The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-21
AgricuItural Department
CONDUCTED BY Fu LYON s. WHITE.
Cotton Growing.

 interesting and profitable session at Col lege, Tex, and while there finding a senti- ment among the farmers generally in fav- or of planting less cotton. l felt like say ing a few words in defense of the cotton crop.
 The only strong argument offered against the growing of cotton was the in- ability of the farmer to cope with the boil weeyil, which has proven so destrue- tive to the crop as to make the growing of cotton in Texas very uncertain. Various reports as to the ravages of the insect were given and in some cases complete destruction of the crop was reported. To quit the growing of the crop and starve out the pest seemed to be the general idea. Many methods for the destruction of the pest was discussed, among which was recommended constant and clean cul- tivation; regular blowing of the crop right on up to time of opening it was claimed would save the crop and this seemed to be the most practical method discussed. Following this meeting the state has just offered reward of s5OOoO to any one who may devise a means for the destruction of the pest
 The boil weevil may be a legitimate ex- cuse for the Texas farmer to restrict his acreage of cotton or to even drop the growing of this crop entirely until the pest is stamped out. But this is the only reasonable excuse for dropping or reduc- ing the acreage of cotton, not only in Texas, but in any other of the cotton states. There is. however no doubt but that the persistent efforts of science and deep study, stimulated by the liberal re- wards offered, will eventually bring forth some remedy for the complete destruction of the pest The farmers of the country have been able to cope with al other in- sect remedies of our crops, and why not this one as well as others be checked in its destruction of the cotton crop? There is no doubt in the minds of thinking men but what it will in time. like all others of it's class, find a stopping place. Some thing for their destruction surely awaits them.
 Now in all my writings and lectures in favor of diversified farming, l have tried not to prejudice anyone against the cot ton crop, nor have l intentionally tried to discourage any one from growing cot ton, because I fully realize that the south is the home of the cotton plant the coun- try where the crop must be grown, the country from which the worlds supply of cotton must come. Then again l know that in the encouragement of diversified farming that the south has idle lands enough for a very large line of crops, and this idle land Is the land that should be improved and made to produce all the stock. grain grasses, forage crops, fruits and vegetables needed, without in any way interfering with our cotton crop, or we might advocate, as we have been doing, thorough system of rotation of crops so as to keep up our lands to high state of cultivation all the time. The idea which l wish to impress here is this: 1That we should add to our present acreage of tillable land-acreage enough to meet all our requirements in the production of the various crops mentioned above, and interchange this new acreage with our present acreage of cotton in regular well arranged system of crop rotation, for 1t is only possible through such a system that the lands of the south may be brought up and kept up to that high state of fertil- ity necessary for the production of the enormous crops which we need and should grow in southern soil and southern cli- mate.
 1t is not cotton or the cotton crop that we should discourage, but the methods used in the production of the crop, when all else and all other farm interests are neglected for the sake of growing cotton, n tenn which wears out our lands and leaves the farmer without land, money feed or anything else. It is this system that we object to instead of the crop itself We have advanced far enough in agricultural education until there is no longer any excuse for using the old antiquated ex- pensive methods of growing a crop of cot ton, but cotton can and should be grown under our improved methods of farming n n pTn nvtFn cn ne taf to all washed and worn out. Not only this, the farmer, the progressive, upto date farmer should in this day of agricultural education be able to arrange his farm op- erations so as to make some money out of crop of cotton, as well as other crops
 The idea which is, or should be. the old idea, that to grow a crop of cotton means thirteen months of each year of drudgery and slavery, and the result of the farmers labors means worn out land, Indebtedness and starvation should now be relegated to the background. Cotton can and should be grown under new and improved methods as well as other crops and we are pleased to note that great prog ress has been made along this line Farm CTS are thinking and acting all along the line and there never was a time before in the history of our country when these questions were so fully discussed as is the case now Farmers are educating themselves along these lines and are real tzing the importance of agricultural edu- cation, as we'll as the great importance of organization and cooperation In farming work
 Those of us who were on the ground can well remember the dark financial con dition of the south at the close of the war between the states. The Confederate soldiers, those of them who were for tunate enough to get home, were return ing ragged, hungry, penniless. broken In health and many with one arm and one leg. They had followed the fortunes of war four years and many had not seen their homes during these years, so could not until their return. realize the de- struction of their homes By the way. I saw picture the other day that should he hung up in every southern home If was picture of the returned southern sol dier He had reached home, was leaning on fragment of a board fence in front of his house. looking over the remains of his once prosperous home The title of the picture was What Was Left" That was the question. What is left? And the states were almost as poor as the poor returned soldier. We had no civil law. we had no banks we had no money and the credit of the states was gone in the wreck with the other things. So the ui1es ton was what to do. There was no horses or mules left to till the soil, no tools-that is comparatively none. Money was needed and needed quickly and badly The first thing, the first crop of any kind, to come to the front, offering to the distressed peo-