Science and the common farmer

Title

Language

English

Source

The American Chamber of Commerce Journal Volume 6 (Issue No.6) June 1926

Year

1926

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

June, 1926 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 29 needless to say, would be available to future planters. In this way the Rubber Commission's estimate of a possible 70.000 tons produc tion in the Philippines (which the writer considers very conservative), could be rai-<d to more than 200,000 tons from the same acreage, and with available labor, with materially increased wages, at a less cost than elsewhere, and at a greater pro fit to the investor. This could all be done if we would simply get busy, use our heads for thinking not for talking, especially about Phi lippine conditions, land laws and la bor. The land laws are quite satisfac tory and workable, as outlined above. The best legal talent in the islands have assur ed the writer that the plan is perfectly legal. The labor is available and efficient. 1 have been using it for more than twenty years, and am not guessing. The rubber shortage will begin to pinch real hard abcut the beginning of 1927 and prices will be good for Pinch Due Pteat many years to come, in 1927 Why not get in on the ground floor, help America to pro duce her own rubber, and at the same time have a well paying invest ment? SCIENCE AND THE COMMON FARMER We read and we see much, in these times, of the dependence of great industries on science. In fact many great industries have been established on' recent scientific dis coveries and developments. The relation of the common man to science is not so clearly recognized, and in the less progressive countries no such relation may exist. In the Orient for instance, the common farmer may be still get’ting along after a fashion with the same methods that he has been using for 4,000 years, and with practically no improvement either in his crops or in his mode of life. “Science” is merely a seeking of the truth —the complete, unmistakable, indubitable facts—full and clear knowledge of all factors. Through science have come the modern possibilities of better culture, of Railway—Mate rial Locomotives - (Steam and Alcohol) Track i Permanent and Portable) Cars —(All Types.) Switches, Etc., Etc. Inspection Cars (Hand and Motor) Machinery “Atlas Polar” Diesel Engines. “Skandia” Semi-Diesel Engines. “Pyle National” Turbo Generators. “Asea” Electrical Equipment. Koppel Industrial Car & Equipment Company A. H. BISHOP, Manager Manila lloi’o plant breeding, of fertilization to suit crops and soils—ail meaning larger returns lor tne unit area; and more generous returns, with far greater possibilities for the unit of human labor. From science has come great possibilities in crop insurance against pests and diseases, wmeh up to a few decades ago did not exist in any country and is now developed in but lew. Uncontrolled Nature demands a fearful toll from the ignorant farmer. Here in the Philippines we lose each year some millions of pesos from pests and diseases, yet adequate support for investigation along these lines is unobtainable. By expenditure through the right hands of a tew thousands, Hawaii Territory is constantly averting losses that might easily, if neg.ected, run into millions. Japan claims over-population and inability to produce at home adequate food supplies, but at the same time she allows too large a percentage to pests and diseases and does not support adequate in vestigation, her few over-worked specialists being unable to cope with existing problc-ms for the whole country. Though it must be admitted that, under the highly efficient administration of Doctor Kuwana, Japan maintains the best plant quarantine service in the Orient. China has practically nothing along these lines and suffers tremendous losses accordingly, but the fate of the com mon man means little in China—as yet. Indo-China has but limited service of this sort, and Siam and the British Malayan colonies nothing worthy of the name. In striking contrast, Java maintains a very active Institute for Plant Diseases where the highest class work is constantly in progress. Java also has, besides this, num bers of the highest class specialists obtain able, in the various cognate lines. We talk of the material development of the Philippines as if it was a matter only of business—of 'attraction of capital. We should not forget what the years have clearly taught in America and Europe, that there can be in the long run no safety whatever *in agriculture investment, without the essential technical—scientific—service that may throw new light on every pro blem, and may furnish the only reasonable insurance and security that agriculture— “the greatest gamble on earth”—may have. After needed and adequate knowledge is secured, it must then be taught to the whole population through every educational means available from lowest to highest. This road is the only "royal road to wealth and well-being”—a pathway broad, plain, and clearly sign-posted. ' In the Orient, to a very large exaent, we wander in meandering and tortuous by-paths that lead to no positive results. More needed, than all the political arguing and self seeking, is constructive action that will result in putting us on the right road—in the way of definite material progress for the common man and of hone for all! Charles Fuller Baker Dean, College of Agriculture IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL

pages

29

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