The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-21

Some will contend that 1t was this sys-
 tenn of borrowing money and getting sup
 piles advanced on cotton that has kept
 down the agricultural advancement of the
 south. But we had to do something, and
 1t was not the system of borrowing or ad-
 vanclng on the crop that was at fault
 but 1t was the abuse of the system. Pc
 this as we may now look at 1t, but the
 history of the case is that from stern ne-
 cesslty we got in the habit of growing
 cotton and going in debt for money and
 supplies for producing the crop until 1t
 got to be fixed habit with us, and one
 that we have been too slow perhaps in
 shaking of. The system like any other
 that might be adopted made some men
 financially and ruined others. But the
 cotton crop was the first to bring re-
 lief, financial relief to the south after the
 dark days of the war and financial ruin
 had spread over our country, and this crop
 has eontinued to bring in money to the
 southern farmer until we now have tho
 enormous sum of five billions of dollars
 worth of raw cotton and cotton products
 to our export credit since the war closed 1 and our people turned the implements | of war Into implements of agriculture. But l am not advocating the growing of 1 cotton simply from the fact that 1t gave us this relief in our dark days of need, 1 but also from the fact that l fully be-
 lieve that there is more profit today in cotton farming than there ever was, and l that if our farmers will use the means at I hand for growing and handling the crop l they can make more clear profit now l out of a crop of cotton than they ever l before have been able to do.
 But cotton should not be grown to the 1 | any need for this. Neither is there any ne-
 cessity for growing cotton crops on a
 credit or on the old supply system. But. l on the other hand, every farmer should
 become as nearly as possible producer of
 all that is needed on the farm. It is in this
 way that cotton farming may be made l all the more profitable. The south needs
 the cotton crop. She needs the vast vol-
 ume of money that 1t is possible to be
 had from this crop.
 1 Then again, as stated above, when our 1 farmers become educated, as they will. l all this volume of money from the cotton 1 crop can be had without wearing out the
 lands in getting it. Diversiheation is now 1 the keynote-the password of the south 1 ern farmer We hear 1t on every hand. l at all the farmers meetings, in all our l papers. Everywhere, on every breeze Is l the word diversihcation. Now this Is all l right and as 1t should have been years 1 ago, and the south as made a great mis- l take in not taking mp this matter sooner. But while this is now our war cry, let us | not drop any of the crops we now have
 and especially so important and valuable a crop as the cotton, but instead let us
 adopt better methods, and produce cotton as well as all other crops at a less ex- pense, both in money and in wear and tear on the soil The Texas farmers may in some sections be forced to relinquish the growing of cotton for a short time in or der to rid themselves of the boil weevil
 but let us hope that soon means will be l devised for the destruction of this pest 1 We should hate to see the acreage of cot
 ton reduced in the state of Texas, for 1t 1 Is here that we have to look for a good 1 part of our cotton that the world needs l But reports show that there has been
 quite reduction of acreage even this
 season on account of the boil worm.
 Now it might be well to sound a note | of warning or to look wellzto the crops | which may be substituted for the cotton 1 crop or the crops that are to take the l place of the cotton, if cotton Is to be 1 dropped out. There is great deal being 1 said now in encouragement of truck farm l ing, fruit and vegetable growing This is l all right to certain limit, but beyond
 this limit 1t is all wrong. That is a cer- | tain amount of produce, fruits and vege- | profit, but the amount Is limited, and farmers should look we'll to the market prospects for these crops before investing If the land of Texas alone was all brought into a high state of cultivation they could produce of themselves enough
 fruit and vegetables to feed the whole people of the United States Truck farm
 ing is all right and needed and as stated.
 up to certain point can be made profita- ble But education is needed, and is far
 more essential in this line of farming
 than on any other line. This is true from the fact that the crops are perishable. They must be moved when ready for
 market and moved tqulck or else loss Is the result. Hence the great need of edu-
 cation along the lines of seeking and hay
 ing markets in sight ready so as to move the crops and move them quickly. Now
 l saw fully Illustrated the force of this l argument only yesterday when on leav- l ing the Farmers congress, where so much
 had been said in favor of truck farming.
 happened into section where the farm
 CTS had engaged in watermelon growing
 on large scale without any knowledge of
 a market, and one grower said to me that l ne could ship twenty-five cars, but had | no market to ship to- This matter should | be looked after before planting. The
 trouble was this man had grown the
 wrong crop. If he had planted canta- l ioupeS the cndnceS would nave been bet l ter, for l had in sight market at the l time for ten cars of cantaloupes So that l 1t would not be wise. but financial sui
 eide to persuade the farmers of the south i to plant their cotton lands to fruits and 1 vegetables growing them for an imag- | mary northern market.
 As stated before we can grow all the vegetables and fruit that the northern markets can take from us at a profit without reducing our cotton crop one acre
 The time has come when 1t is all import
 ant that the farmers of the south should
 think and act for themselves and when
 they should educate themselves along
 these lines. But if the acreage of cotton
 has to be reduced and other crops sub sttuted, we have safe crops for this piir-
 pose and crops which it will pay the rail-
 roads as well to encourage as that of
 fruits and vegetables. There is stock. grain, hay all of which can be grown at good profit, and these crops do not have
 to be sold the day they mature, for they will keep until such time as there is a
 market for them. Then again the foreign demand for this class of crops is con- stantly on the increase. The poultry bus mess, canning business and dairy in- dustres all pay and all need encouraae- l ment. Education on these lines Is the 1 one thing needful. We should and must l farm intelligently if we succeed. Let us | first find the markets of the north ascer-
 tain what crops they will take from us.
 when these crops will be in demand and |