Aaggie Korndyke, is rated as one of 
 the notable present day Holstein sires. Dimmick Bros, have several cows that 
 have produced 30 or more pounds of estimated 80% butter in seven days. At 
 the present time no class of cattle bring such relatively high prices and are so 
 much in demand as the Holsteins. 
 
 Among the dairy breeds, the Guernsey has very high place, and while 
 the breed has not had a prominent place in Ohio in the past, it bids fair to 
 become a popular favorite. Already Ohio has the largest Guernsey herd in the 
 world, that of Mr. O. C. Barber of Barberton, and in it is Spotlswood Daisy 
 Pearl, 17696, the world's champion butter producing cow of the breed. In one 
 year ending in November, 1911, she produced 936.4 pounds of butter fat, con- 
 taining 1,125 pounds of estimated 85% butter. This cow is now seven years old. 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTL'RE. 23 
 
 an<l^ was bred in Ohio, by Mr. Jacob Beidler/ of Willoughby, a member, of our 
 State Board of Agriculture and long a Guernsey breeder of prominence. 
 
 Ayrshire cattle are also becoming better known in Ohio, and Mr. John 
 Sherwin of Willoughby has a large and choice herd, headed by Bargenoch 
 Bonnie Scotland, for which he paid in 1910 the sum of $1,600, the top price in 
 America for an Ayrshire bull at that time. 
 
 Red Polled are a general purpose breed, for both beef and milk. Ohio men 
 have long promoted this breed. Mr. J. McLain Smith of Dayton and Captain 
 V. T. Hills of Delaware were importers in the eighties, and did much to push 
 the breed to the front in America. Mr. Smith was long the Secretary of the 
 Red Polled Cattle Club, and Captain Hills did more than any other one man 
 to intelligently promote and test the breed. ^He brought out the famous May- 
 flower tribe, and his cow, Mayflower 2nd, in 1901 at the Pan American Exposi- 
 tion held second, place among fifty animals representing ten different breeds. 
 His sales at Chicago received the highest prices paid for cattle of this breed. 
 
 Our cattle interests are of great magnitude among the states, Ohio occupy- 
 ing ninth place in value, our combined beef and dairy cattle by the last census 
 being valued at $51,370,000. 
 
 Ohio horses from early days have been in great demand in the East. 
 While farm horses had been taken East for many years, the first notable prog- 
 ressive horse movement in this State occurred in the middle of the nineteenth 
 century, when some of our enterprising horsemen visited France and made im- 
 portations of French horses. Along at this time, Horse Importing Companies 
 organized in Ohio, and a movement set in to bring better horses to the State 
 than we then had. The introduction of the two Percherons, Louis Napoleon, 
 to Champaign County, and Pleasant Valley Bill to Pickaway County, about 
 1851, was really a notable historic affair, for these became great early day sires, 
 and largely aft'ected the character of the horse stock of this country. Since 
 these days, great numbers of draft horses have been brought to Ohio from 
 Europe, and more especially France. The Percheroru is essentially the favorite 
 draft breed in Ohio, and many of the best specimens imported to America have 
 been brought here by Ohio importers. For many years the McLaughlin Brothers 
 of Columbus, have been importing the best stallions purchasable in France, and 
 among the horses they have brought to America have been some of the best 
 show animals and sellers in the American market. This firm has probably dis- 
 tribute more high class stallions, and sold more horses at high prices than any 
 other American firm of equal age in the business. Among the noted horses they 
 have imported and sold are Orangiste, sold for $5,500, Fronton, sold for $6,500, 
 Pour-Quoi-Pas, sold for $7,000, and Rosemberg, sold for $8,000. In their recent 
 importations they have brought over three great show stallions, Etudiant, a famous 
 French winner, Intime, first prize in a competition of 177 two year old stallions 
 at the 1910 International Exposition, and Hantbois, first prize aged stallion at the 
 1911 International. Messrs. Bell Bros., of Wooster, Col. G. W. Crawford of 
 Newark, Forney Bros, of Plainfield, and Mr. D. J. Grindell of Kenton, have for 
 years been also engaged in importing draft horses. As a result of these various 
 importations, and our home breeders, Ohio has many high class draft horses 
 scattered over the State. Not only this, but Ohio draft geldings and mares have 
 become famous in the large eastern cities, due to the shipments made by dealers 
 in certain sections of the State. Large numbers of thin heavy horses are pur- 
 chased in states to the West of us, and are brought into different sections of 
 the State and fed by farmers mailing a specialty of this business, being later 
 shipped East. Horse feeding is a special industry in Wayne, Holmes, Delaware 
 and other counties of the State. It is said that about 3,000 horses were fed and 
 
24 ADDRESSES 
 
 shipped out of Orrville in 1911, Farmers not only pay a high price for these 
 horses, but sell them also for top figures, $400 not being uncommon. 
 
 Light harness and saddle horses came into the State with the early settlers. 
 There was much nondescript blood in the early days. Thoroughbreds, Morgans 
 and what later came to be known as standard-breds gradually secured a foothold. 
 In 1832 a trotter named Bell founder was brought to Ohio from New York, and 
 stood at Cleveland and elsewhere and sired many fine colts. Along in the forties 
 the Morgans received considerable attention. With the development of the light 
 harness horses came increased interest in the trotter and pacer. Race tracks were 
 established over the State and the race became a feature of the county and tsate 
 fairs. At Columbus at the present day, we have one of the celebrated fast tracks 
 of the country. Here Cresceus on Angus 2nd, 1901, reduced the world's trotting 
 record to 2:02^, while Sweet Marie in 1907 reduced it again to 2:02. In 1909 
 at Cleveland, the mare Hamburgh Beir reduced the world's trotting record in a 
 race to 2:01i, and in 1910, against time. The Harvester reduced the world's trot- 
 ting record to 2 :01 at Columbus. The great Uhlan, the most noted gelding of 
 today, with a record of 1 :58f is owned by Mr. Billings of Cleveland. Independ- 
 ence Boy, 2 :01^, one of the best trotting geldings on the circuit is owned in 
 Columbus by Messrs. Shepard and Valentine. Around Washington Court House, 
 much interest is shown in the trotter, and here Bobby Burns, a noted sire, has 
 long been in the stud here. These facts simply show that the people of Ohio 
 take more than a passing interest in the speed producing horse. 
 
 The last census shows Ohio well up among the horse producing states, with 
 total valuation of about $125,000,000. 
 
 ■ Since Seth Adams found his way in 1807 from Dorchester, Mass., to Mus- 
 kingum County, Ohio, with the first Merinos brought west of the AUeghanies, 
 Ohio has ranked at the top, or nearly so among the sheep producing States. 
 Adams came to Ohio and began to breed and distribute Merinos over this and 
 adjoining states and beyond. The Merino interests rapidly developed, and W. R. 
 Dickenson, became a noted promoter and pioneer in the eastern part of the 
 State. The hills of Eastern Ohio became dotted with Merinos, and the flocks 
 -developed in a very superior manner. James McDowell, Bezaleel Wells, Thomas 
 Rotch, and Adam Hildebrand contributed much to Merino development. Along 
 in the sixties and seventies, many fine flocks were established, and Ohio became 
 a powerful factor in the breeding of pure bred sheep. In 1870 there were nearly 
 5,000,000 sheep in the State. While the number has fallen off materially, the 
 13th census for 1910 giving the State 3,907,055 sheep and lambs. Ohio as a State 
 for stud flocks is pre-eminently the most important one in the country. In num- 
 bers, only Montana and Wyoming surpass Ohio, while for the states east of the 
 Mississippi River, no other state may be seriously regarded as in the same class 
 with Ohio. The sheep show at the Ohio State Fair each year is the most im- 
 •portant even of its kind on' the American continent, for the largest and finest 
 exhibit of breeding stock is brought forward here. Here gather the most prom- 
 inent exhibitors and breeders, and many important sales are made at this show. 
 Men attend the show to buy for the South African and South American trade, 
 and Ohio bred sheep are purchased for wide distribution over the United States. 
 The Merino is, generally speaking, the leading breed in the State, and the Ohio 
 Merino is known as the best produced today in America. The flocks of S. M. 
 Cleaver of Delaware, George Helser of Lafayette, A. T. Camber of Ada, Blamer 
 & Son of Johnstown, C. S. Chapman of Marysville, Uriah Cook & Sons of Peoria, 
 J. J. Deeds & Son of Pataskala, R. D. Williams of Xenia, W. M. Staley of Marys- 
 ville and many others, are well known. These men have bred sheep that have 
 been exported, and buyers of their stock have come from over a wide territory. 
 The prestige once held by Vermont as a Merino headquarter has been transferred 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. . 25 
 
 -to O^io, -and now the breeder of that State comes to this one for a source of 
 supply. 
 
 The Rambouillet, a cousin of the American Merino, has a great hold in 
 sections of Ohio, and has been bred here for long over a half century. The late 
 Mr. R. C. Moulton, of Woodstock, began with this breed in 1851, and main- 
 tained a herd for over fifty years continuously. Mr. Dwight Lincoln of Milford 
 Center, the Secretary of the American Rambouillet Sheep Association, has not 
 only imported Rambouillets from France and Germany, but has tried his hand 
 at exporting to the Argentine Republic. Ohio has a number of Rambouillet 
 colonies in the north and western part of the State, and from these colonies many 
 carloads of rams have been shipped to western buyers for us on the range. At 
 the present time, Ohio is the only State east of the Mississippi seriously produc- 
 ing Rambouillet sheep for outside trade. The flocks of Messrs. Dwight Lincoln 
 of Milford Center, L. W. Shaw of Pottersburg, "Max Chapman of Marysville, 
 P. Clark & Son of Cable, and J. H. McMullen of Woodstock, have distributed 
 Rambouillets over much of the country. 
 
 The mutton breeds were introduced in Ohio not long after the Merino, and 
 Isaac Maynard of Coshocton did much to promote some of these sheep. He in- 
 troduced the Southdown, Leicester, Cotswold and Lincoln in 1834, and thus made 
 a tmique record. The Shorpshire, the most common of the mutton breeds here 
 today, was probably first introduced about 1885, and Mr. Chauncey Hills of 
 Delaware was one of the earliest importers, and a very intelligent and successful 
 breeder. The first Oxfords were brought to the State in 1861, to Granville, and 
 since that day but comparatively, few flocks have developed here. Mr. W. A. 
 Shafor of Hainilton, has long been noted asa breeder, and years ago he was a 
 well known importer and exhibitor. The Dorset has been largely handled in the 
 past by the Wing Bros.^ of Mechanicsburg, but not many flocks are found in the 
 State. Some most excellent flocks of Cheviots are owned in Ohio, notably those 
 of F. L. Postle & Son of Camp Chase, Ed. S. Foust of Xenia, W. D. Calland & 
 Son of DeGrafif, and Boyd & King of Hillsboro. The Hampshire has been known 
 some time in the State, and C. O. Judd of Kent, P. W. Artz of Osborn, and 
 W. J. Cherry of Xenia are all prominent and most successful breeders. Mr. 
 Judd has been a very prominent importer for some years, and his sheep on the 
 show circuit have been among the most successful American winners. Chas. 
 Leet & Son of -Mantua are prominent breeders and importers of Hampshires and 
 Southdowns, and are well known as very successful exhibitors at the shows. 
 There are some very excellent Shropshire flocks in the State, although these in 
 the main represent Ohio bred stock. Messrs. F. W. Palmer & Son of Pataskala, 
 H. M. Brown of Hillsboro, Ed. Post and George F. Stallsmith of Urbana, Ralph 
 Postle, Camp Chase and J. D. Keiter of Xenia, breed and maintain superior 
 flocks. The beautiful Southdown has its following, and the Southdown show at 
 the Ohio State Fair is one of the fine exhibits of the. mutton breeds. Among the 
 breeders of Southdowns are R. B. Watt of Cedarville, C. J. Stuckey of Mechanics- 
 burg, Compton & Son of Kile, and C. L. Mitchell of Lucas. 
 
 The Longwool breeds years ago had a considerable hold in Ohio, but at the 
 present day but few are being produced. Dr. H. M. Brown of Hillsboro, and 
 W. A. Lisle & Son. of West Liberty, keep flocks of Lincolns. There are prob- 
 ably no Leicesters in the State, and but few Cotswolds. 
 
 In addition to its fame as a sheep breeding State, Ohio has long enjoyed a 
 high rank as a sheep feeding ground. Large numbers of Western sheep and 
 lambs are shipped into the State each year and fed during the winter season. 
 Very considerable success has attended this work in the past, arid Ohio fed sheep 
 command a comparatively high price in the market. The Wing Brothers of 
 Mechanicsburg have long fed Western lambs. On two different years, Dan W. 
 
26 ADDRESSES 
 
 Black of Lyndon won the grand championship in the caiiot contests at the Inter- 
 national Live Stock Exposition, the highest honors obtainable. Mr. Black bred 
 these lambs, using Oxford rams on Western ewes. They were a very high class 
 lot of lambs. The feeding of lambs in western and northwestern" Ohio has had its 
 lips and downs, but generally the balance has been on the right side of the ledger. 
 During the past few years, a large number of sheep have been in and about 
 Fayette County, where good grass and corn are easily produced. 
 
 The so-called hot house or winter lamb, is one of the delicacies of the rich 
 and finds its best sale in the large eastern markets. There are but comparatively 
 few winter lamb producers. For some years, Mr. Geo. M. Wilber of Marysville 
 has been the largest producer in the United States, shipping close to 2,000 some 
 years. He has a very large flock of ewes, and begins to get his lambs about 
 Thanksgiving, and ships daily during the season to New York. Mr. J. B. Peelle 
 of Sabina is another successful specialist in this field. 
 
 The swine industry of Ohio is one of its most important live stock products. 
 Hogs are generally grown all over the state, but more especially in the richer 
 corn producing sections. Beginning early in the last century, the farmer of 
 southwestern Ohio devoted much attention to swine, having in mind converting 
 their corn crops into pork. These men largely stimulated Cincinnati as a pork 
 packing center. Here among these men, the famous Poland China breed of hogs 
 was developed and came into its greatest prestige. Among the Shakers hogs 
 were regarded as of great importance as corn converters, and they promoted the 
 Poland China vigorously. Many men in Ohio attained note by the character of 
 Poland Chinas they bred, and the names of Harkrader, Klever, Magie, Duffield, 
 Young, Irwin and Bonham, were among the most important breeders.. Since 
 these early days has come a long list of prominent breeders in Ohio, among which 
 Ed. and J. M. Klever of Bloomingburg, Charles E. Keller of Newark, Watkins & 
 Broadway, Centerville, A. C. Grieve, Xenia, J. H. Staley, Pataskala, J. M. Linson, 
 South Solon, Osburn Bros., Newark, J. B. Fernon, Leesburg, L. C. McLaughlin 
 and many others are notable. No better Poland Chinas are to be found than those 
 produced in Ohio, and for many years they have had a wide distribution over the 
 United States. The annual show of Poland Chinas at the Ohio State Fair has 
 nosuperior in the country, when quality and character is considered. Among the 
 more notable sires of the breed produced in Ohio, have been Tom Cor win 2nd, 
 Tecumseh, Ideal Sunshine, High Roller, Thickset, Chief Delight, Chief Tecumseh, 
 etc. 
 
 The introduction of the Duroc-Jersey came with the plainer red hogs of 
 which the Jersey Red was a pioneer. For many years, a few men in Ohio bred 
 the Duroc-Jersey, of which Mr. Sam Morton of Camden, was a notable pioneer. 
 These men adhered to their favorites, and for a long time bred and promoted a 
 red hog that was of hardy constitution, prolific, and fairly easily fattened, but 
 was coarse and lacked quality. In the later years the breed found a wider 
 clientage, and many new men took up this breed as a favorite. With their efforts 
 came a very intelligent improvement of the Duroc-Jersey, so that today this breed 
 stands before the public as a different sort from in early days. The efforts of 
 Messrs. Sam Morton of Camden, Ira Jackson of Dayton, E. S. Kelly of Yellow 
 Springs, Thos. Johnson of Columbus, W. H. Robbins of Springfield, R. C. Watt 
 of Cedarville, E. S. Foust, Xenia, and many others gave a new impetus to the 
 breed. Today the Ohio Duroc-Jersey Swine Association numbers about 200 men, 
 and a more aggressive organization of the kind does noe exist. The sales of 
 this breed have brought wonderfully good results, and in Ohio, many animals 
 have brought $500, or more, Mr. Thomas Johnson of Columbus, paying $3,500 for 
 Orion Chief, $2,000 for King's Pal, and $1,500 for Instructor, all noted sires and 
 show boars. The influence of the Ohio Duroc-Jersey breeders is not surpassed 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 27 
 
 if equalled by the breeders of any other state, for more really superior hogs of 
 the breea are produced in Ohio than in any other State. Many herds of the 
 Poland China have had to give way to the popularity of this favorite. 
 
 The Berkshire was first introduced into Ohio in 1835, and its blood played 
 an important part in the improvement of the Poland China. Many herdsof Berk- 
 shires came into existence, and the breed received much popularity in the State. 
 However, it passed through some decline in public favor, although in recent years, 
 many Berkshires have been established, and the breed is more extensively de- 
 veloped here than in most of the states. There are at present some of the notable 
 herds of the country in Ohio, especially those of Sheffield Farm at Glendale, 
 Tannenbaum Farm at Willoughby, H. D. Helmuth of Millersburg, Alber Fisher 
 of Orient, Everson & Son at Wellington, J. L. Axline at Pataskala, W. H. Palmer 
 at Thurston and Lippincott at Lima. Among the noted boars of the breed, Long- 
 fellow Premier C, Handsome Lee, University Lee, and Matchless Baron Duke 
 have been owned in recent years in Ohio. 
 
 The Chester-White is famous in Ohio, through the great improvements made 
 by S. H. Todd of Ada, and L. B. Silver of Cleveland, both of which men have 
 long been very intelligent improvers of this pig, and have brought much special 
 distinction to the State through their breeding work. The Chester-White is well 
 distributed in Ohio, and does well here. From here, fine specimens of the breed 
 have been sent over much of the United States. 
 
 The College of Agriculture of the Ohio State University has many fine speci- 
 mens of live stock, which are primarily for use with the students, as object 
 lessons on animal form and production. The University owns pure bred specimens 
 of PerCheron, Clydesdale, Hackney and Morgan horses; of Shorthorn, Aberdeen- 
 Angus, Jersey, Holstein-Friesian, Guernsey, Ayrshire, Kerry and Devon cattle; of 
 Merino, Shropshire, Southdown, Cheviot, Oxford and Cotswold sheep; of Berk- 
 shire, Poland China, Duroc-Jersey, and Large Yorkshire hogs. Each year the 
 University exhibits stock at the International Live Stock Exposition, and has met 
 with fair success in competition. On two occasions, we have won grand champion- 
 ship on pen of barrows, over all breeds, grades and crosses, with Berkshires of 
 our own breeding, and twice we have won the Berkshire breed championship on 
 barrow, the last being in 1911. We also have won the breed championship on 
 Shorthorn, Galloway and Red Polled steers in past years. 
 
 No one at all familiar with Ohio, but what must recognize her eminent fit- 
 ness for live stock production. If one knows of the doings in the live stock world, 
 then he will also recognize the illustrious part Ohio has played in this work in. 
 the past, and is today. 
 
 Our stockmen need but to push forward to still newer and greater accom- 
 plishments. An army of young men is passing through the College of Agriculture, 
 and many of these should come out stimulated to identify themselves with the 
 great agricultural uplift of the future, and to especially devote themselves to 
 Ohio's live stock interests. Our breeders of today should encourage them and 
 support the college literally in its work. There is no better field today than right 
 here in Ohio, for engaging in the live stock business as breeder or feeder. Here 
 we have the right conditions from the various points of view, and the man who 
 believes in himself and in Ohio, with intelligent effort will secure success as a 
 stockman. 
 
28 ADDRESSES 
 
 FINANCING THE FARM. 
 
 — By Hon. Myron T. Herrick, 
 
 Cleveland, Ohio. 
 
 The division of industry that occupies the most important position in rela- 
 tion to the welfare of all the people, is the cultivation of the soil. Agriculture 
 is the basic vocation. The stability of national life largely depends on the exist- 
 ence of a sound agricultural development. The history of the older countries 
 oi the world shows that there have been recurring movements of the people to 
 and from the soil. History also teaches that the periods- of greatest prosperity 
 in those countries have been co-existent with the movements back to the soil, — 
 away from the centers of population. The rise and fall of many nations and 
 civilizations can be traced in the growth and decline of agricultural interests. 
 As these nations grew rich and powerful, the pick of the people, lured by the 
 glamor of urban life, deserted the country, and the cultivation of the soil was 
 left to the incompetent and the slothful. Within the cities, luxury at one extreme 
 and want at the other, gradually undermined the moral, intellectual and physical 
 fibre of the people. The result was that thest nations, kcking transforming 
 energy and the stamina for successful resistance, gave way before barbarians 
 or other nations with a civilization less advanced, but tnore virile. The pressure 
 of population in the cities of this country is making the struggle for existence, 
 by a large proportion of the people, severe and uncertain, and destructive of in- 
 dustrial efficiency and of a proper civic consciousness. Want and misery are 
 inimical to the success of a democracy. The overcrowding in our cities is pro-, 
 ducing a large class of people, whose low moral "and intellectual standards make 
 them unfit for citizenship. It is the existence of this class in increasing numbers 
 that makes it more and more difficult for us to assimilate the foreigners -that 
 immigrate ,to this country. 
 
 That our cities are devastating the farms is emphasized in the last census 
 reports. Unless the cities re-people and regenerate the farms, the cities will 
 suffer for the want of food and for the want of strong men. The brain of the 
 city, like its food, is produced in the country. There is a growing appreciation of 
 the fact that the future material and political progress of the United States largely 
 depends upon turning the trend of population from the cities to the country. It 
 also is realized that to be permanent and of the greatest utility, this movement 
 must be accompanied by a very great improvement in the methods of cultivating 
 the soil, and a very decided increase in the number of farms that are cultivated 
 by owners. 
 
 Since the Civil War we have bent .our energies, with unparalleled success, 
 to the building up of our "infant industries." It is now time to turn some of the 
 milk that has stimulated the "infant industries" to the nourishment of senile agri- 
 culture. We have neglected the farm ; we have emulated England in our race 
 for commercial supr^emacy. We have not taken heed of the example of France, 
 Germany and other European countries that 'have recognized the importance of 
 the equal development of manufacturing and agriculture. The contest with the 
 old' world for the market for manufactured products, on account of the vast 
 prizes to be gained,* has drawn away from the land a preponderance of the best 
 intellect of America, until we now find that the production of foodstuffs in the 
 United States "is not increasing as rapidly as the population. From 1900 to 1910 
 the population of the United States increased 21% but the number of farms did 
 not grow as rapidly. In 1900, the number of farms was 5,737,372, and in 1910, 
 6,340,357, — an increase of 10^%. For the whole United States this is the lowest 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 29 
 
 rate of increase for any decade since 1850. If the number of farms is taken as 
 a measiir^^, agriculture shows a diminished rate of increase, and in large areas of 
 the country is practically stationary. The small increase in the number of farms 
 has not been offset by a growth in the size of farms, as the average number of 
 acres in farms decreased from 146 in 1900 to 138 in 1910. The increase in the 
 total acreage devoted to agriculture was only 4.2% in ten years. However, im- 
 proved land acreage makes a somewhat better showing, — the increase from 1900 
 to 1910 amounting to 15.2%. Yet this percentage of increase was only about two- 
 thirds of the growth in population; which shows that the number of acres under 
 cultivation has not kept pace with the increase in the number of people. The 
 inadequate increase in the number of farms and in the amount of improved land 
 has not been compensated for by a per acre increase in the production of staples. 
 From 1899 to 1909, the average production of oats decreased from 31.9 to 28.6 
 bushels; the per acre production of wheat increased slightly, — 12.5 bushels in 
 1899 to 15.4 in 1909; and the per acre production of corn fell from 28.1 to 25.9 
 in the same "period. Should such a ratio continue, it will be but a few years before 
 we are dependent on the bounty of other countries for much of our food supply. 
 We are aghast when we contemplate the possibility of this country, with its vast 
 domain, losing eight or ten years hence, not only its ability to supply foreign 
 countries with food, but its enviable position as a self-supporting country. . How- 
 ever, it is not likely that we shall ever be coi^pelled to beg food from other 
 nations. The quick comprehension and the ready adaptability of the American 
 people will prevent such an unfortunate situation, but the responsibility of correct- 
 ing conditions lies upon us of this generation. The national government, through 
 the Department of Agriculture, and- the states through their agricultural colleges, 
 are accomplishing much, but we are not moving fast enough. Some of the older 
 countries, particularly France and Germany, have been through the same experi- 
 ence. Years ago they recognized the .imperative need of using scientific methods 
 in farming, and both France and Germany are now faf in advance of the United 
 States in the successful application of modern scientific methods of cultivating 
 the soil. In the United States the average yield of wheat per acre is about 15 
 bushels ; in Germany it is about 28 bushels ; in France, 20 bushels. The farms 
 of the United States produce, on the average about 30 bushels of oats per acre ; 
 those of Germany, 46 bushels. 
 
 1. The statistics as to the per acre production of potatoes are peculiarly 
 striking. In 1909 France produced 190 bushels of potatoes per acre, Germany 
 226 bushels, Russia 135 bushels, Belgium 286 bushels, — in 1911 the United State§ 
 produced but 80 bushels, of potatoes per acre. 
 
 There is absolutely no reason why we should lag behind any of the countries 
 of Europe in the per acre production of foodstuffs. By the use of proper methods 
 the volume of the farm products of this country easily can be doubled. 
 
 2. In Germany and France, co-operative societies, formed among the agri- 
 cultural classes, have done much to promote scientific farming and the general 
 interest of farmers by enabling them to advantageously buy and sell products and 
 merchandise. In Germany the local societies have united into branch societies, 
 circuit and district societies and these form the basis of the two general German 
 Agricultural Organizations — the Imperial Union of Agricultural Societies and the 
 General Union of Agricultural Societies. In 1905 these two organizations were 
 united for all administration purposes, and is known as the Imperial Agricultural 
 Organization. This organization, in 1909 embraced 67 circuit unions, 18,333 local 
 societies, and a membership of ;i,575,000. 
 
 The local societies are divided into 12,584 savings and loan societies, 2,128 
 co-operative purchasing societies, 1,960 dairy societies and approximately 1.591 
 societies devoted to various other objects. In 1907 the total assets of the savings 
 
30 ADDRESSES 
 
 and loan societies amounted to about $400,000,000, the assets of the co-operative 
 purchasing societies to $13,000,000, and the value of the merchandise purchased 
 to $22,500,000. The dairy societies have for their object the selling of dairy 
 products for the members of the societies. Some idea as to the importance of 
 these societies can be gained from the fact that the total value of dairy products 
 amounts to $46,385,649. The dairy societies are typical of those societies belong- 
 ing to the Imperial Agricultural Organization that have for their purpose the 
 selling of the products of the land. The development of Agricultural societies in 
 France has been very similar to that in Germany. It is impossible to overestimate 
 the advantage of such societies to the agricultural interest of Germany and France. 
 They constitute the connecting link between the farmer and what he produces 
 and the large public, that buys and consumes. Similar societies in this country 
 undoubtedly would add to the independence, contentment and prosperity of those 
 who cultivate the soil. 
 
 The permanent improvement of farming methods, whereby the yield per acre 
 may be substantially increased, demands two things. Farmers must be made to 
 appreciate the possibilities of scientific methods, and taught how to use such 
 methods, and they must be supplied with funds to make the needed changes and 
 improvements. We can not hope for an increase in the production of foodstuffs 
 in this country equal to the increase in consumption, unless the deserving tiller 
 of the soil can be suppHed with the funds he needs, at low rates and for long 
 periods. It is as necessary for the farmer to have cheap money as it is for the 
 railroad builder or the manufacturer. The availability of cheap money for loans 
 on farm -land will make it possible for may farm tenants to buy farms for them- 
 selves. It will, encourage many others to purchase land and take up farming as 
 a means of livelihood. At the present time 37% of all the farms of the country 
 are cultivated by tenants, — an increase of 16% since 1900. The cultivation of 
 the soil by owners is essential to the highest agricultural development. Tenants 
 •will not use the same care and skill that owners do. The young man of today 
 who scans the field of human endeavor will see, in the cultivation of the soil 
 with the aid of modern science, what was not there thirty or forty years ago. 
 Profit, plenty and peace will be his portion of he makes agriculture his pro- 
 fession, and is equipped as well as he must be to make a success in other voca- 
 tions. Farm life today is immeasurably more attractive than it was twenty, or 
 even ten, years ago. Improved roads, the telephone, rural free delivery and other 
 conveniences, to a large extent have done away with the depressing isolation of 
 country life, and it is now possible for the farmer and his family to take part 
 in the social life of the community. Of those engaged in industrial pursuits, 
 less than 5% can ever hope to "own their own jobs and employ themselves," but 
 of those that look to the land for their living, provided they are well trained and- 
 work with energy and intelligence, 95% can reasonably hope to be their own 
 masters. 
 
 Experience in France and Germany conclusively proves that the development 
 of successful scientific farming in large measure depends upon the existence of 
 facilities whereby land owners can obtain funds on favorable terms to finance 
 improvements. In France and Germany there are numbers of organizations, uni- 
 formly successful, that loan money to farmers — particularly to those owning and 
 cultivating small tracts of land, on long and easy terms. These organizations have 
 been so successful that they can loan funds to land owners on terms as favorable 
 a3 those secured by large railroad and industrial corporations in this country. 
 In this country loans on farm land as security, with few exceptions, have re- 
 tained their primitive immobile form. The farmer when he needs funds for 
 improvements, additional stock or new implements only can borrow, if at all, 
 in his own immediate neighborhood and for short periods. The consequence is 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 31 
 
 that, ^iiot infrequently, he is unable to get funds when needed, and usually he is 
 obliged to pay a rate of interest higher than that to which the nature of the 
 security he has to offer entitles him. There are in this country no organizations 
 by which loans on land — the safest of all security, can be mobilized, and access 
 obtained to the wide stable investment market. 
 
 To show what has been accomplished in other countries in this direction, 
 descriptions follow of the Landschaften Associations in Germany and the Credit 
 Fonder in France. 
 
 The Landschaften Associations are societies of farmers. The members have 
 the right to issue mortgage bonds based upon the mortgages held by the Asso- 
 ciation. These bonds are guaranteed by all the members of the Association. 
 By virtue of such a guarantee the bonds are readily salable upon favorable terms, 
 throughout the empire, to banks and all classes of investors. By means of these 
 bonds, and the conditions under which they are issued, the farmers belonging to 
 the associations can command the money market as readily as great business 
 corporations or municipalities. Those who join the associations must have their 
 estates appraised, and they are permitted to make mortgage loans up to one-half 
 or one-third of the appraised value of their land. The association assumes the 
 responsibility for the payment of the loan. The association pays the interest and 
 also the principal, when due, for which it is reimbursed by the borrower. In 
 order to show the actual working of one of these organizations, I will describe 
 one that has its headquarters at. Kiel. This institution has the right to acquire 
 real property, and to issue mortgage bonds payable to the holders. Only those 
 that own agricultural or wooded lands of a certain earning power or determined 
 A-alue can become members. As all those that join the association need capital, 
 the initiation fee is calculated at the rate of 1-10 of 1% of the amount to be 
 borrowed. Mortgage bonds are issued in denominations of 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500 
 and 200 marks, in four classes, bearing 3%, 3|-%, 4% or 4^% interest. The bonds 
 are quoted and sold on the financial exchanges and find a ready market. The 
 Association guarantees the payments of the bonds when due. If the capital of the 
 Association is not sufficient for the purpose, then the individual members become 
 jointly liable to an amount not to exceed 5% of the money loaned and not re- 
 paid. The total amount of the bonds of the Association in circulation must not 
 be in excess of the total amount of the mortgage claims against its members which 
 the Association holds. The bonds are redeemed at intervals, the numbers being 
 drawn by lot. The mortgagor can negotiate a loan through the Association at 
 3%, 3^-%, 4% or 4J%. He selects a rate according to the circumstances of the 
 money market. The mortgagor pays into the Association, in addition to the 
 interest, and until the termination of the loan, i of 1% for amortization, and 
 1-10 of 1% as a contribution to the cost of administration. If the mortgagor fails 
 to meet his obligations to the Association, it may demand full payment of the 
 loan upon six months' notice, and if the payment is not then made, the property 
 is sold. If property on which a loan has been made decreases in value partial 
 repayment of the loan is demanded. The surplus receipts of of the Association 
 go into a reserve fund from which losses are made good. The administration 
 of the affairs of the Association is under the supervision of the Prussian Minister 
 of Agriculture, and under the special control of a Royal Commissioner, who is 
 authorized, at any time, to inspect the books and fund, to attend meetings, and 
 to call meetings. On January 1, 1908, the bonds of the Landschaftliche Credit 
 verband, were as follows : * 
 
 Marks. 
 
 4 per cents '. . . . 7,044,800 $1,676,662.40 
 
 3^ per cents 33,481,800 7,968,668.40 
 
 3 per cents 1,813,200 431,541.60 
 
32 ADDRESSES 
 
 In 1908 the largest loan amounted to 62,600 marks ($14,898.80) and the 
 smallest 600 marks ($142.80). The average was 13,000 marks ($3,284.40). 
 
 The Credit Fonci^r de France established to satisfy an imperative need is 
 a limited liability company with a capital of 200,000,000 francs, operating under 
 the supervision of the state. In the beginning (1852) the government granted 
 the Credit Foncier a. subsidy of ten million francs in order to help it make loans 
 at a rate advantageous for that time. The subsidy was not renewed, and the 
 state does not now intervene except occassionally to exercise its control. The 
 purposes of the Credit Foncier are : 
 
 1. Lending money to land owners, counties, communes and public services. 
 
 2. To create and negotiate real estate bonds, or mortgage bonds to a value 
 which cannot exceed the amount of the sums due from its borrowers. 
 
 The company is permitted to receive deposits, but the aggregate of the de- 
 posits must not exceed one hundred million francs. The funds received on de- 
 posit are employed in discounting commercial bills on condition that they have 
 two signatures and do not run over three months. The shares of the Credit 
 Foncier, which are dealt in on the Bourse, are issued at five hundred francs, and 
 anyone can own them. The stock now receives 6% dividends and sells for about 
 750 francs a share. The government appoints the governor and two sub-governors. 
 There must also be three treasurers general among the' 23 members of the council 
 of administration. These treasurers, as well as other adrninistrators, are appointed 
 by the general assembly of the company. The general assembly represents all 
 the stockholders, and is composed of the 200 who own the largest amount of 
 stock. 
 
 The two principal kinds of operations of the Credit Foncier are mortgage 
 loans and communal loans. The total of these two kinds of operations now 
 amount to more than four billion francs. So far as the possible adoption of 
 some of the methods of the Credit Foncier in the United States is concerned, that 
 part of its operations covering the making of loans to land owners is of the 
 greatest interest. Our municipalities now have a broad and steady market for 
 their securities. 
 
 The Credit Foncier makes loans to land owners on the following terms : 
 
 1. Short time loans, without amortization, for a period of from one to nine 
 years. 
 
 2. Long time loans, with annual amortization, for a period of from ten to 
 seventy-five years. 
 
 The rate of interest on the loans is 4.30% per annum, and the rate is the 
 same for all kinds of property. Loans are made only on first mortgage security, 
 and the amount of the loan cannot exceed one-half of the value of the property, 
 except that loans on wines and timber must not exceed one-third of their vavlue. 
 When the loan is made for a short period, the borrower pays each year only the 
 amount of interest due and the principal amount must be paid in full at the end 
 of the term of the loan — one to nine years. Long time loans are gradually paid 
 by means of an annuity, which includes the interest and a small fraction of the 
 principal. As a rule the borrower himself fixes the length of the time that the 
 loan is to run. The amortization extends over the whole period of the loan, so 
 that the total of the interest and capital is repaid from a constant yearly annuity. 
 Consequently, the most of amortization depends on the length of the loan and on 
 the rate of interest. On a loan running for 75 years at 4.30% interest the annuity 
 — including interest and amortization, is at the rate. of 4.48% per annum. The 
 borrower has the right to pay the principal of the loan at any time, and to profit 
 by the amortization already made. He can also make partial payments and there- 
 by reduce the amount of the anuity. The land owner, who wishes to build, can 
 obtain from the Sous Comptoir des Entrepreneus — a society connected with the 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 3^ 
 
 Credit Foncier, a mortgage credit based on the value of the land and of the 
 building to be erected. When the building is finished the credit can be converted 
 into a Credit Foncier loan. 
 
 The real estate bonds issued by the Credit Foncier have no fixed maturity^ 
 but are called for payment by lot. Each payment of bonds must be of such an 
 amount that the bonds remaining in circulation will not exceed the balance of the 
 principal owed upon the hypotheticated loans. If the government approves, there 
 can be added to the bonds called for payment certain prizes and premiums. The 
 funds received from the usual amortization, or anticipated payments must be 
 used to amortize or redeem bonds, or to make new loans. In general the bonds 
 bear 3% on the nominal capital, and the cost of the loans to the company, in- 
 cluding interest and amortization, is about 3.60% which places them on a par with 
 municipal bonds. At the present time the company is redeeming bonds to the 
 amount of about 30,000,000 francs per year, but the amount of redemptions can 
 be increased, if it becomes necessary in order to keep the balance between the 
 bonds and the loans. The bonds are sold by public subscription. About every 
 three years the company issues bonds sufficient to yield from 300,000,000 to 
 350,000,00*^ francs. The bonds are subscribed for by people of small means, and 
 usually remain in their hands; consequently the quotations of the bonds show 
 little fluctuation. The company always keeps a few bonds on hand for sale, but 
 the bulk of them are disposed of by public subscription. 
 
 It is not necessary for us here to inaugurate a new and untried scheme of 
 finance to enable farmers of the United States to borrow at low rates and for 
 long periods. We can profit by the long and successful experience of other 
 countries. ' We can take the French and German models and revamp them to- 
 harmonize with conditions in this country. The principles that underlie the mort- 
 gage loan organizations in France and Germany are familiar to us here, and we 
 know that they are economically sound. If those countries could successfull)r 
 initiate, can we not adopt? ' 
 
 There are several conditions that must be observed if organizations for the 
 loaning of funds to land owners in this country are to be successful. The cor- 
 porations or associations must have a large capital. They must be established 
 for the single purpose of loaning money to land owners at low rates and for as. 
 long periods as possible. There should be no profit to promoters in the organiza- 
 tion of such corporations, and the return to the stockholders must be kept within 
 very reasonable limits. In other words, the borrowers, and not the stockholders,, 
 should be the chief beneficiaries of the success of the undertaking. The active 
 assistance and co-operation of the state or nation must be obtained. The mort- 
 gages held by the company should be exempt from taxation. Special laws would 
 be needed and the provision made for thorough examination by state or national 
 authorities, or both. It might be wise to have some of the executive officers 
 receive their appointment from the state or nation. 
 
 There are many patriotic men of great ability heretofore engaged in the 
 accumulation of wealth who, realizing, as many of them do, the supreme im- 
 portance to the lasting welfare of the nation of stimulating and assisting the 
 movement of population back to the farm, would be willing to give freely of 
 their time and money to an undertaking of this sort. The old school of public 
 spirited business men regarded material prosperity as the end of everything, but 
 of late business men have assumed a somewhat different attitude and it is due to 
 them that most of the reforms in business and political life have been successful. 
 Prosperity must be guarded as sacredly as in the times of McKinley, but it i» 
 now more fully recognized that there are other essentials that must go hand in- 
 hand with prosperity. Because of their recognition of these things Americar> 
 business men undoubtedly can be relied upon to assist the development of agri»- 
 
 9 AD. BD. AGR. 
 
34 ADDRESSES 
 
 culture in this country, not only because it will advance our material prosperity, 
 but also because it will broaden, strengthen and purify the basis of American 
 political and economic life. 
 
 At the convention of the American Bankers' Association, held in New Or- 
 leans last month, a committee of seven on agricultural improvement and farm 
 financing was appointed. This committee will consider thoroughly the subject of 
 farm financing in relation to conditions in this country, and in its report to the 
 next convention will make same definite recommendations, which might well em- 
 brace a plah which could be used as the basis of state or national legislation. 
 
 The demand for cheap money for the purposes of agriculture is nation wide, 
 and the effort to supply it should interest all who appreciate the fundamental 
 importance of national prosperity and progress. 
 
 BOOST OHIO 
 
 By Fixing the Roads and Lifting the People Out of the Mud. 
 
 By Jesse Taylor, 
 Secretary The Ohio Good Roads Federation and Editor of Better Roads. 
 
 Better roads are being discussed everywhere — in the office, bank, school, 
 church, woman's clubs, boards of trade, grange meetings, bankers' conventions, 
 railway meetings, on the streets and along the roads. 
 
 Good roads are civilizers. 
 
 Good roads are educators. 
 
 Good roads pay for themselves. 
 
 Good roads are as essential as harbors. 
 
 (Good roads are promoters of good health. 
 
 <}ood roads convert swamps into homesteads. 
 
 Good roads are mile-stones of civilization. 
 
 Good roads bind people together in industry, intelligence and patriotism. 
 
 Good roads will bring the country to the town with its produce and will 
 -send the town to the country for pure air and good health. 
 
 Good roads will convert barren lands into fertile fields. 
 
 Good roads will enhance the value of everything they touch. 
 
 Good roads will bring good returns to everything that trav-el them. 
 
 Good roads will facilitate and cheapen transportation. 
 
 Good roads will bring untold wealth to the producers. 
 
 Good roads will save millions to the consumers. 
 
 Good roads will be the solution of the rural problem. 
 
 Good roads will make country life more attractive than city life. 
 
 Good roads will make the consumer's dollar go further and will put into 
 the farmer's pocket a greater portion of that dollar. 
 
 Good roads are indispensable to our growth and progress. 
 
 Good roads will make possible the three great links of civilization — the 
 model home and the model country school. 
 
 Good roads mean a higher life for the people of the states upon whom 
 rest the responsibility of our government and our Christian civilization. 
 
 Eyery dollar expended in encouraging road building, every dollar employed 
 to carry expert advice on road construction into every section of our state is 
 a distinct contribution to the welfare, comfort and happiness of the people of the 
 state. 
 
 Hell on earth is on a back road with a neighbor landowner who will not 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 35 
 
 sign a petition for the construction of a good road. 
 
 The vahie of a man's services to society is in proportion to his ability to 
 work with other men. Try it once on the roads and make better roads and 
 better men. 
 
 Throw away your clubs, stop your knocking and get into the good roads 
 campaign in Ohio, 
 
 Bad roads are the signs of backwardness, indolence and careless citizenship. 
 
 Every day a road is bad the users of it and the purchasers of supplies 
 hauled over it loose money. 
 
 Bad roads are responsible to a great degree for driving the young people 
 from the farm into the cities. 
 
 Bad roads empty the benches in the school houses and are largely responsible 
 for four hundred abandoned church buildings in Ohio. 
 
 Bad roads play an important part in what we eat and wear. 
 
 Bad roads are an extravagance that no civilized people can afford. 
 
 Bad roads keep the farmers at home to read the catalogues of mail order 
 houses. 
 
 Bad roads prevent the farmer from delivering the corn from which he is 
 expected to realize money with which to pay an account with his local mer- 
 chant and the note due in bank. 
 
 Bad roads have been tried by the farmer, doctor, lawyer, merchant, preacher, 
 trader, teacher, the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the high and the 
 low, the millionaire and the tramp, the drunk and the sober and the saint and 
 the sinner, who, although familiar with the history of bad roads of the past 
 and the waste of untold millions due to bad roads, have just commenced to 
 realize that the time is at hand for the people of Ohio to demand a change in 
 road conditions and to pull themselves out of the mud. 
 
 Right now is the time to fix the roads and spend less time in cussing the 
 •middle-man for with good roads we can dodge him and reach the -consumer. 
 
 Elbert Hubbard says "Instead of hitching your wagon to a star, suppose 
 you get in touch with the good roads movement." 
 
 I am interested in the question of better roads, am not committed to any 
 pet scheme, am not interested in the manufacture of road materials or road 
 machinery and care not who gets the glory so long as the people of Ohio get 
 the results — better roads. 
 
 I am in the better roads campaign with the people to win a victory for 
 better roads everywhere to be constructde and maintained less and less at the 
 expense of the abutting land owner and more and more by county, state and na- 
 tional assistance. 
 
 I am opposed to all laws, either existing or proposed, which place all the 
 burden of the construction and maintenance of public roads upon the farmer and 
 the abutting land owner. 
 
 The highways of the state are for the use and benefit of the people of 
 the state and are free to inter-state travel which has all been made possible, with 
 but few exceptions, by direct tax upon the abutting and near-by land owner 
 who have blazed the way and laid the foundation for a great system of public 
 highways throughout the states and nation-wide extent. 
 
 The state of Ohio has spent millions of dollars in the construction and 
 maintenance of its canals and but a meager sum "for the improvement of the 
 wagon roads of the state upon the theory that money spent for canals would 
 lessen transportation by water and without any consideration whatever of the 
 much greater demand for cheaper transportation by land. 
 
 Now is the time for Ohio to follow the splendid examples set by Cali- 
 fornia, New York and Pennsylvania" and issue the bonds of the state' for state 
 
36 ADDRESSES 
 
 aid in the construction of a complete system of inter-county roads and let future 
 generations and all property of the state help pay the cost. 
 
 The Constitutional Convention now in sesion should submit an amendment 
 to the present Constitution to permit the issuing of state bonds, for state aid 
 in road construction, in an amount not to exceed one per cent on the grand 
 tax duplicate of the state, which, when spread out over all the property of the 
 state can be paid off, .both principle and interest, at the end of twenty-five years- 
 at an average per capita cost of fifty-five cents. 
 
 In addition to state aid I believe the Congress of the United States has as 
 much right to appropriate money for either money aid to the states in road con- 
 struction and maintenance or in the building of great national roads as it has ta 
 appropriate money for the building of public roads in Alaska, the Canal Zone 
 and the islands of the sea. 
 
 THE SCHOOLS OF OHIO. 
 
 • By Hon. Frank Miller^ 
 
 State School Commissioner. 
 
 Mr. Sandles has asked me to say a few words in behalf of the schools of 
 Ohio. I take it for granted that it is his desire and your desire that I confine 
 my remarks to the rural schools. Some of you may wonder what I may know 
 about the country. Well, I will tell the story that you have aften heard from 
 others, "I was reared on the farm." Not only was I reared on the farm but 
 my interest in farm work and farm life have never ceased. In fact my neigh- 
 bors call me the farmer. I can hold the handles of the plow as well as the rest 
 of you, and I still occasionally take the pitchfork in harvest time and jump onto- 
 a hay doodle and toss it on the wagon so that the fellow on the other side must 
 hustle to keep up. 
 
 Ohio has not only given birth to many great men who have acquired national 
 fame but has also given birth to the township centralized school as that term is 
 now understood. This form of rural school is considered by educators as the 
 most efficient school for the rural districts and I am proud to be able to say that 
 it is an Ohio product. ^We have in this State many townships that are under the 
 supervision of able township superintendents. Here too we find good school work 
 and the teachers are guided and encouraged to render still more efficient service. 
 There are many faithful teachers in the townships that are not organized and are 
 without a superintendent but by earnest endeavors on their part they too are 
 rendering excellent service. 
 
 You may have observed that some poor schools have been reported as exist- 
 ing in Ohio. Ohio is not by any means the only State in the Union that has 
 some poor schools, but Ohio has awaked to the importance of having an efficient 
 school system, not for a part, but for all of her children. 
 
 That the very worst conditions have been brought to light is a wholesome 
 sign of a better future. The citizenship of Ohio will insist upon giving every 
 boy and girl within the domain of this State an opportunity for an education. 
 It is my earnest hope that within the next few years these neglected schools will 
 be regenerated into newer and better schools. We boast of this country being a 
 land of equal opportunities, then by all means let us get together and make it so. 
 The revelation of school conditions is a boost because it leads to betterment. 
 We must keep in mind also the fact that Ohio has some of the best common 
 schools, and country school buildings to be found anywhere. Ohio has more high 
 schools than New York and Massachusetts combined, and this is saying a whole 
 lot for the schools of Ohio. The country boy hears the city boy tell about his. 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 37 
 
 high school studies. He becomes interested and wants to go to high school him- 
 self. If he has no high school near home his tendency is to go to the city high 
 school. There should be a high school near enough so that every country boy 
 and girl can attend, and Ohio is trying to meet this demand. 
 
 At the present time the State each year pays two dollars for every enu- 
 merated youth in each school district. If this were raised to four dollars per 
 enumerated youth instead of two, much would be done toward the solution of 
 this difficult problem. Such a law would be a just law. For instance there are 
 communities in this State where mining is almost the sole industry. There is 
 very little property of high value for taxation and consequently their schools must 
 suffer. They pour out a stream of wealth of coal and iron ore which spreads 
 over the entire State to furnish the power which turns the factory wheels and 
 make possible wealth whose benefits they do not reap. It gives railroads business 
 and permeates all the trades and industries. If the next legislature will allow 
 four dollars for each enumerated youth it will bestow untold blessings upon the 
 schools of the poorer districts and those districts which are in distress will be 
 relieved. 
 
 One of the most important measures of a constructive legislation passed last 
 winter is the Cahill Law which provides for the teaching of agriculture in the 
 common schools of the rural and village districts of Ohio. In the past the rural 
 schools were not in touch with the life of their communities. In large part they 
 were imitations of city schools teaching not country life but city life. The chil-- 
 dren had held up before them ideals taken not from the country but" from the 
 city. They had held up before them for their ideals great lawyers and doctors, 
 generals and the great masters of finance without ever pointing out some farmer 
 who possesses the sterling qualities of true manhood. 
 
 Not many weeks ago I opened a text book which had been in use in our 
 schools and saw on the first page the picture of a lady leading a little boy by the 
 hand. She was pointing to ' a temple which was standing on a hill. Across the 
 end of the temple was printed the word knowledge. On that temple was a dome 
 which had on it the word Fame. I take this picture to mean that the lady was 
 the goddess of learning and that she was telling that Httle boy that he must 
 acquire knowledge in order that he may become famous. Then that boy had 
 held up before him the fame of an Alexander, a Caesar, a Napoleon and men of 
 that type, heroes of the battlefield, without even referring to the heroes of every- 
 day life and of peace. Then those same tachers would plead for universal peace 
 and be answered by what? Another battleship from every one of the great nations 
 of the earth. The implements of destruction. The implements which bring noth- 
 ing but misery and distress instead of happiness to the people of this world. 
 Under the influence of such teaching in the past what could be more natural than 
 that our boys and girls in the country be restless, and as they grow up to be men 
 and women they will turn toward the city where they hope to realize those ideals 
 they have been so faithfully taught during their childhood days. 
 
 I have a son in the public school, but I do not want him to be taught that 
 he must learn his lessons in order that he may become famous. I want the aim 
 of his teaching to be such that he will become an honest, upright, and useful 
 citizen. When this is done, I as his father will be satisfied. When such teaching 
 is found in every school room the public schools will be fulfilling the mission for 
 which they are intended. House with children in it. 
 
 The teaching of agriculture is bringing a new atmosphere into the country 
 school. The country school is coming in touch with the life and interests of its 
 community. Boys and girls are beginning to see that in the country there are 
 great possibilities and that it is the best place in which to live. Mr. Ivins, one 
 of the supervisors of agricultural education told me that when he was called to 
 
38 ADDRESSES 
 
 supervise the schools of Turtlecreek township in Warren County and introduce 
 agriculture into the schools, he asked the pupils in each school who intended to 
 remain on the farm to raise their hands. Fifteen percent raised hands 
 indicating that they intended to remain on the farm. After the subject was 
 taught for four years, he again asked the same question. Eighty-five percent 
 indicated that they intended to remain on the farm. This is an example of what 
 the teaching of agriculture in the schools of Ohio is accomplishing. 
 
 The boys and girls are beginning to see that Ohio has great agricultural 
 possibilities. School work is being more closely related to life-work than ever 
 before. The new agricultural work is improving country life conditions every- 
 where. There is fine co-operation where it never before existed. A better under- 
 standing between teachers and patrons has come about and conditions in Ohio 
 schools are travelling toward the ideal. 
 
 Last winter I placed a few books on elementary agriculture within reach of 
 my little daughter of eleven years to see what she would do. She had been read- 
 ing fairy tales but on opening one of the books on agriculture she became so 
 absorbed that her mind was literally buried in that book for over an hour. 
 Finally she looked up and with a beaming countenance said, "Papa are we going 
 to study agriculture in our school?" I said no, my dear, you are not. And she 
 said with a changed countenance and pleading voice why not it is so interesting. 
 I am trying to rear my children under country influence as much as I can, be- 
 cause I believe it is the best influence under which children can grow. 
 
 Nature is the most beautiful thing on God's green earth whether it is the 
 sunset sky with its glowing colors, the fleecy clouds floating in the air or the 
 flowers and animals of the fields. Have you ever stopped to think that what one 
 can see in an object depends upon his previous training or occupafion. The 
 lumberman who goes through a forest sees the great trunks of great trees and 
 the saw logs they will make. He sees the commercial side of the forest. The 
 hunter goes through the forest. He sees no saw logs but soon discovers the 
 hole in the tree trunk which is the den of the raccoon or the other denizens of 
 the forest. He sees the pleasure side. The botanist who goes through that forest 
 sees the leaves of the trees, their buds and flowers, and the humble flowers and 
 vines which grow at his feet. He sees the scientific phase of that forest. Finally 
 there comes the poet who sees things none of the others have seen. He sees the 
 finer elements in nature. He sees those things which appeal to our finer sensi- 
 bilities, bring inspiration, and awaken the emotions in the heart of man that he 
 may sing the glory of the forest in song and verse. He who has never lived 
 in country — appreciate literature. 
 
 Agriculture is taught today in something like 10,000 elementary schools and 
 800 high schools in Ohio. This teaching is bringing the boys and girls ih harmony 
 with their environment. It is leading them to see and appreciate the beauties^ 
 of their surroundings. The child who grows up surrounded by that which is 
 beautiful is going to develop a beautiful character. There is nothing but what 
 is good in most plants and animals and the child who grows up in the midst of 
 these is bound to imbibe some of this quality. 
 
 H people from the city would spend their vacation in the country, it would 
 be far better and enjoyable for their children than to go to the seashore resorts 
 where everything is artificial and high except the low moan of the sea. 
 
 The old forms of brutal punishment which were used when I was a boy 
 no longer find a place in our school rooms. Such subjects as agriculture create 
 an interest in our boys and girls, and it is interest which induces good school 
 work. There is a feeling of friendship between teacher and pupils, and boys 
 and girls behave without the rod because they wish to do what is right. As 
 far as the schools are concerned we are in the glowing dawn of a bright era. 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 39 
 
 Bring up the few schools that need bringing up and we will all be ready to 
 shout "Hurrah for the schools of Ohio." 
 
 It don't pay to growl and grumble and have a grouch all over. The grouch 
 only makes himself and those about him miserable. Be up and do things. We 
 have a little realm all in itself. We may not have any mines that produce gold 
 bricks, gold bricks in more senses than one but we have deposits of iron ore and 
 coal the backbone of civilization. We have a soil which is rich in its possibili- 
 ties, and above all we have a sturdy citizenship which is bound to make Ohio 
 the finest place on earth in which to live. 
 
 AN AGRICULTURAL SURVEY OF OHIO. 
 
 By L. H. Goddard, 
 Department of Cooperation, Ohio Experiment Station. 
 
 A Wheat Experiment and Its Lesson. 
 
 Mr. Chairman^ Ladies and Gentlemen : 
 
 If permissible I would like first to relate « little personal experience which 
 happened to me down on the farm in Fayette County a few years before I took up 
 my present work. A friend of mine, wishing to improve his wheat crop, finally 
 decided at my suggestion to purchase a few bushels of wheat as seed from the 
 Experiment Station. The selection -of the variety being left to me, I chose that 
 which had been rated by the Station at the end of a long series of experiments as 
 unqualifiedly the best, and did so with perfect assurance as to the ultimate results 
 of the use of this variety on my friend's farm. To my mind nothing but a 
 splendid outcome could follow the use of such seed by my friend or anyone else 
 in 'Ohio, for that matter. How could seed with such a stamp of approval fail in 
 any way? 
 
 You will therefore judge of my pique when I tell you that the first year this 
 wheat produced only moderately well; in fact, not so well as some of the other 
 varieties in that neighborhood and indeed no better than the other variety in use 
 on the farm on which it was seeded. In defense of the variety and of the Experi- 
 r-ent Station, however, I tried to explain and succeeded in producing conviction 
 that the comparative failure was due probably to deficiency in preparation of the 
 seed-bed and perhaps to a certain extent to lack of climatic adjustment, and that 
 another year with more care used in seeding would tell a different story. 
 
 I was correct in assuming that another year would tell a different story. 
 No man who saw the wheat at threshing time the second fall would question 
 that. The seed produced the previous year had been used on a selected field 
 carefully prepared and owing to the different and rather beautiful appear- 
 ance of the crop as it grew and the fact that it was situated close to the road 
 where it was observed by many in passing, the threshing results were await- 
 ed with great expectancy. My friends, the story which the threshing ma- 
 chine told the watching crowd on threshing day was, that the field which had 
 been given such care and seeded with this new special variety of wheat, had 
 produced about two-thirds of a crop and that crop quite largely screenings or 
 chicken feed. 
 
 Such an experience as this is bound to make a very lasting impression on 
 one's mind. We can read with a certain amount of calmness of unfortunate expe- 
 riences which are sustained by others, but when such come home to us personally 
 and in the public manner in which this did to me, the effect is apt to be very 
 
40 
 
 ADDRESSES 
 
 different. We are apt to keep the matter pretty clearly in mind and if we are 
 disposed to philosophize, to do a lot of thinking as to the reason why such a 
 thing could possibly happen. 
 
 Experience Begets Caution. 
 
 Some of you who have noted the character of the work of the Extension 
 Department of the Experiment Station, with which I have been connected since 
 
 Fig. 1. 
 
 •commencing work there in 1904, will now understand why every feature which has 
 (been taken up by that Department has been encompassed by a great big question 
 ^mark; why we have always introduced everything by means of cooperative expe- 
 riments; why we have always insisted that negative results in connection with 
 these experiments were just as valuable to us as positive results, and. why on 
 almost every occasion we have been so extremely non-committal. 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 41 
 
 I took up the Experiment Station work in 1904 with the feeling that 
 perhaps my experience had been unique, and with the hope that with the 
 opportunity to observe through cooperative experiments and field investi- 
 gations I would somehow be able to clear up the matter, for at no time then 
 or since has there ever been the slightest question in my mind as to the 
 accuracy of the work of the Experiment Station. 
 
 Map qfOh/o 
 
 "^roc/uction o^fri.shfhfafoes 
 hcf Townshiios in 
 •^/^03'^— 
 
 Oh/0 'State Boaro/ojf^.^ricufture 
 <Sca/e ' = sooo hu 
 
 Fig. 2. 
 
 Experiments in Cooperation with Farmers. 
 
 While as just stated, we always announced that negative results in con- 
 nection with cooperative experiments were just as valuable to us as positive 
 results, as indeed they were, I must say, however, that the large number of 
 negative results secured was indeed much of a surprise and soon became a 
 little wearing on the nerves. In nearly every case we received a few reports 
 of remarkably positive results from our experiments, showing that they had 
 
42 
 
 ADDRESSES- 
 
 been of much value to the farmers conducting them, but from perhaps the 
 majority of them came fiothing but tales of woe. How could such a condi- 
 tion exist? 
 
 At first we were disposed to blame the trouble on the method of conducting 
 the experiment and accordingly tried a number of methods, as some of you may 
 know. We had small hand experiments worked out with the greatest of care. 
 We had small experiments in connection with which machines were used. We 
 
 Fig. 3. 
 
 had large experiments made under field conditions. In fact, we tried almost every 
 plan we could devise, not only one year but for several years and yet the results 
 were unsatisfactory. Varieties or methods of the excellence of which we had not 
 a doubt would fail comparatively in a large number of cases no matter how we 
 would conduct the test. We could not blame the result on the carelessness of co- 
 operators, because we knew from visits at some of their farms that such was not 
 the case or rather was not the case in enough instances to explain all our trouble. 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 4^ 
 
 EXPERIMENTS ON A SuB-StATION. 
 
 In the meantime, referring again to our personal experience with the 
 variety of wheat, we had occasion to visit one of the Station test farms in 
 southwestern Ohio where the soil and climatic conditions were much the 
 same as those on the farm on which the variety had been tried at my sug- 
 gestion and there we found identically the samft results with that particular 
 
 MapofOh/o 
 
 a/(/cf/'<y7 0fMa/o/e Syru/o 
 Jbu 7oty/7<s/?//0'S /n 
 .zL^/&03'^ 
 
 Compt/eo/jfrom Records 
 0/7/0 ySfafe3oo/ro/of^r/cu/fure 
 
 Scof/e • = woo^o//. 
 
 Fig. 4. 
 
 variety as in our own experience, thus indicating that our own farm exper- 
 ience was normal rather than unique and that perhaps the type of soil and 
 climate or something else were after all very important factors in the growth 
 of a crop. 
 
 A State-wide Field Study Becomes Necessary. 
 
 Finally, with the hope of solving this irritating riddle, we were fairly driven 
 in IQ-IO to make an elaborate state-wide field study of the farm practice in con- 
 
44 
 
 ADDRESSES 
 
 nection with one of Ohio's most sensitive crops, — alfalfa. In this study our 
 Mr. W. M. Cook, who was making it, visited specially in connection with this 
 investigation 2'93 farms which were located in 49 counties of the state and which 
 represented fairly well all parts of it. He also visited a number of other farms 
 incidentally in connection with other investigations. 
 
 The lessons learned from this field study which was reported in Circular 
 
 Fig. 5. 
 
 113 of the Ohio Experiment Station certainly confirmed the wisdom of the 
 long-standing policy of the Station to extend its field plot work to areas wide- 
 ly distributed over the state; indeed, pronounces the need of each county 
 having its own experiment farm, for which a number have already made ar- 
 rangements and so many more are now making plans. They also pronounc- 
 -ed another very important fact; that something must be done to enable every 
 iarmer in the State to know to which of these experiment farms he should 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 4S 
 
 turn for information. In other words, we became convinced that, on the 
 basis of experiments made on any given farm we positively can not predict 
 with certainty as to what will happen on another farm regarding many things^ 
 especially those related to plant growth, unless we know that the soil, cli- 
 mate and other conditions limiting or promoting plant growth, are similar 
 on the two farms. 
 
 Mop of Ohio 
 Proo/uction of Oats 
 
 bu 7b\/vnship^ in 
 Compiled from Records 
 
 Ohio State Board of /hfnculture 
 Sca/e ' = sooo fou 
 
 Fig. 6. 
 
 An Agricultural Survey. 
 
 Doubtless with this conviction in mind Director Thorne decided that a 
 beginning should be made at once toward the execution of his long-cherish- 
 ed plan-rthe making of an agricultural survey of the state of Ohio, and, since 
 the Department of Cooperation had men who were trained in field work 
 and who were interested in this very problem, that that Department should 
 be placed in charge of the work. This decision was made in the spring oS 
 
'^^ 
 
 ADDRESSES 
 
 1911, but the past season has been one of reorganization. It has been nec- 
 essary to work .out plans for immediate action that were suited to funds and 
 forces available and that would fit in, if possible, with enlarged plans which 
 might be developed to use more funds in the future. 
 
 It was also necessary to avoid casting aside for destruction the unfinished 
 work which we had been conducting up to that time. Accordingly, it became 
 
 Ma/oof Ohi 
 
 Comp/kcJjrc 
 Oh/o^tateBc 
 
 Fig. 7. 
 
 necessary to turn over for continuance by other Departments of the Experiment 
 Station a number of lines of work in which our Department was very much 
 interested ; such for instance as the county fair ^exhibit work and Corn Improve- 
 ment Association work, both of which are now in charge of Mr. D. W. Galehouse 
 of the Department of Administration. We feel sure, however, that the farmers 
 of Ohio will be better served under the new arrangement than they have been 
 in the past. 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 47 
 
 What is an Agricultural Survey? 
 
 We have already indicated some features that should be considered in such 
 a movement, yet there are many other things that should be studied ; in fact, 
 everything should eventually be taken up for analysis that has any bearing on 
 agricultural production or on rural life. Dean Liberty H. Bailey of Cornell Uni- 
 versity, has probably given us the best definition of such a survey. On page 81 
 
 Ijj Map of Ohio 
 Proo/uct/on ofTbhacoo 
 
 hu Townships in 
 
 'JSOQ-^ — 
 
 Compl/eo/from Recoro/s 
 Oh/0 StateBoaro/qfJf^rioulture 
 
 Sca/e ' = so 000 /be. 
 
 Fig. 8. 
 
 of "The State and the Farmer," he writes "A thorough-going study of the exact 
 agricultural status of every state should now be made. ***** 
 We must have the geographical facts. We are now lacking them. We 
 talk largely at random. We must discover the factors that determine the pro- 
 duction of crops and animals in the localities, and the conditions that underlie 
 and control the farm life. Consideration of these conditions involves study 
 of local climate; knov^^ledge of the kinds, classification and distribution of the 
 
48 
 
 ADDRESSES 
 
 soils and the relation of place and altitude to production of crops and live- 
 stock; determination of the best drainage practices on various soil types ;^. 
 consideration of the cultural experience and manurial needs as adapted to 
 the types; inquiry into the practice with all leading crops and products of 
 the localities; study of ^he possibilities for farm water-power; collation of 
 community experience. Such a study of a State should be broad and general 
 
 Fig. 9. 
 
 Map showing appraised valuation of rural property In Ohio. Each dot repre- 
 sents one hundred thousand dollars valuation in the township in which it is placed. 
 
 enough to consider the status of all the agricultural industries in the State, 
 and it should also take full cognizance of educational and social conditions. 
 ."This constitutes the greatest need of practical farming at the present 
 day. The agricultural institutions are working out the principles, but they 
 may not be able to apply these principles to individual farms because they da 
 not know the exact local conditions. The farmer himself may not know the 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 49 
 
 principles, nor even the local facts. The result is a lack of articulation be- 
 tween the teaching and the practice. Farming is founded on the facts of the 
 locality; no business can hope for the best success until it has exact know- 
 ledge of its underlying conditions." 
 
 m 
 
 Less than 8 8-9 9-10 10-11 Over 11 
 
 Scale of Shades — in inches 
 
 Fig. 10. Precipitation. 
 
 The distribution of precipitation during the spring months, March, April and 
 May, is shown on this chart. Lines are drawn for each Inch of rain, from 8 Inches 
 to 11 inches, and the different areas shaded to correspond with the scale at the 
 bottom of the chart. The least fall is near the Lake and the greatest In the central 
 counties and near the Ohio river. 
 
 This you say is surely an elaborate program. To this we must heartily 
 agree, but would add that if the work is not conceived in the beginning in its 
 full breadth and scope the little which we can do while making the start will be 
 largely wasted on misdirected effort and be lost to the future. And again, that 
 
 4 AD. BD. AGR. 
 
50 
 
 ADDRESSES 
 
 if we did not expect to have the assistance of all the institutions in the state or 
 out of it whose work bears directly on our agriculture or is related to it, we 
 would hope to accomplish but little. We believe, however, that to a work as 
 important as this there is no institution that will not stand ready to contribute 
 
 ^a 
 
 Less than 9 9-10 10-11 11-12 Over 12 
 
 Scale of Shades — in inches 
 
 Fig. 11. Rainfall. 
 
 This chart illustrates the rainfall for the state during the summer months, 
 
 June, July and August. The amounts range from slightly below 9 inches to over 
 
 12 inches. In general, the southeastern half of the state receives considerably more 
 rain than the northwestern. 
 
 its full part. Certainly, up to the present time we have found none that were not 
 ready and we anticipate that none such will be found. 
 
 The State-wide Survey Should Precede the Detailed Survey. 
 
 Before outlining to you the part of the work which we have already 
 organized, I would pause to state that as a general principle we have deter- 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 51 
 
 mined that the reconnaissance, preliminary or state-wide survey should pre- 
 cede the detailed survey. The reason for this is, first, to enable us to select 
 areas for the detailed surveys in such a manner that they will be tjrpical of 
 larger areas; and, second, to enable us to know within what boundaries the 
 
 ^ 
 ^Vt^ 
 
 Less than 7 7-8 8-9 9-10 
 
 Scale of Shades — in inches 
 
 Over 10 
 
 Fig. 12. Precipitation. 
 
 The distribution of the precipitation during the months of September, October 
 and November in Ohio is quite different from that for the summer, as fs Indicated 
 In this figure. The total precipitation Is less for this autumn quarter than for any 
 other, and the least rainfall is in south-central and southeast counties. The amount 
 of fall varies from somewhat below 6 inches to over 11 Inches. 
 
 conclusions of these detailed surveys may be applied. We very much fear 
 that these state-wide surveys will demonstrate to us that the value of many 
 of our previous field studies have been seriously affected by unfortunate se- 
 
52 
 
 ADDRESSES 
 
 lection of the areas in which they were made, but even if this does prove to 
 be true we shall have the satisfaction of knowing, aftec the state-wide surveys 
 have been made, where the lessons which we have learned from these de- 
 tailed studies will apply. 
 
 9 N 
 
 10^ 
 
 ^^4^iP^I 
 
 r-%^^^i< 
 
 } 
 
 
 
 >*J 
 
 3» 
 
 mm 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^ffi 
 
 w 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 '^^ 
 
 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 V/.Z 
 
 Less than 7 7-8 8-9 9-10 
 
 Scale of Shades — in inches 
 
 Over 10 
 
 Fig. 13. Rain and Melted Snow. 
 
 The total rain and melted snow during the months of December, January and 
 February is given in Chart 13. The amounts vary from below 7 to over 10 inches. 
 The heaviest amounts are along the Ohio river and the least near the western end 
 of the Lake. 
 
 Another very important reason for conducting the state-wide survey first, 
 is, that if properly conducted such a survey may be of very great immediate 
 value to the state and yet cost but a moderate fraction as much as would a detailed 
 survey covering the entire state. For instance, we are convinced that for from*. 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 53 
 
 twenty to forty thousand dollars and in from two to four years' time we shall 
 be able to complete a general soil survey of this state that will answer the present 
 needs of our farmers almost as well as would a detailed survey of the state 
 that would cost a much larger sum and take a correspondingly longer time; and, 
 
 Less than 20 20-30 30-40 40-50 
 
 Scale of Shades — in inches 
 
 Over 50 
 
 Fig. 14. Snow Fall. 
 
 In this chart we have shown the distribution of the amount of unmelted snow 
 that averages to fall each year. Lines are drawn for each difference of 10 inches 
 and then the areas shaded as in the preceding charts. This shows that the average 
 snowfall is less than 20 inches in the extreme southern counties, and over 6o inches 
 over a small area in the northeast. This district of greatest snowfall corresponds 
 with or is just to the north of ihe highest land between the southern and northern 
 watersheds. i i'lMM 
 
 that if it were decided later to make an accurate detailed survey of the state, 
 it could be completed for much less money and would be much more valuable 
 in the light of what had preceded than- had it been undertaken first. In other 
 
54 
 
 ADDRESSES 
 
 words, we believe that it probably would cost no more to make both the gen- 
 eral and detailed surveys of the entire state than to make the latter if that had 
 been undertaken first, and that by making the general survey first the farmers 
 would receive great benefit at a very much earlier date. 
 
 Below 34 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 3^ 
 
 i-36 
 Scale 
 
 3( 
 
 of Sha 
 
 3-38 
 des — i 
 
 n inch 
 
 8-40 
 es 
 
 Ov 
 
 er 40 
 
 Fig. 15. Annum. Precipitation. 
 
 The average annual precipitation for tlie different sections of Ohio is shown 
 graphically on this chart by means of shaded areas. Lines are drawn for each dif- 
 ference of 2 inches from 34 inches to 40 inches and areas having the same precipi- 
 tation are given the same shading. The greatest precipitation is along the Ohio 
 river, and the least near the western end of Lake Erie. There Is quite a large dis- 
 trict In the western portion of the state with a rainfall of less than 34 inches. 
 
 So far as possible we propose to follow this principle in all the work 
 which we undertake, although in making the transition from our old work we 
 have already found it necessary in some cases to get the cart before the horse. 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 55 
 
 You will realize that it is necessary to suit immediate plans to the immediate 
 means available and to mold them according to circumstances ; but, having the 
 goal clearly in mind, the , work will all orient itself into proper shape in due 
 season. 
 
 Statistics Made Interesting. 
 
 In the very forefront of this work we feel it to be necessary to study the 
 •available statistics regarding this state which have a bearing upon our agri- 
 culture. We realize that to some, statistics and their consideration suggests 
 
 Fig. 16. Last Killing Spring Prost. 
 
 The average dates of the last killing frosts of spring are indicated on this chart 
 by lines that are drawn for each 5 days. The latest killing frosts In the spring 
 occur in the northeastern counties at some distance away from the Lake, and there 
 they average slightly later than May 15. They average earlier than April 20 along 
 the Lake and in some southern districts. 
 
 at once a dry and well-nigh fruitless task — a work which they are ready to 
 give over to the cranks and the propagandists. We find, however, that by 
 analyzing these figures township by township and presenting them graphically 
 they immediately become interesting and valuable. 
 
 Centers of Agricultural Production. 
 
 Our first work of this kind, which was begun in 1909 and published the 
 following spring as Circular 100, was a study of the centers of agricultural 
 
56 
 
 ADDRESSES 
 
 production of the state, based on the statistical returns of the township assessors 
 which are turned over by the County Auditors to the State Board of Agricul- 
 ture. The time has been when I had a feeling that figures secured in this way 
 were of very limited value. I believe, however, that if you will look at the maps 
 showing the production of alfalfa, potatoes, wool, maple syrup, apples, oats, 
 ensilage corn and tobacco (Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive), you will not hesitate to agree 
 
 ctlO 
 
 Fig. 17. First Killing Autumn Frost. 
 
 On this chart lines are drawn to show the average dates of the first killing 
 frosts in the autumn. The earliest dates are in the northeastern and northwestern 
 counties, while the latest are along the Lake and in the extreme southwest. Both 
 of these charts show the influence of the waters of the Lake in preventing damage 
 from frost along the immediate lake shore. They indicate, however, that this in- 
 fluence extends but a very short distance inland. 
 
 with me that these maps based on the statistics just named show at a glance 
 where are the centers of production of these crops, and would thus guide one 
 of our field men or anyone else who was interested, very accurately to the 
 localities in which these crops are being produced in large quantities. You will 
 of course understand that each dot on these maps represents a given number 
 of pounds, bushels, tons, as the case may be, that have been produced of the 
 crops in question in the township on the map of which the dot has been placed. 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 57 
 
 "The more dots there are in any township the greater has been the production in 
 that township. 
 
 Please note from these maps that crop boundaries do not follow county 
 boundaries; that within the same county it is possible to find townships that 
 produce a very large amount of a given crop and other townships which pro- 
 duce virtually none of that crop, and therefore, that by taking the township as 
 
 Fig. 18. Number of Crop Growing Days. 
 
 By taking the number of days between the dates on Charts 16 and 17, the data 
 are obtained for this Figure 18, or the average number of days in the crop grow- 
 ing season. The greatest number of days between the average date of the last 
 killing frost in the spring and the earliest in autumn is 195 at Sandusky, 194 at 
 Cincinnati, and 193 at Cleveland. The least number of days is 134 in Portage county. 
 The lines are drawn for each 10 days. 
 
 a unit, as we have done, we can outline the crop boundaries much more accurately 
 than if we had used the county as a unit. 
 
 Before passing from these assessors' statistics, allow me to state that within 
 a few years we hope to have these returns much more valuable even than they 
 are at present. We believe that when the people see that these figures are being 
 used thus in detail they will unite with the assessors to make them as valuable 
 as possible. 
 
58 
 
 ADDRESSES 
 
 Land Values Studied. 
 
 Most if not all of my hearers are doubtless familiar with the fact that a 
 strenuous effort has been made within the past year to see that the farm land 
 of Ohio is appraised at its full value. While we presume that in spite of the 
 efforts of the County Taxation Boards and of the State Tax Commission, some 
 mistakes have been made, we yet believe that the final figures represent more 
 
 J WILLIAMS i '■"'-TON 
 
 li — J^^U 
 
 Fig. 19. Annual Temperature. 
 
 The average annual temperature lines are drawn on this chart for each de- 
 gree. The coolest sections of the state are in the northeastern and northwestern 
 districts, while the warmest are in the extreme southern and southwestern counties. 
 These isothermal lines are very regular in the southern portion of the state, bend- 
 ing to the north when they cross the valleys and to the south over the uplands. 
 There is a large area in the west-central and northwestern counties, however, where 
 the average temperature varies less than 1 ^degree for a distance of over 100 miles, 
 from Champaign to Ottawa counties. The lowest annual mean temperature is 47.2" 
 In Portage county, and the highest, 55.5° in Scioto county. 
 
 closely than anything else available the real average valuation of the land in 
 each township of the state. That such figures as these would be of value to us 
 in this survey work certainly none of you will question. The State Tax Com- 
 mission has kindly favored us with advance information regarding these appraised 
 valuations for use in our work. (See Fig. 9). 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 59 
 
 The Climate An Important Factor in Agricultural Investigations. 
 
 Dean Bailey also says "A study of the local climate ought to be a part 
 of these preliminary surveys. We are neglecting the climate factor. Cli- 
 mate is distinctly local. With the soil it determines the farming conditions. 
 The best agriculture is a careful adjustment to the climate of the district.'* 
 We in Ohio are fast coming to believe that many of the abnormal results 
 which have been secured from our cooperative experiments have been due to 
 abnormal weather conditions. "No t)ne knows better than the farmer the 
 
 Fig. 20. 
 
 striking effect of abnormal weather — a wet year, a dry year or some other un- 
 usual kind of a year. It begins to look to us as though entirely too little at- 
 tention has been paid to weather conditions in the past in arriving at con- 
 clusion based on the results of field experiments or of field observations. 
 
 Certainly, in the making of detailed field studies we should attempt to confine 
 ourselves if possible to areas in which the weather has been normal; or if this 
 is not possible, to consider very carefully the extent of abnormalit}^ of the weather 
 and its influence on the final results. 
 
60 
 
 ADDRESSES 
 
 You may realize, then, how much it pleased us at the Experiment Station 
 when we learned that the Ohio Section Director of the U. S, Weather Bureau, 
 Prof. J, Warren Smith, was willing, with the approval of his chief. Prof. Willis 
 M. Moore, of Washington, D. C, to become Honorary Climatologist of the 
 Ohio Experiment Station in order to work the more closely in connection with 
 ■our Agricultural Survey. 
 
 Prof. Smith has -already prepared for publication by our institution as 
 Bulletin 235 a graphically illustrated manuscript regarding the climate of the 
 
 Fig. 21. 
 
 State and will provide for us from month to month a similar report of the 
 weather for comparison with the climate in order that we may be able to select 
 the points in the State where the weather has been reasonably normal. You will 
 of course understand climate is simply the average of the weather for a long 
 period of years! Prof. Smith is also making a number of studies of the rela- 
 tion of certain weather conditions to large or small yields of crops. Every field 
 study which we make hereafter, so far as the weather can have any effect upon 
 it, will be made in close co-operation with Prof. Smith and his office. 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 61 
 
 As quoted from Dean Bailey earlier in this paper, we have been guilty in 
 the past of talking largely at random. Hereafter we must try to confine our 
 statements and deductions, so far as possible, to facts. It seems very fortunate^ 
 therefore, that the machinery of this great organization, the Weather Bureau, 
 is ready to join us in this Survey work. The accompanying maps Figs. 10 to, 19) 
 inclusive, will indicate some of the more pronounced climatic features of the 
 State, A number of others will be found in the Bulletin mentioned. 
 
 The Shifting of Rural Population. 
 
 You certainly will agree with us that in connection with an Agricultural 
 Survey it is necessary to know whether our rural population is increasing or 
 decreasing and where these changes are taking place. Fortunately, we have 
 
 Fig. 22. 
 
 exact figures from the U. S. Census for the years 1890, 1900 and 1910. These 
 are illustrated in Circular 116, two of the maps of which are reproduced here- 
 with. Figs. 20 and 21. Each dot on these maps represent one percent of decrease 
 within the ten-year period preceding the date of the map. A cross in the map 
 of a township indicates that the figures for that township have for some reason 
 been indeterminate and therefore have been thrown out. 
 
 We would call your attention to the fact that in 70 per cent of the 
 townships of the state there were actually fewer rural people in 1910 than 
 in 1900; that in spite of increases by birth to the rural population there was 
 a net loss in the total number of rural people of the state within that decade 
 of 112,707; that, averaging this total loss among the 1352 rural townships, 
 there was an average loss per township in rural population in spite or births^ 
 
62 
 
 ADDRESSES 
 
 of 8.3 persons per year. Of course, as stated above, this loss was confined to 
 about 70 percent of the townships, which makes it all the greater in the town- 
 ships in which it did occur. It may be that this decrease in rural population 
 is wise ; we are not prepared at this time to say ; it is merely our mission in 
 conducting this work, which we are now undertaking, to gather the facts and 
 state them so that others as well as ourselves may try to draw conclusions. 
 Certainly, however, we. should keep this fact constantly in mind in connection 
 with all our field investigations. 
 
 These four statistical studies: centers of agricultural production, taxation 
 valuation, climatic conditions and population, are sufficient to indicate how we 
 shall endeavor to use all available statistics and to prove, I hope, that even dry 
 
 Fig. 23. 
 
 statistics may become very valuable and even interesting if one translates them into 
 graphical illustrations. 
 
 A Study of Agricultural History. 
 
 In traveling over the state in years past our field men have noticed many 
 local agricultural conditions which we feel we shall not be able to trace entirely 
 either to the climate or to the soil. For instance, why do we find the large 
 farm area in Fayette, Madison and other nearby counties? Can it be because 
 that area was settled by Virginians whose ancestors were the landless younger 
 sons of old England and who came to Virginia with a pronounced appetite for 
 land? Why do we find tobacco growing in but limited areas of the State? May 
 not the likes and dislikes and previous training of the settlers of those areas 
 have something to do with determining their location, rather than or as well 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 63 
 
 as the soil and the climate? Had the Yankees of the Western Reserve — Ashta- 
 bula, Geauga, Portage and other counties settled in Fayette and Madison counties, 
 would or would not that have been a large farm area? Had they settled in 
 Montgomery and Darke counties would parts of those counties be a pronounced 
 center of tobacco production? 
 
 With the hope of unraveling these and dozens, yes hundreds, of other 
 riddles and of helping us to understand better the agricultural conditions of 
 the state, Mr. W. A. Lloyd of our office is now conducting a general historical 
 survey of the state which considers the different classes of people, crops, live- 
 stock and types of farming; the date of introduction of each, the rate of increase 
 of each; the date of climax of each if reached; the rate and cause of decline of 
 each if such exists; and the relation of each to the other. To be sure, in the 
 year or so that he can devote to this project he cannot hope to work it out in 
 all its detail, but he can secure information that will be of vital importance 
 and that will point the way accurately to later detailed surveys. 
 
 A General Soil Survey. 
 
 The need of a soil survey of the State has already been referred to 
 in this paper. Certainly, no one who has traveled over the state to any 
 great extent can question the importance of this need. If there are any 
 who question it I am sure that a few months association with a department of 
 extension of an agricultural experiment station will convince him of his error. 
 In 1905, a year after the organization of our Department, the author of this 
 paper wrote regarding Extension Work in Circular 47 of the Experiment Station 
 as follows : "The varying climate and soil conditions prevent our formulating 
 any general conclusions that will apply to the State at large, and therefore pre- 
 vent the pubHshing of many reports. The best we can do in most cases is to 
 attempt to answer each in,dividual request with information regarding the section 
 from which the request has come. This part of our work will be very much 
 lightened and its value increased many fold as soon as the state is provided with 
 a coniplete soil classification and preliminary soil survey. Accurate conclusions 
 may then be drawn for a given soil which will be understood by all well in- 
 formed farmers in that soil area." This was written more than six years ago 
 and has been reiterated hundreds of times by the various members of our field 
 staff who have, in connection with their field work, come face to face with the 
 absolute necessity of assistance along these lines. 
 
 Perhaps it is well, however, that we have waited. I seriously question if 
 six years ago the man was in existence who could have handled this work as 
 we now feel it should be handled. At any rate, the man we have in charge of 
 it in our Department, Dr. George N. Coffey, has been receiving constant training 
 throughout the entire period, so that now our sister institutions in other S'tates 
 and the National Bureau of Soils, from which he came to us, say unqualifiedly 
 that he is the best soil survey man in the country. He assisted in 1900 in making 
 the first detailed county survey that was ever made by the National Bureau of 
 Soils in the State of Ohio, and since that time has worked in every state in the 
 Union east of the Rocky Mountains except two. 
 
 Beginning last July, he has been conducting a soil reconnaissance, in 
 which he visited every county in the state but five, and by means of which 
 and his former studies he hopes to determine quite largely what types of 
 soil are to be found in the state. Beginning next spring with the two as- 
 sistants which we shall be able to provide he will undertake a general soil 
 survey of the state,* In this he will study the types and sub-types more care- 
 fully and undertake to locate them in a general way. While he will hope to 
 
 fill :^ ^ht.:^ -iL.tX.'. t'.., MrAiltt.tSr : ■- .'•'K ■ • • . ..- . —>•.,. ., . . i'.-uV-:- . 
 
64 ADDRESSES 
 
 be able to make an accurate estimate of the percentage of each type or sub- 
 type which may be found in any given township, he will not undertake to 
 determine in detail regarding the soil of individual farms. He will, however, 
 undertake to define these soil types in such a way that every man of agricul- 
 tural intelligence will be able to recognize and name any type on his or any 
 other farm in the state. Dr. Coffey, who is to address you tomorrow, will 
 tell you more in regard to this soil survey work. 
 
 * Since the above statement was made a cooperation with the U. S. D. A. 
 Bureau of _ Soils has been arranged whereby the survey will be completed within 
 the year 1912. 
 
 The State Topographical Survey. 
 
 This completes the preparatory or foundation surveys which we have already 
 launched in the Department of Co-operation. We shall, however, be greatly 
 assisted by the work of other institutions. Probably the most important of 
 these is the State Topographic Survey. I wonder if many of our people know 
 that the State of Ohio, in co-operation with the national government, is carrying 
 forward at a greater pace than any other state in the Union, a most remark- 
 able survey of the state, on the basis of which they prepare maps which may be 
 purchased at 5 ceats per area, about the size of a county, on which are shown 
 accurately among other things the location of the streams, roads, lanes, farm: 
 buildings, churches, schoolhouses and, by contour lines, the approximate eleva- 
 tion of every point in the area. If you will all procure a map of the area in 
 which you live or of those in which you are interested, we are sure that you will 
 join us in urging that the state continue its appropriation of .$25,000 per year, 
 or increase it for that matter, so that the surveys may be entirely completed not 
 later than 1916. We certainly wish that they were all done now. We need 'them 
 badly in our work. Mr. C. E. Sherman, who is Professor of the college of 
 Civil Enginnering of the Ohio State University, is, by appointment of the gov- 
 ernor, the State Inspector in charge of this work. The water power survey of 
 the state which we understand Mr. Sherman is arranging to make, will be of 
 much value to farmers if they awake to the situation in time to see that this 
 power is conserved to their use. The road survey which has been made by the 
 State Highway Commission we have also found of special value in our field 
 
 A Country Life Survey Needed. 
 
 Another class of surveys which we hope to see taken up very shortly are 
 those which bear on the life which is lived by country people. It has been said, 
 and we believe wisely, that the most valuable farm product is boys and girls 
 who will grow into thoughtful, steadfast citizens. We may make the farms of 
 Ohio profitable, a good place to live from a financial standpoint, but if we do 
 not make the farm homes good homes and the rural communities good com- 
 munities in which to raise boys and girls to manhood and womanhood, our work 
 may well be called a failure. The Rural Life Survey should go hand in hand 
 with the Farm Practice, Farm Management and Rural Economic Survey. Some 
 of the work which we have already taken up will have a bearing on these rural 
 life surveys, but we certainly hope that other institutions will throw the vast 
 resources of their organizations into the leadership of work of this character 
 in order that what little we do of it may, under their guidance, be well directed. 
 
 The Rural Church Problem. 
 
 Recognizing as we do the very great possibilities, perhaps largely unde- 
 veloped, of the country church as an instrument to solve this rural problem, 
 especially in evolving rural communities and developing rural leadership, we feef 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 6b 
 
 quite fortunate in having been able last September, to make tentative arrange- 
 ments with a man of national reputation to conduct a church and rural life 
 survey of the state this coming summer. If it is agreeable to all the church and 
 other interested organizations, and a conference to determine this has been 
 called for next Saturday, Dr. Warren H. Wilson, whom many of you heard at 
 the Rural Life meetings at the National Corn Show last winter will undertake, 
 with the support of his organization and any others that may be available, to 
 put in the field next summer a large force of men to determine with exactness 
 the conditions which exist in rural Ohio. 
 
 The records of the State Board of Agriculture show that in more than a 
 fifth of the townships of the state there are unused churches and that in a much 
 larger number of townships the church attendance is not so good as it was 
 10 or 15 years ago. (See Figs. 22 and 23.) This being true, it seems very de- 
 sirable that we secure the assistance of a religious organization led by a finely 
 trained minister of administrative ability such as Dr. Wilson, and supported by 
 all the church and agricultural organizations of the state, to try to learn why 
 it is true and then to determine the means of turning the tide in the proper 
 direction. Let us hope that nothing will happen to prevent this church and rural 
 life survey being started the coming summer and that it will be but the begin- 
 ning of extensive surveys of this character to be made within our boundaries. 
 
 Profitable Farming Fundamental. 
 
 But to turn again for a moment to the financial problem of the farm, for 
 we must all agree that much as a fine rural community is desired, there is no 
 possibility of developing such unless we have a stable financial condition on which 
 to found it. Is it going to be necessary to await the completion of all these 
 surveys before we can begin to be of financial assistance to the farmers? Is 
 there not something we can do in the meantime? We have no sympathy what- 
 ever with the pleas of those who would ask that the country boy and girl shall 
 stay on the farm exclusively for the sake of the farm, the rural community, 
 the state and the nation. While we would like to see every bright, honest boy 
 who has been reared on the farm have developed within him such a love for 
 the farm that he would remain there, surely you will all agree with me that 
 such boys cannot be expected to stay there unless they are convinced that life 
 there will be fuller for them, that it will have greater possibilities for them, 
 than elsewhere; and surely you will all agree further that unless they can see 
 possibilities of at least a reasonable financial competence there, they will never as 
 a rule develop that feeling of love for the farm and the rural community which 
 is necessary to keep them there; that indeed they should not even be expected 
 to do so. What then, I say, can we do before the completion of these surveys 
 to help solve the financial difficulties of the farm? 
 
 The Present Status of the Work. 
 
 In the first place, these surveys are further advanced than may be realized. 
 The statistical surveys, as you will remember, are many of them ready for use 
 right now. Indeed, some of them were used as long ago as 1910 in connection 
 with the state-wide study of alfalfa. Before spring Dr. Coffey will have avail- 
 able a report of his soil reconnaissance on the basis of which, and with the 
 advantage of special field instruction by him, field investigators may expect to 
 work quite accurately on problems in connection with which the soil is to be con- 
 sidered. 
 
 For example, there is no reason whatever why a man should not start at 
 once on the basis of farmers' experience throughout the state, to determine the 
 5 ad, bd. agr. 
 
66 ADDRESSES 
 
 relation of tile drainage to the different soil types and crop production thereon. 
 On some soil types drainage may not pay at all, while on others it does pay 
 remarkably; some may require the tile much closer together, or, on the other 
 hand, permit them much farther apart than on the average. Having secured 
 this information an investigator could tell with a reasonable certainty whether 
 or not and how, it would be profitable to tile-drain any given farm. 
 
 Again, on the basis of this soil information and that derived from the climatic 
 and weather survey which is now available it would be entirely possible for a 
 field investigator to determine to a reasonable certainty regarding the sections 
 in which potatoes may be grown to the best advantage and to give very accurate 
 advice regarding this and the different methods of handling the crop under the 
 different soil and climatic conditions that obtain in the state. These and dozens 
 of other farm practice and farm management studies for which we already have 
 plans, some of which will be mentioned to you by Dr. Coffey in his address 
 regarding soils tomorrow, will be taken up just as fast as funds and men are 
 available. ^^ 
 
 In this connection I would say it is our hope that the other Departments 
 of the Experiment Station will furnish men to take up agricultural survey 
 work in connection with problems related to their regular departmental 
 work. Indeed, we are thoroughly convinced that many of them, as also sim- 
 ilar Departments of all Experiment Stations, will eventually see the absolute 
 necessity of doing just such work as this before daring to try to interpret the 
 results of their experiments to the mass of the people of the state. 
 But, in the event they fail to do so, we shall not hesitate to go ahead just as 
 fast as possible.- Within the past week Director Thorne has asked us to con- 
 duct such an investigation regarding the use of manure, commercial fertiHzers 
 and lime, and we shall undertake to do so. We have already started a corn 
 investigation of this character. We feel that there is no reason why the mass 
 of co-operalive and private experiments which have been made all over the 
 state, under a hundred different conditions, may not now be studied in the light 
 of the information which will be available this coming year regarding Ohio's 
 soil, climate and the history of her agriculture, and conclusions be deduced 
 therefrom which will be of the greatest value to the general farming public. 
 
 A GENERAL SOIL SURVEY OF OHIO. 
 
 By George N. Coffey^ 
 Department of Co-operation, Ohio Experiment Station. 
 
 Mr. President, Gentlemen of the Board of Agriculture, and Gentlemen: 
 
 It is indeed a pleasure to have the honor of addressing the members of 
 the State Board of Agriculture, — an organization which, under the leadership 
 of its pushing, hard-working and efficient Secretary, is doing so much to advance 
 the cause of agriculture in this good State of ours. 
 
 *'A Boost for Ohio.'" 
 
 On the front of the program our Secretary suggested that this meeting be 
 made "a boost for Ohio." We believe in boosting Ohio. All of us ought to do 
 more of it. But at the same time we should not forget to work, else our 
 boosting may simply become boasting. We wish to present to you a new line 
 of work which we are undertaking, one which is essential to the proper conduct 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 67 
 
 of many lines of agricultural investigation. And we believe that such work 
 can be legitimately classed as "a boost for Ohio." We hope that we may at 
 least be considered as among the men behind the guns when the shots are fired. 
 In coming here to work with you for the upbuilding of agriculture I do 
 not come as an entire stranger, for almost the first soil work which I ever did, 
 aside from that on the farm, was to assist in the making of a soil survey of 
 Montgomery County, Ohio. Later, when as a member of the Bureau of Soils 
 of the United States Department of Agriculture, I was given charge of its classi- 
 fication and correlation work in the entire country, I had occasion to make 
 several visits to this state. Since taking up my work with the Experiment 
 Station last July I have been able to see something of every county in the State 
 except five, and it is our purpose to continue the work until we have taken a 
 complete inventory of our soil resources. What we have already seen is suffi- 
 cient to convince any one of the immense resources and agricultural possibilities 
 of this state. 
 
 Great Resources Alone do not Make a State Great. 
 
 But did you ever consider, gentlemen, that the possession of great natural 
 resources in itself has never yet made a state rich and powerful? Were not all 
 of these advantages, which we now enjoy, here for thousands of years before 
 Columbus braved the winds and waves of the Atlantic to get a sight of a new 
 and better land? Prosperity and power come only when a people make use of 
 the advantages and resources which a beneficent Providence has placed before 
 them or underneath them. Their proper development, however, requires a great 
 deal of perseverance, of energy and of downright hard work. Yet, it requires 
 all of these and more. The energy must be expended along the proper channels 
 or no good may be accomplished. 
 
 I was standing at the depot the other day waiting for a train and was very 
 much interested in watching a freight engine which was on the other track. It 
 was standing still, but from it was rushing with a great deal of noise a large vol- 
 ume of steam. A little later I saw the engineer take hold of the throttle, give it 
 two or three light pulls, the wheels began to revolve, the engine moved down the 
 track, carrying with it a long line of heavily laden cars. Apparently no more 
 energy was being expended than before. Why the difference? Because the 
 trained hand of the engineer had directed the energy into the channels where 
 it would produce work instead of going to waste. 
 
 Object of ^ Agricultural Organizations. 
 
 Only a few years ago the commercial world was startled by the announce- 
 ment that one of our great corporations was to pay its manager a salary of a 
 million dollars a year. In agriculture, as well as other lines of business, the 
 value of trained direction is being appreciated more and more every year. The 
 recognition of this principle led to the organization of a national Department 
 of Agriculture, of State Departments of Agriculture, of State Agricultural Col- 
 leges and Experiment Stations and various other institutions, the object of which 
 is to find out and advise the farmer as to the lines along which his energy can 
 be most profitably expended; to help him determine, among other things, how 
 best to use and not abuse our most valuable resource, — the soil. 
 
 A Knowledge of the Soil Necessary. 
 
 Since all soils are not alike, are not adapted to the same kind or va- 
 riety of crop, do not require the same kind of fertilization or cultural treat- 
 ment, as will be brought out more clearly later, these organizations have been 
 
68 ADDRESSES 
 
 greatly hampered in their work by a lack of definite knowledge as to the char- 
 acter of the soil in the different sections with which they have to do. With- 
 out such knowledge definite advice is often impossible or, if given, may not 
 apply. In order, therefore, to furnish this information there has been organ- 
 ized what is known as the soil survey, the primary object of which is to se- 
 cure a knowledge of the character and properties of the soil in any given area. 
 Such a survey is novv being conducted by the Ohio Experiment Station as a 
 part of the great Agricultural Survey which it is making of this State. 
 
 A Soil Reconnaissance. 
 
 During the summer we have made a soil reconnaissance of a large part 
 of the State and have secured much information in regard to the character of 
 the soil in different sections. This work, however, is preliminary to the making 
 of a general soil survey, including a map which will show all the larger areas 
 of the most important soil types of the State. In making this survey we shall 
 not endeavor to show the location of all the numerous small areas of the 
 different types, because experience has shown that this is expensive both in re- 
 gard to time and money. We hope, however, to be able to describe the types 
 found in each township in the State in such a way that the farmer himself can 
 recognize them. 
 
 Two Questions Asked. 
 
 In the conduct of soil survey work there are two questions which we are 
 asked over and over again; first, "What are you doing?" and second, "What 
 are you doing it for?" I might add that there is a third question which often 
 precedes either of the others and that is, "How much do you get for doing it?" 
 Since you gentlemen are connected with agricultural work in the state, I am 
 sure that you realize that we do not get enough to make us millionaires and shall 
 therefore consider it not necessary to discuss further this last question. We 
 are willing to admit, however, that our salary is a little more than that of the 
 members of the State Board of Agriculture. The other two questions, I do 
 want to discuss, and to explain to you in some detail the nature of the work 
 which we are carrying on, to state some of the benefits which will accrue there- 
 from. Let us therefore consider first the question of "What are you doing?" 
 I want you gentlemen to know so that if you see a man with an auger boring 
 a hole in your field you will understand what he is doing and not think that 
 he is boring either for gold, oil, or gas, although he may get gold for boring 
 and may make a lot of gas over what he has done. 
 
 The Soil Survey Defined. 
 
 .A soil survey consists in examining the soils in the field, in order to de- 
 termine the different kinds of types, in studying their origin, processes of 
 formationv and various obvious properties and characteristics, in the writing of 
 a report describing these different types, and in showing on a map, by means 
 of color or otherwise, the location of the different soils so far as this is 
 practicable. In brief, it is taking an inventory of our soil resources. 
 The soil survey will give us information in regard to the different kinds or 
 types of soil, just as the Geological Survey has furnished us with a knowledge 
 of the different geological formations. By means of the soil auger it is possible 
 to secure a sample of both soil and subsoil down to any desired depth, for the 
 purpose of studying its various characteristics. In usual practice it is only 
 necessary to exiamine the soil to a depth of three feet in order to determine 
 the type to which it belongs, although it is always well to secure all obtainable 
 information in regard to the character of the material at greater depths. It is 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 69 
 
 often possible to get a very good idea of the character of the underlying material 
 ~ty means of road cuts and ditches. If such are not available it may be neces- 
 sary to make deeper borings by means of extensions to the regular soil auger. 
 
 What is the Soil? 
 
 In undertaking such a survey it is well to remember that the soil is not 
 simply broken-down rock. This degenerated rock must have been acted up- 
 on by life in some form or other; must contain some organic matter -before it 
 can be considered as a true soil. It is not mere dead, inert matter. It is full 
 of life and various changes are constantly taking place. It is an independent 
 natural body, a bio-geological formation, differing essentially from the rocks 
 which underlie it, although closely related to them. It is the one great forma- 
 tion in which the organic and inorganic kingdoms meet and derives its distinctive 
 . character from this union. 
 
 The Factors upon which Classification is Based. 
 
 Since the soil survey is necessarily conducted in the field, the classification, 
 which is made, must be based upon those factors, or obvious differences, which 
 are there detectable, although the field examination should be followed up with 
 laboratory studies to determine other factors or properties which cannot be de- 
 cided upon in the field. We will, therefore, review rather briefly some of the 
 factors or characteristics which we must consider in making a field classifica- 
 tion or separation of the soil; or in other words, in determining whether the soil 
 on your farm is like that on your neighbor's farm. In fact, the soil surveyor 
 uses many of the same evidences of differences in soils that the farmers do. 
 His more careful training, however, enables *,him to detect differences more 
 quickly and interpret their meaning more accurately. 
 
 One of the most important of these factors is that of origin. In this 
 term are included not only the kind of rock from which the soil is derived, 
 together wth the agencies or processes which were concerned in the forma- 
 tion of this rock, but also the various processes of weathering that change 
 the underlying formation from mere rock into actual, cultivatable soil. All 
 of you, especially those who are from the western half of the State, know 
 that the black soils are found in low places where swampy conditions for- 
 merly existed. The underlying material .is exactly the same on the higher 
 areas where the lighter-colored soils occur, the black color being due to an 
 accumulation of organic mater under poor drainage conditions. Such dif- 
 ference are often of greater importance than those due to variations in the 
 character of the underlying rock, and this is one of the principal reasons why 
 a soil map and a geological map are not the same. Let me see if I can bring 
 out a. little more clearly just exactly what I mean. 
 
 When I was a boy I took part in the debates which were held in connec- 
 tion with our country school. I recall that one of the most heated discussions 
 we ever had was upon the subject whether man is more the product of heredity 
 or environment, and some of us at least thought that we had the question settled 
 for all time; but it bobs up again every little while, so we must have been mis- 
 taken. To apply this to soil, I would say, that the differences due to the influ- 
 ence of the rock represent heredity, while those brought about by the processes 
 of weathering correspond to environment. We can no more determine the char- 
 acter of a soil from a study of the rocks alone than we can that of a man from 
 a study of his ancestors. 
 
70 ADDRESSES 
 
 Kind of Underlying Rock an Important Consideration. 
 
 We must not fail, however, to consider the kind of rock from which the 
 soil has been formed, for this has an important influence in determining its 
 nature. In this state it is especially important to know whether the soil is 
 derived from limestone or whether it is derived from sandstone and shale. 
 This is due to the influence which the rock has in determining the 
 amount of lime which will be found in the soil. Other things being equal 
 a soil formed from a limestone will always have more lime than one derived 
 from sandstone and shale. A great many people, however, rfiake the mistake 
 of assuming that a soil formed from limestone necessarily has a large amount 
 of lime in it, which is not always the case, especially in the surface soil. 
 This is due to the fact that lime is very soluble in carbonated rain water and 
 may be practically all leached out; in fact, so nearly all of it may be removed 
 through leaching that we may have an acid soil formed from a limestone. 
 
 In our studies last summer in the western half of the state, where the glacial 
 drift is composed very largely of ground-up limestone, we found that the sub- 
 soil, within three feet of the surface, would often effervesce, when treated with 
 hydrochloric acid, showing the presence of a large amount of lime. Very seldom, 
 however, would such effervescence take place within 18 inches of the surface 
 while the surface soil usually gave an acid reaction. In the eastern half of the 
 State where the soils are derived very largely from sandstone and shale there 
 was very seldom any effervescence even in the subsoil, indicating a rather low 
 lime content. Some limestone layers, however, occur throughout the south- 
 eastern part of the State and it is necessary to be on the lookout for these as 
 their influence is shown by an increased productiveness in the soil. In fact, one 
 must know the character of the underlying rocks in order to understand the 
 various peculiarities of the soils. . In this part of our work the geological maps 
 will be of much assistance to us. 
 
 How the Soil was Made. 
 
 It is also important to understand the processes of formation and the differ- 
 ences which may have resulted from a variation in these processes. Mention 
 has already been made of the formation of black soils under swampy conditions. 
 Those of you who are familiar with the conditions in Brown, Clermont, Hamil- 
 ton, southwestern Clinton, western Highland or southern Warren counties know 
 of the "white soils" which are found on the level areas there, as well as in some 
 other sections of the State. You have doubtless noted that these "white soils" 
 do not occur where the surface is rolling. Their formation is due to certain 
 process which have gone on under intermittent wet and dry or stagnant water 
 conditions. If the surface is not sufficiently level for the water to stand several 
 days after a rain these processes are not brought about and the "white soil" 
 is not formed. 
 
 The Size of the Soil Particles. 
 
 Another very important property of the soil, which must be considered in 
 making our classification, is that of texture. By this we mean the relative pro- 
 portion of the particles of various sizes which determine whether the soil shall 
 be called a sand, a loam, a clay or some intermediate class. The texture is the 
 most important physical property of the soil because of the important influence 
 which it has upon the water-holding capacity and cultural properties. Through 
 constant practice one may become very expert in judging of textural differences. 
 In order, however, to secure the greatest uniformity in this classification, samples 
 are collected and mechanical analyses made in the laboratory in order to furnish 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 71 
 
 a check on a man's field judgment. We find this necessary because of the differ- 
 ences in different men as to what constitutes a loam or clay. You gentlemen 
 may not realize it but this difference is very marked among farmers themselves. 
 In sections where there are large areas of sand a sandy loam with a clay sub- 
 soil will be called a clay, but where the surrounding soils are largely heavy clays 
 the same sandy loam will be termed a sandy soil. This makes some standard 
 necessary in order that we may know whether we are using these terms with the 
 same meaning. It is of course necessary to determine the texture of both soil 
 and subsoil as well as the character of the underlying material. You can readily 
 understand that it will make a great deal of difference whether the substratum 
 consists of gravel or clay. In the first case the drainage will be excessive, par- 
 ticularly where the gravel came near the surface, while in the latter it will be 
 very poor and especially so where the clay is of an impervious nature. 
 
 Color an Important Consideration. 
 
 One of the most obvious physical properties of the soil, one which has been 
 used by practical farmers as an index of its character from time immemorial, 
 is that of color. "Black soils," "red soils," "gray soils," "brown soils," "white 
 soils," etc., are terms in very common use. In itself color may be of very 
 little importance but as an indicator of physical and chemical conditions it is of 
 the greatest moment. The practical argriculturist will no more class together 
 soils markedly dissimilar in color than the ethnologist will consider a white man 
 and a black man as belonging to the same race. 
 
 Observations have shown that certain properties of the soil are asso- 
 ciated with certain color characteristics. A black color has come to be al- 
 most synonymous to productiveness. If the soil in the level, rather poorly 
 drained but not swampy places in your fields have turned white it is one of 
 the best evidences that I know of the need of lime. So far as my rather wide 
 observations have extended I have never seen these "white soils" formed in the 
 presence of a large amount of lime. Their occurrence is therefore very strong 
 evidence of the need of lime not only in the "white soils" but in the other soils 
 formed from the same character of material. For reasons like this the color 
 is of the very greatest value to the soil surveyor. By its use it is often pos- 
 sible to detect chemical differences which the most refined methods of chem- 
 ical analysis are as yet unable to explain. 
 
 Arrangement of the Soil Particles. 
 
 One must also consider the structure of the soil, or the arrangement of 
 the particles of which it is composed. We want to know whether a soil is open 
 and porous or whether it is compact and impervious, whether it is loose and 
 granular and easy to cultivate or whether it runs together and is difficult to 
 work. Such information is necessary in order to know whether a soil here is 
 similar to that in another place 
 
 The Relation of Soil to Native Vegetation. 
 
 Since the object of the soil survey work is to secure knowledge which will 
 help us to understand better the relation of the soil to plant growth, one must not 
 forget to make a study of the native vegetation and various crops, as this will 
 often give an indication of differences*which it would not be possible to detect 
 otherwise. It is sometimes easy to trace the line of separation between two soils 
 by the difference in the vegetation. The presence of certain trees like the chestnut 
 and sourwood are indicative of an acid condition of the soil; while a luxuriant 
 
72 ADDRESSES 
 
 growth of leguminous plants usually indicates that the soil is not in need of lime. 
 While the origin, texture, structure, color, amount and condition of organic 
 matter, native vegetation and crop yields are the most important factors to be 
 considered in making a survey of the soils, any other- differences which have any 
 apparent influence upon the growth of plants must not be overlooked. 
 
 How THE Soil Survey Work is Performed. 
 
 Having in mind these various factors the soil surveyor goes over an area, 
 examines the soil, determines the different types or kinds and indicates as far as 
 practicable on his map the location of areas of similar soils. He studies the 
 peculiarities of each and every type, makes full notes of his observations, so that 
 when his work is completed we will have a careful description of the various 
 soils found in the area which he has covered. We hope in the course of a few 
 years to have such a survey of the entire state of Ohio. 
 
 A Knowledge of Soils Fundamental to Intelligent 
 Agricultural Investigation. 
 
 This leads us to a consideration of our second question, "What are you 
 doing it for?" What will be the value of this work? 
 
 It has already been stated that the primary object of a soil survey is to 
 furnish information in regard to the character of the soil. Is not a knowl- 
 edge of the soil as fundamentally important to the agriculturist, as a knowl- 
 edge of drugs is to a physician or a knowledge of rocks to a geologist? 
 One great need in agricultural work today is a more general recognition of 
 the individuality of soils, a fuller realization of the true meaning of soil dif- 
 ferences. Much valuable time and money have been wasted trying to draw 
 conclusions from experiments conducted upon entirely dissimilar soils. Many 
 of the contradictory and seemingly inexplicable results obtained by different 
 investigators, or even by the same investigator, are undoubtedly due to funda- 
 mental soil differences which would have been evident from a comparative 
 field examination. It is really amusing sometimes to read the heated dis- 
 cussions in which scientific men allow themselves to indulge because they do 
 not secure the same results from similar experiments. If they would only 
 stop and determine the nature of the soils upon which their experiments 
 were made they might understand the cause of the difference and be less sur- 
 prised at the results. Hilgard, than whom this country has never produced 
 a greater soil investigator, has said, "The history of plat experiments shows 
 so common and unpardonable neglect on the part of experimenters to ascer- 
 tain definitely the fundamental, physical and chemical conditions that their 
 general unsatisfactoriness is easily accounted for on that score alone."* The 
 failure to recognize that the results secured upon one type of soil do not 
 necessarily hold true for another, is responsible, in some measure at least, 
 for the distrust which farmers have often shown toward the work of scien- 
 tific investigators. You are told that a certain method of cultivation, cer- 
 tain varieties of crops, certain kinds of fertilizers, etc., will give the best 
 results. You go home and try these but the yields are not what you expect- 
 ed. Why? Because the soil, or other conditions, on your farm are entirely 
 different from that upon which your adviser's experiments were conducted. 
 
 Each Soil Type Should be Studied Separately. 
 
 It is often possible to learn something of a man's opinion about a ques- 
 tion by consulting his friends, but it is not safe to depend upon them entire- 
 
 * Agricultural Science, Vol. 6, p. 327. 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 73 
 
 ly for information, else we may be misled. The man himself and he alone 
 can give definite and positive knowledge in regard to what he thinks. So 
 with soils. Each type must be questioned separately and individually. The 
 answer given may then be safely recommended for a similar soil but may 
 not apply upon one of an entirely different character. This fact has been 
 clearly recognized by Director Thorne and others and has led to the estab- 
 lishment of sub-Stations in different parts of the state and also to the enact- 
 ment of a law permitting each county to have an individual County Test 
 Farm. And may I add here, gentlemen, that if any of you have anything to 
 do with selecting one of these farms, you endeavor to ' secure one rep- 
 resenting the most extensive and important type of soil in the county. If 
 there are two or more types of about equal extent and an adjoining county 
 has a test farm upon one of these, put yours on another type, so that the two 
 will be of mutual benefit. If two or more counties will work together in 
 this matter it will be possible to have these farms on all the important soil 
 types in the state. Above all don't accept a farm upon which the soil is so 
 mixed that it is impossible to secure an area large and uniform enough for 
 experimental purposes. 
 
 But there are some people who do not appreciate the truth of some of 
 the statements which have just been made. They do not realize that the differ- 
 ence in the soil has very much to do with the variety of a crop, for example, 
 vhich will do the best on your farm. It is well, therefore, that we look into 
 this question and see what evidence there is to support these statements. 
 
 Plants Adapt themselves to their Environment. 
 
 Everyone admits the great influence of environment upcJn both animals and 
 plants. In fact, this influence is so important that one of the great philosophers 
 has defined life as a correspondence with environment. We all recognize that 
 we cannot do our best work when out of harmony with our surroundings. This 
 is as true of plants as of men. 
 
 In the Year Book of the Department of Agriculture for 1908 Professor 
 Woods, who is now Director of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, 
 says, that "As far as they are able plants vary and adjust themselves to their 
 environment. Under natural conditions only those survive which can modify their 
 habits of growth so as to make a successful resistance to destructive influences 
 and propagate their kind. The rest die. The longer a species or variety grows 
 under a given set of conditions the better each generation bcomes adapted to grow 
 and reproduce under these conditions. * * * Selected seed of crops grown un- 
 der severe limiting conditions will as a rule give good results the first year when 
 grown under conditions less severe. The second generation, however, begins to 
 vary and break up, and unless careful attention is practiced the crop soon becomes 
 very unsatisfactory. * * * The great importance of selecting and growing seed 
 under the conditions under which the future crop must be grown is now apparent. 
 Careful experiments and the experience of careful growers have abundantly dem- 
 onstrated the truth of these facts presented. Seed breeders and growers especially 
 must give attention to these points." 
 
 Plants Should be Assoilated as well as Acclimated. 
 
 While the influence of environment upon the growth of plants is now 
 generally admitted, many fail to realize that this environment consists of 
 two parts: an above-ground or climatic environment and an underground or 
 soil environment. Although the influence of climate upon the growth and 
 distribution of plants has long been recognized, the effect of a change from 
 
74 ADDRESSES 
 
 one kind of soil to another has been given much less consideration. We all 
 Wnow that we cannot grow oranges, pineapples, bananas or cotton in Ohio 
 and that buckwheat, rye, oats and some other crops will not do well in trop- 
 \cal regions, but how many of us realize the important change in the soil en- 
 vironment to which we are asking a plant to adapt itself when we take it 
 from a deep sand, for example, and place it on a heavy clay? 
 
 After a discussion of this subject with a gentleman who is recognized 
 as one of the pioneers and leaders in plant breeding, he said "I have known 
 ^or a long time that you must keep a plant within the same environment, else 
 the good results secured from breeding would be lost, but I never had it con- 
 nected up so closely with soils before." Now I would not seek to minimize 
 the importance of climatic environment, but I do wish to emphasize the in- 
 fluence of the soil environment because it seems to me that the part it plays 
 is not fully appreciated. We all recognize that it is necessary for a plant 
 to become acclimated, but how many of us realize that it is necessary for it 
 to become associated also, if I may coin this expression. 
 
 Different Soils are Adapted to Different Crops. 
 
 That some soils are better adapted to certain crops than other soils is being 
 more and more appreciated every year. The selection of the peat and muck soils 
 for the production of celery and onions gives one of the best examples, which we 
 have in this State of the special adaption of a particular kind of soil to certain 
 crops. Attempts to grow sugar beets on the Wooster soil have been a failure, but 
 on the dark, heavy soil of the county test farm at Paulding are proving very suc- 
 cessful. Other examples, which I need not mention here, will doubtless occur to 
 all of you. 
 
 Our knowledge of the adaption of soils to particular crops or varieties is 
 as yet incomplete and is doubtless resulting in the loss of thousands of dollars 
 to the farmers of the State. Such knowledge, however, cannot be obtained until 
 we know what kind of soil we have in different parts of the State and have made 
 a study of the crops best suited to them. 
 
 Crop Varieties in their Relation to Soil Types. 
 
 Not only are different soils adapted to different crops but they are also 
 suited to different varieties of the same crop. 
 
 There is no place where the influence of the soil can be studied so satisfac- 
 torily as in the greenhouse, for here temperature, moisture and fertilization are 
 under control and can be manipulated to suit the will of the experimenter, but 
 fundamental soil differences cannot be entirely eliminated by any amount of fer- 
 tilization or manipulation. Other factors being under control, the influence of 
 the soil can be definitely determined. Some florists have found it utterly 
 impossible to compete with other growers in the production of certain varieties 
 of violets, for example, although they may be more successful with other varieties. 
 No satisfactory explanation has been offered to account for this except that it 
 is due to some inherent quality in the soil which makes it impossible to duplicate 
 the results upon any other than the one used. 
 
 A Lesson from a Study of Corn Varieties. 
 
 For several years the Experiment Station has been carrying on corn 
 variety tests in cooperation with members of the Ohio Corn Improvement 
 Association and other farmers. In these tests the check plats were always 
 home grown seed. All the leading varieties grown in the State were included 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 75 
 
 in the tests, although the same varieties were not always grown on the same 
 field. By taking the average of all the varieties, where the seed was grown 
 elsewhere than on the farm, and comparing this with the average of the 
 checks, which were planted with home-grown seed, it is possible to get 
 some idea of the influence of or adaptation to local conditions. An average 
 of 165 different tests located in all parts of the State, gave a yield of 1.7 bush- 
 els in favor of the checks or home-grown seed. When we consider that there 
 were, according to the Year Book of the United States Department of Agri- 
 culture, 3,960,000 acres of corn in Ohio in 1910, we can easily see that a dif- 
 ference in yield of only 1.7 bushels means several million dollars to the 
 farmers of this State. No clalim of absolute accuracy is made for these fig- 
 ures, but they enable us to appreciate the importance of the adaptation of 
 varieties to local conditions, among which the soil is probably the most im- 
 portant. 
 
 An Illinois Wheat Experiment. 
 
 Bulletin 121 of the Illinois Experiment Station reports the results of 
 variety tests of wheat. These were conducted in three sections of the state, 
 — northern, central and southern. The first two were located on a black 
 prairie silt loam of marked fertility; the last upon a white, very acid silt loam 
 of much lower agricultural value. As a result of three years' trial it is stated 
 that the Turkey Red variety stood first or among the very best upon the 
 black prairie soil, not only in Illinois but also in Iowa. However, upon the 
 light-colored soil this variety yielded 5.2 bushels per acre less than the Ful- 
 caster, a variety which had been grown on this soil for a number of years. 
 If these wheat variety tests had been conducted upon the "black soils" alone 
 and the Turkey Red, which proved to be the best yielding variety on these 
 soils, had been distributed to the farmers, situated upon the "white soils" in 
 southern Illinois, it would have resulted in the loss to them of approximately 
 one-third of their wheat crop; as the Turkey Red gave a yield of 11. 4 bushels 
 compared with an average of 16.6 for the Fulcaster. This experiment brings 
 out very forcibly the necessity for testing out the variety upon the soil upon 
 which it is to be sown. 
 
 It is very interesting to note in this connection that the Turkey Red wheat, 
 which gave the largest yield at the Illinois Experiment Station, is one of the 
 very poorest yielders on the Ohio Experiment Farm at Wooster. -This variety 
 has also been tried in North Carolina and Pennsylvania and has proved one of 
 the lowest yielders in both states. The only soils in this State upon which this 
 variety has given anything like a satisfactory yield are the black soils, which are 
 not very different from those in Illinois. 
 
 The Close Relation between the Tobacco Crop and the Soil. 
 
 None of our great crops has been so highly speciahzed as tobacco. The 
 demands of the trade have forced 'this upon the farmers. Tobacco does not go 
 upon the market simply as tobacco, but as smoking, chewing, filler and wrapper 
 tobacco. In other words, the quality of the leaf determines the' use to which 
 it will be put and this in turn depends very largely upon the character of the 
 soil. Bright yellow tobacco, which is used for smoking and cigarettes, cannot 
 be produced upon a heavy-textured soil and a single trial will be sufficient to 
 convince the most unconvincible farmer. It is soon discovered that the leaf 
 has become too thick and dark for this purpose. No such trade conditions, 
 however, exist in regard to wheat, cotton, corn, and oats. The principal . 
 thing vv^ith these crops is quantity rather than quality and the farmers generally 
 
76 ADDRESSES 
 
 (and I think I might safely say many of those who call themselves scientists 
 instead of farmers) have not appreciated the importance of securing the variety 
 adapted to their particular soils. 
 
 A Misguided Benefactor. 
 
 A few years ago a prominent banker in this State saw an account of a 
 variety of wheat which the Kansas Experiment Station had found to produce very 
 much larger yields than other varieties. Being desirous of helping the farmers in 
 his section he secured 25 bushels of this wheat at $2.00 per bushel and distributed 
 it among his farmer friends, but reaped a harvest of disappointment as the wheat 
 proved much inferior to home varieties. The black soils, which are more like 
 those in Kansas than any others in this State, where the only ones upon which the 
 yield was at all satisfactory. By the soil survey we want to help eliminate such mis- 
 takes as this; we want to show public spirited citizens like this banker the lines 
 along which their enthusiasm can be expended to advantage. 
 
 Similar illustrations could be supplied almost indefinitely, but these call 
 attention to the necessity of considering the soil factor in all variety or crop 
 adaptation studied. For if a variety, which is developed in a certain environ- 
 ment, will not do best when placed in different surroundings and if the soil 
 constitutes an essential part of this environment, then the change of a plant 
 from one soil to another may negative the good effects of years of patient 
 breeding. A knowledge of the character of the soil in different parts of the 
 State, therefore, becomes an essential and necessary corollary to a study of 
 variety adaptations. Such knowledge will be especially valuable in the plant- 
 ing of apples and other crops where years must elapse before returns are 
 secured and where a mistake means great loss of both time and money. 
 
 Soil Types and the Livestock Industry. 
 
 In Bulletin 222* of the Ohio Experiment Station is published the "results 
 of a study of the mineral nutrients in blue grass, from which it appears that 
 some blue-grass pastures in Ohio contains twice as high percentages of the mineral 
 nutrients as others, these differences being due to differences in the soils upon 
 which the grasses were grown. It is also shown that the content of blue-grass in 
 mineral nutrients may be very greatly increased by the use of fertilizers. There 
 is every reason to beHeve that the grass on a soil which is rich in lime and 
 phosphorus is a better food and will produce more bone especially, and also more 
 muscle and more milk, than grass grown on unfertile soils." In a recent bulletin of 
 the West Virginia Experiment Station* it is stated that "The success or failure 
 of any poultry enterprise depends to a large extent upon the character of the 
 soil upon which the poultry plant is located, for if the soil is too heavy and 
 tenacious there is a tendency for disease germs to accumulate to such an extent 
 that after a time the fowls become unthrifty and unprofitable." It would seem, 
 therefore, that a knowledge of the soil will be of much value to the raiser of 
 stock or other animals as well as of plants. 
 
 Different Soils Require Different Systems of Soil Management. 
 
 We have seen that the kind or variety of crop which a farmer can most 
 profitably grow depends to a certain extent at least upon the character of the soil. 
 It is just as necessary to consider these differences in connection with the meth- 
 ods of soil management which should be adopted. Whether to plow deep or 
 
 *Summary of Bulletin 222 as given by Director Thorne in the Thirteenth 
 Annual Report Ohio Ex. Sta. p. xxiii. 
 
 * Bulletin 135, West Virginia Experiment Station. 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. // 
 
 shallow, in the fall or in the spring, whether to turn under the clover crop or 
 cut it for hay, whether to apply the manure in the fall or in the spring, and 
 various other problems, depend to a very large extent upon the character of the 
 soil. 
 
 At the meeting of the American Society of Agronomy at Columbus last fall 
 Dr. Lipman, Director of the New Jersey Experiment Station, said that it was a 
 common practice among the farmers in certain sections of New Jersey to apply 
 the manure in the spring instead of hauling it out on the fields as fast as made, 
 the method pronounced best by practically all the experiment stations. An exam- 
 ination of the soils in the localities where this practice is common showed them 
 to be of a very sandy nature and leachy character and if the manure had been 
 hauled out in the fall a very large percentage of the fertility would have leached 
 out before it was needed by the crop the next season. On heavy soils such leaching 
 would not take place. This illustrates the necessity of adapting the methods of 
 soil management to the particular soil. 
 
 Profitable and Unprofitable Fertilization. 
 
 As our soils are becoming more and more depleted by exhaustive methods of 
 farming, the question of fertilization is becoming one of greater and greater im- 
 portance. All soils, however, do not respond equally to the same kind of fertil- 
 izers. Some need lime, some do not; some need phosphorus (most of our Ohio 
 soils probably do), some may not; many may not need potash, some undoubtedly 
 do; some need nitrogen, others have an abundance of this element. 
 
 At Wooster it is only necessary for one to observe the plots in order to see 
 the beneficial effect of lime upon this soil. At Germantown, however. Director 
 Thorne states * "that if lime has produced any effect thus far it has been to re- 
 duce the yield, but the work has not yet been continued long enough to afford con- 
 clusive evidence on this point. At Carpenter the effect of lime is less evident 
 than on the Wooster and Strongsville soils." Most farmers know that the applica- 
 tion of lime to a heavy clay makes it more porous and easily worked, while, under 
 the same treatment, a sand becomes more compact and retentive of moisture. 
 
 As an average of two five-year rotations, consisting of corn, oats, wheat, 
 clover and timothy, at Wooster and Strongsville, an application of 20 pounds 
 of phosphorus, 108 pounds of potassium and 114 pounds of nitrogen gave a 
 net profit of $7.36 per acre at Wooster and a loss of $2.01 at Strongsville. An 
 application of the same amount of phosphorus and potassium on another plot, 
 but 'jd instead of 114 pounds of nitrogen, gave a net profit of $12.04 per acre 
 at Wooster and of $1.64 at Strongsville. In a three-year rotation of corn, 
 wheat and; clover an application of 16 1-2 pounds of potash and of 25 1-3 pounds- 
 of nitrogen per acre, gave a net loss of 8 cents per acre at Germantown but a 
 gain of $1.07 per acre at Carpenter. An application of 6 2-3 pounds of nitro- 
 gen, 30 pounds of phosphorus, 33 pounds of potassium and 1000 pounds of 
 lime gave a net loss of 54 cents per acre at Germantown and a gain of $3.06 
 per acre at Carpenter. These results show that the application of a certain 
 kind of fertilizer may prove profitable on one soil and unprofitable on an- 
 other. A knowledge of the character of the soil is therefore necessary be- 
 fore anyone can advise most intelligently in regard to the use of fertilizers. 
 
 Why Doctors Disagree. 
 
 New York and Massachusetts have been carrying on experiments with fer- 
 tilzers on apple orchards for a number of years. As a result of the New York 
 experiments it is stated *'That the fertilizers have had no sensible effect upon the- 
 
 * Bulletin 182, p. 180, Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station. 
 
78 ADDRESSES 
 
 yield of fruit in this experiment." In Bulletin 100 of the Pennsylvania State 
 College and Agricultural Experiment Station is given the data in regard to 
 the Massachusetts experiment furnished by the Director of the Massachusetts 
 Experiment Station. It is here stated that "in every respect the treated plots have 
 proven superior to the untreated." A forthcoming report of the Ohio Experiment 
 Station will show that "the increase in fruit production of the mulched and fer- 
 tilized plots, as compared with those receiving no fertiHzation, has ranged from 
 200 to 1000 per cent, within eighteen months from the time of the first applica- 
 ,tion." One of our agricultural papers recently called attention to the different 
 conclusions reached by the first two experiments stations and raised the question 
 as to what the farmer is to do when authorities disagree. The soil upon which the 
 experiments were conducted are not the same and it seems to me that this fur- 
 nished the reason why such entirely different results were secured. The farmer, 
 therefore, must know which of the soils is like, or most like, that upon his 
 own farm before he can tell which experiments to follow. A soil survey will fur- 
 nish this information. 
 
 Why Chemical Analysis is Unsatisfactory. 
 
 The failure to recognize the importance of the differences in soil is one of 
 the probable reasons why no more satisfactory results have been secured from 
 chemical analyses. Chemists have tried to establish a standard that would apply 
 to all soils. Is this not too much like trying to produce a medicine that would 
 cure all diseases? We know that moisture in the soil is just as essential for the 
 growth of plants as the presence of phosphorus or potassium or nitrogen, but it is 
 not possible to establish a standard or optimum amount which will apply to all soils. 
 An amount which would give the largest growth to a plant on a sand would not be 
 sufficient to prevent its death on a heavy clay. Since this is true in regard to moist- 
 ure, may not be true in regard to other compounds also, although in a less 
 marked degree? The interpretation of the chemical analyses of soils in the past 
 ha?s been undertaken with practically no regard to the differences which are very 
 obvious in the field. The analysis of a sand has been compared with that of a 
 clay, although the two are about as unlike as two soils can be. It is very much to 
 me as if a man were to secure samples of a great many different kinds of grain, 
 analyze them and then endeavor to interpret their composition without first ascer- 
 taining whether he was analyzing corn, wheat, oats, rye or barley. 
 
 The Cart before the Horse. 
 
 A little more than three years ago I was invited to give a talk upon some 
 phase of soil work before the students of one of our largest and most progressive 
 universities. In the course of the address I tried to emphasize the importance of 
 the study of soils in the field. When I had finished the professor who had charge 
 of the soil work in that state said to me "You have taken exactly the opposite 
 view in regard to the study of soils from that along which we have been work- 
 ing. We have thought it best to collect samples from different sections of the 
 state, analyze them and study them in the laboratory, using the information there 
 obtained as an aid in reaching the proper basis on which to separate and classify 
 the soils. You would classify them upon obvious field differences and use the 
 laboratory as a means of explaining those differences which cannot be explained 
 from the field study alone, and the more I think about the matter the more I am 
 inclined to believe that you are right." I might add that the legislature of that 
 state is now appropriating $10,000 a year for the conduct of a soil survey. 
 
 * Bulletin No. 339, page 154, New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 79 
 
 The causes of the differences in the crop producing power of our soils 
 is certainly one of the most important, if not the most important, problems 
 with which our soil investigators have to deal. xA.fter many years of patient 
 investigation there are many things relating to this great problem about 
 which we know practically nothing. The classifying and mapping of the var- 
 ious types, together with a study of the conditions and processes under which 
 they have been formed, will furnish essential and invaluable data for the con- 
 duct of laboratory investigation. The field is Nature's great laboratory and 
 a study of her methods cannot fail to offer many valuable suggestions and in 
 some cases the only means of solving her problems. The field observation 
 or experiment can be used as check upon and as an aid in the interpretation 
 of laboratory investigations and as stated by Dr. Wheeler, Director of the 
 Rhode Island Station, "is a safe and necessary anchor with which to keep 
 the laboratory experimenter from being dashed against the rock of pure 
 speculation."* It is only through a combination of field and laboratory stud- 
 ies that an understanding of many of these fundamental and puzzling prob- 
 lems can be reached. 
 
 The Soil Survey a Fundamental Part of the Agricultural Survey. 
 
 The Experiment Station is now conducting an Agricultural Survey of this 
 Sti|te. It is not necessary for me at this time to explain in detail the character 
 of this work, as this has already been done by Professor Goddard, who knows a 
 great deal more about the subjest than I do. I will state briefly, however, 
 that it will embrace a historical study of the different classes of people, crops, 
 livestock and types of farming; the date of introduction, the rate of increase and 
 cause of the decline of each, if such exists. A circular has been issued showing 
 the centers of rural population, and the townships in which increases and decreases 
 have occurred. Another circular gives the centers of agricultural production, the 
 average yield per acre and shows the townships which produce the most wheat, 
 the most corn, the most oats, the most tobacco, the most alfalfa and other data. 
 A study of the reason for these differences will be made and a knowledge of the 
 soil is an essential factor in all such investigations. 
 
 Studies of the farm practice problems relating to selected individual crops 
 or enterprises will be taken up. Such a study of alfalfa has already been made, 
 and it was found that the character of the soil is one of the principal factors in 
 determining whether this crop can be grown successfully. 
 
 Farm Management Surveys for the purpose of securing all possible 
 information regarding investment, expenses, incomes, enterprises, rotations, 
 types of farming, etc., connected with each farm within an area, which has 
 been selected as typical of larger areas, are being made; more definite infor- 
 mation as to the exact cost of the production of farm crops is being secured; 
 studies and reports dealing with the methods of farm practice used on suc- 
 cessful farms in the state are being undertaken. All of these studies are of 
 great importance and will be of much value to the farmers of the State, but 
 you farmers must know whether the soil on the farms upon which such stud- 
 ies are conducted is similar to your own before you can be sure that it will 
 be best for you to adopt the methods found to be most profitable on some 
 other farm. By a determination and careful description of the soil types of 
 the State we expect to make it possible for every intelligent farmer to know 
 what type or types of soil he has on his place and thus be in a position to 
 use to best advantage the large amount of valuable data which is being se- 
 cured relating to various kinds of agriculture. 
 
 * Proceedings of the American Society of Agronomy, Vol. I, p. 44. 
 
80 ADDRESSES 
 
 What the Soil Survey Hopes to Accomplish. 
 
 There is nothing more vital to the well-being of a nation than agriculture and 
 nothing more vital to agriculture than the soil. Since this is true can there be 
 anything of greater importance than a thorough knowledge of the properties and 
 peculiarities of the numerous types of soils, together with an understanding of the 
 kinds and varieties of crops, the methods of soil management, the system of rota- 
 tion and farm management, the kind and amount of fertilization, best suited to 
 each individual type. 
 
 Don't understand me to claim, gentlemen, that the soil survey will in 
 itself answer all of these questions. We do believe that it is fundamental 
 work in that it will furnish the basis for the various lines of investigation 
 v\rhich are necessary to secure this information, and is therefore absolutely 
 essential to a proper solution of these problems. All these studies must be 
 made from the standpoint of the individual soil type if the best results are 
 to be secured. 
 
 It is not possible for the Experiment Station to conduct experiments 
 on every farm in the State. Such a course is entirely impracticable and un- 
 necessary. We do believe, however, that studies should be made on all the 
 important soil types so that we may know just what is best for each of these. 
 
 With a central experiment station, sub-stations, county test farms, cooperative 
 experiments with the farmers, and studies of the practices on individual farms 
 a great deal of data, pertaining to the requirements of each particular soil, can be 
 rapidly secured. In fact, a large amount of material has already been acquired. 
 
 With the knowledge and careful description of the soils, which will be secured 
 through the soil survey, we will be able, to determine pretty accurately what type 
 of soil occurs on any farm and thus be in a position to give much more definite 
 and positive advice than is now possible. We hope some day to be able to write 
 a prescription to fit your particular conditions, but we must know what those con- 
 ditions are before this can be done. One of the most important of these local 
 conditions is the soil and a knowledge of this is, therefore, an essential step in 
 the different lines of investigation which may make this possible. This knowl- 
 edge we expect to secure through the soil survey which we are just beginning. 
 When this survey, and the various lines of investigation with which it is proposed 
 to follow it up and of which it forms the basis are completed, we believe there 
 will have been accomplished something which will be of inestimable value to the 
 farmers of this State, a work which will help Ohio to keep in the very forefront 
 of agricultural production. 
 
 POSSIBLE CROP YIELDS IN OHIO. 
 
 By C. E. Thorne. 
 Director Experiment Station, Wooster, 0. 
 
 Ohiojs growing annually about 35 bushels of corn and about 14^^ bushels of 
 wheat per acre. This yield of wheat is less than half of that produced in England 
 and but little more than half the yield of France and Germany. Those countries 
 started 200 years ago with a yield smaller than the present yield of Ohio. Even 
 fifty years ago the yield in those countries was not so very much greater than the 
 present Ohio yield, but it has been brought up within the last half century to the 
 present figures largely through the application of scientific methods to the culti- 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 81 
 
 vation of the soil. That there is no good reason for the present low yield in 
 Ohio has been abundantly proven by the work which is in progress at the Exper- 
 riment Station. 
 
 In selecting land for this Station one farm was chosen which had been in cul- 
 tivation for three-fourths of a century, the last twenty-five years of that time under 
 tenant husbandry. The farm buildings consisted of a large stone house and an 
 excellent barn, such buildings as made Wayne county famous 25 years ago, and 
 which bore evidence to the fact that the land when first brought under cultiva- 
 tion had responded liberally to treatment; but the land itself, as shown when the 
 Station made its purchase, had been brought down to a very low state of pro- 
 ductiveness. Part of this land was an old timothy meadow, which had been 
 cropped and mown until little was left but weeds, and part a wheat stubble 
 which apparently had a similar history. On this land we located art experiment 
 in the cultivation of corn, oc"3, wheat, clover and timothy in a 5-year rotation, 
 five tracts of land being laid out in tenth-acre plots, each crop being grown every 
 season. In the first table accompanying is shown the arrangement of some of 
 these plots and their average yield per acre for the last 8 years, the experiment 
 having been in progress for 18 years. 
 
 TABLE I — Eight-year Average Yields of Crops Grown in 5- year Rotation 
 Yields and Values Per Acre. 
 
 Plot 10 
 Untreated 
 
 Plot 11 
 Fertilized 
 
 Plot IQ 
 Fertilized 
 
 Plot 13 
 Untreated 
 
 Corn — bushels 
 
 Oats — bushels 
 
 Wheat — bushels 
 
 Clover — pounds hay . 
 Timothy — • pounds h-ay 
 
 25.9 
 32.3 
 13.0 
 
 2090. 
 
 3074. 
 
 Average annual value 
 
 Average annual cost of fertilizer, 
 
 Average annual net value 
 
 Average annual net gain 
 
 $11.22' 
 
 Plot 16 
 Untreated 
 
 49.8 
 50.7 
 31.1 
 
 3986. 
 
 4543. 
 
 $20.78 
 
 4.70 
 
 16.08 
 
 4.88 
 
 Plot 17 
 Fertilized 
 
 40.5 
 48.5 
 31.2 
 
 4061. 
 
 4492. 
 
 27.1 
 31.9 
 12.9 
 
 2241. 
 
 3058. 
 
 $20.63 
 
 6.10 
 
 14.53 
 
 3.20 
 
 $11.33 
 
 Plot m 
 Manured 
 
 Plot 19 
 Untreated 
 
 Corn — bushels 
 
 Oats — bushels 
 
 Wheat — bushels 
 
 Clover — pounds hay ., 
 Timothy — pounds hay 
 
 Average annual value 
 
 Average annual cost of fertilizer. 
 
 Average annual net value 
 
 Average annual net gain 
 
 Net gain per ton of manure 
 
 25.2 
 31.0 
 12.0 
 
 2046. 
 
 2921. 
 
 50.4 
 54.0 
 28.4 
 
 4000. 
 
 4274. 
 
 58.9 
 46.8 
 30.2 
 
 5077. 
 
 5164. 
 
 28.4 
 31.9 
 13.7 
 
 2207. 
 
 3117. 
 
 $10.72 
 
 $20.38 
 
 3.50 
 
 16.88 
 
 6.16 
 
 $22.65 
 
 1.60 
 
 21.05 
 
 9.43 
 
 3.44 
 
 $11.62 
 
 The plots in these experiments are 16 feet wide by 272 feet long and are 
 separated by paths two feet wide. Every third plot has been left continuously 
 unfertilized and unmanured from the beginning of the experiment; otherwise all 
 have had the same treatment as to drainage and cultivation. The upper part 
 
 6* AD. BD. AGR. 
 
82 ADDRESSES 
 
 of the table shows the yields of Plots 10, 11, 12 and 13, Nos. 10 and 1<* being 
 unfertilized while Nos. 11 and 12 receive annually a large application of <i com- 
 plete commercial fertilizer, made up of nitrate of soda, acid phosphate and 
 muriate of potash, the fertilizers being distributed over the three cereal crops, 
 while the clover and timothy follow without any treatment. The total cost of 
 the treatment on Plot 11 is $23.50 for each five-year rotation, and that on Plot 
 12 is $30.50, the increased cost on Plot 12 being due to the use of a larger 
 quantity of nitrate of soda. These applications would be equivalent to an annual 
 expenditure of $4.70 for each of the five years on Plot 11, and $6.10 annually 
 on Plot 12. If we estimate corn at one-half dollar per bushel, oats at one-third 
 of a dollar, wheat at 90 cents and hay at $8.00 per ton, and throw in the extra 
 produce of stover and straw to balance the extra labor of applying the fertilizer 
 and harvesting the additional crops produced, the total annual value of the five 
 crops of the rotation produced on Plot 10 would amount to $11.22 per acre, 
 and that on Plot 13 to $11.33, while the values on Plots 11 and 12 would amount 
 to $20.78 and $20.63 respectively. Deducting from these the cost of the fertilizer, 
 we have a net value of $16.08 on Plot 11, and $14.53 on Plot 12. Subtracting 
 from these the value of the produce grown on the unfertilized plots alongside, 
 we have a net annual gain of $4.88 on Plot 11, and $3.20 on Plot 12. 
 
 The experiment indicates that we have used nitrogen excessively on Plot 
 12, and in order to study this point further we have four more plots, 16, 17, 18 
 and 19. Plots 16 and 19, like 10 and 13, have been left continuously unfertilized, 
 while 17 receives a fertilizer carrying half the quantity of nitrogen given to Plot 
 11 and about 50% more phosphorus, and 18 receives for every 5-year period 16 
 tons of open yard manure — 8 tons each on corn and wheat. The outcome is that 
 for the 8 years under consideration the value of the crops grown on Plot 16 
 has amounted to $10.72, and on Plot 13, to $11.62, while those grown on Plot 17 
 have amounted to $20.38, or only 40 cents less than on Plot 11, and the manured 
 plot has yielded an average value of $22.65. The fertilizers applied to Plot 17 
 have cost $3.50 annually, leaving a net value of $16.88, or a net gain over the 
 unfertilized plot of $6.16; that is, this combination of fertilizing materials applied 
 to Plot 17, at a cost of $17.50 for every 5-year period, or $3.50 annually, has been 
 paid for in the increase of crop with an average profit over and above its cost 
 of more than $6.00. Taking the manured plot and deducting $1.60 to balance the 
 extra labor of hauling and distributing the manure over and above the cost of 
 applying the fertilizer, we have a net gain per acre each year of $9.43, or a total 
 tiet gain of $46.00 for the 5-year period, to pay for 16 tons of manure, which 
 amounts to nearly $3.50 for each ton of manure. 
 
 The yields on the unfertilized plots in this experiment, for the period under 
 review, have been for corn less by about ten bushels per acre, and for wheat 
 less by about five bushels than the yields over Wayne county, thus showing that 
 the land under experiment is not above the average of Wayne county in natural 
 fertility; while the fertilized and manured yields in this test have been about 15 
 bushels per acre for corn and nearly as many bushels for wheat above the average 
 yields of the county. It will be seen therefore that on this very thin land we 
 have been able to bring up the yields of wheat to figures equal to the European 
 yields I have mentioned, and to do this by methods which have left a net gain 
 over and above the cost of treatment sufficient to pay a good rental on the land.. 
 ^ As I have stated, the manure used in this experiment has been open-yard 
 manure, which has been exposed to the weather for from 4 to 6 months before 
 applying to the land. We have believed from the start that such manure had 
 lost much of its value, but we wished to see what could be done with the ordi- 
 nary barnyard manure of the average Ohio farm. Another experiment, however, 
 is in progress at the Station, in which we are endeavoring to learn something as 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 83 
 
 to the loss which manure suffers when exposed in the open barnyard. This ex- 
 periment is on the same farm as the one just described, and is conducted on the 
 same general plan. In this experiment only three crops are grown in rotation — 
 corn, wheat and clover — and the manure is all applied to the clover sod during 
 the winter and spring, and plowed under for corn, the manure being used uni- 
 formly at the rate of 8 tons per acre. Plots 14 and 17 in this test have been 
 continuously unmanured, while Plot 15 has received manure which has lain in the 
 barnyard during winter, exposed to the weather, and has been hauled out and 
 spread on the land in April, and Plot 16 has received manure which has been 
 taken directly from the barn to the field, and dur-ing later years spread early in 
 the winter and allowed to lie until spring when all is plowed under together. 
 
 TABLE 2 — FoURTEEN-YEAR AvERAGE YiELDS OF CrOPS GrOWN in 3-YEAR ROTATION, 
 
 Yields and Values Per Acre. 
 
 
 Plot 14 
 Untreated. 
 
 Plot 15 
 Manured. 
 
 Plot 16 
 Manured. 
 
 Plot 17 
 Untreated. 
 
 C"'rn . bushels 
 
 30.5 
 10.7 
 2165. 
 
 50.6 
 20.1 
 30^0. 
 
 57.7- 
 211.6 
 3769. 
 
 35.9 
 
 W'^e-t, bushels 
 
 11.2 
 
 CiO , er, pounds hay 
 
 2437 
 
 
 
 Average annual value 
 
 $ia.io 
 
 $18.54 
 7.36 
 2.75 
 
 $21.13 
 9.55 
 3.20 
 
 $10.58 
 
 Averacje annual gain per acre 
 
 
 Averse e annual gain per ton manure.. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Plot 4 
 Untreated. 
 
 Plot 5 
 Manured. 
 
 Plot 6 
 Manured. 
 
 Plot 7 
 Untreated. 
 
 Corn bushels 
 
 45.3 
 10.3 
 2295. 
 
 66.0 
 20.4 
 3236. 
 
 67.5 
 20.6 
 3557. 
 
 52.3 
 
 Wheat bushels 
 
 10.1 
 
 Clover pounds hay 
 
 2292. 
 
 
 
 
 $11.33 
 
 $23.17 
 
 11.04 
 
 4.13 
 
 $2'5.00 
 
 13.35 
 
 5.00 
 
 $10.86 
 
 Average annual gain per acre 
 
 
 Average annual gain per ton manure.. 
 
 
 
 
 Table 2 gives some of the results of this test, and shows that in this test 
 the untreated yields have been practically the same as in the one previously 
 described. The total annual value on Plot 14 has amounted to $11.19, while that 
 on Plot 17, also unmanured, has amounted to $12.58, thus showing a slightly 
 greater irregularity between the untreated pbts than in the other experiment. 
 Compared with these values the crops grown on Plot 15 under yard manure have 
 given an average value of $18.54, and those on Plot 16 under fresh manure, of 
 $21.13, leaving an annual gain per acre for the yard manure of $7.35, and for the 
 fresh manure of $9.55, or $2.75 for each ton of yard manure, and $3.20 for each 
 ton of fresh manure. On Plots 5 and 6 in this test the same quantities of the 
 same kinds of manure have been used, with the difference that this manure has 
 been dusted with acid phosphate before application to the land, using the phos- 
 phate at the rate of 40 pounds to the ton of manure, the phosphate being thor- 
 oughly mixed with the manure before tlie latter has been applied to the land. 
 
 Plots 4 and 7, it will be observed, have yielded a value of $11.33, and $10.85, 
 or practically $11 per acre; while Plot 5 has given a total value of $23.17 and 
 
34 ADDRESSES 
 
 Plot 6 of $25. After deducting the cost of the phosphate the net gain per acre 
 in this case has been $4.13 for each ton of yard manure, and $5.00 for each ton 
 of fresh manure, using the valuations previously employed. 
 
 These experiments have been made on small plots of land and the question 
 has been raised whether it would be possible to obtain such yields on large fields. 
 In order to test this matter an experiment was begun eight years ago on four 
 ten-acre fields which have been growing corn, oats, wheat and clover in a 4-year 
 rotation over the same period as the fertilizer experiment first described. The 
 soil lies on the same formation, and probably originally with almost identical 
 natural fertility, but the farm on which this experiment is located had been 
 better handled than the other, and it came to us in a somewhat higher condition. 
 
 In the treatment of these fields we have aimed to combine the lessons 
 learned from the small plots, and our system has been to apply to the clover sod 
 during fall and winter a dressing of about 8 to 10 tons of manure per acre, the 
 manure being reenforced by phosphate during accumulation, the phosphate being 
 used either in the form of acid phosphate, or raw phosphate rock, at the rate of 
 about 40 pounds per ton of manure, or one pound per 1,000-pound animal per 
 day. The manure has been plowed under in the spring and the land dressed with 
 lime, our experiments having shown that the use of lime on this land is abso- 
 lutely necessary to the growth of clover as well as to the best yields of other 
 crops. The lime has been used at the rate of one ton of quicklime or two tons 
 of ground limestone per acre, the ground limestone being used during recent 
 years. The oats has received no treatment, but the wheat has received 400 
 pounds per acre of a fertilizer similar in composition to the one used on Plot 
 17 in the experiment first described. The outcome has been an 8-year average 
 yield of corn of 77 bushels per acre, followed by 60 bushels of oats, 36 bushels of 
 wheat and nearly three tons and a half of clover hay, yields probably greater than 
 would have been attained had the land been treated like that on the first farm, by 
 about 47 bushels of corn, 28 of oats, 23 of wheat and two and one-third tons of 
 hay. The annual value of this increase has amounted to $18 per acre, the cost of 
 liming and fertilizing has amounted to $3.50 annually, or $14 for every four- 
 year rotation. The net gain per acre has therefore been over $14, after paying 
 for the lime and fertilizer, a gain equivalent to more than $5.00 for each ton of 
 manure. This outcome shows that we have been able to secure very materially 
 better results on these 10-acre fields than we have reached on the small plots 
 in our special tests, and the reason is simply this — that in our plot work each 
 plot is set to answer one question only, whereas in this field work we have com- 
 bined the answers from a multitude of plots and put them into practice in general 
 field culture. 
 
 I wish to call special attention to the fact that in this field work our 8-year 
 average of wheat is far ahead of that of the general average of any of the 
 European countries named. This average has been attained on land that is not 
 above the average of the county in which the farm is located, in natural fertility, 
 and I believe there is no sound reason why an average closely approaching this 
 may not be attained over a large portion of Ohio. Of course this yield is 
 obtained on land that has been thoroughly drained and subjected to systematic 
 rotation of crops, as well as to a treatment planned and executed in the light of 
 modern science; but the methods by which it has been obtained are applicable 
 to every farm in Ohio, and capable of being employed by every farmer, and 
 there are farmers over the state who are beginning to put these methods into 
 practice. 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 85 
 
 As I have already said, each of the acres which is giving us 30 bushels of 
 corn and 10 to 13 bushels of wheat is receiving just as much labor in the way of 
 drainage and cultivation, and just as much seed, as the acre which is giving us 
 77 bushels of corn and 36 bushels of wheat. The only difference between the two 
 is in the manuring and fertilizing; or in other words, the only difference is in 
 the amount of intelligent thought given to the work. 
 
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yC 6151 
 
 
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