The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-12-03
THE IMMENSE PRODUCTION OF
SOUTHERN FARMS.


The rapid Industrial growth Of the
south in the last two decades has di-
verted attention from the remarkable
increase in its agricultural production.
The erection Of cotton mills, furni-
ture factories anG steel plants has not
been at the expense of the farms. On
the contrary, the farmer has improv-
ed his methods of cultivation and ex-
tended the titled area until he has
added another agricultural empire.
Not only has the cotton crop con-
tinually increased in value until the
past year it brought over $700,000,-
600, but the cotton-seed products now
bring $66 ,134,S59 a year, while the
production of corn, wheat, rice, sug-
ar cane, hay, alfalfa, ETC., has largely
increased. A few years ago cotton
was almost the sole crop of many
farmers in the south. Now they are
diversifying, and fruit growing, cat
tie raising, dairying and the raising
of vegetables and poultry for the city
markets have brought large profits
to the farms. The raising of straw
berries, grapes, potatoes, lettuce, to-
matoes and truck growing" general
ly have brought prosperity to entire
sections that once lived from hand to
mouth. The growing Of melons,
peaches and apples in Georgia and
the Carolinas has made these states
great fruit producers, while the ap-
Piles grown in certain belts of Vir-
ginia and West Virginia are sought
for everywhere at profitable prices.
BY raising more of his supplies, in
stead OF buying his side meat in
Chicago and his hams in Cincinnati
the southern farmer now lives at
home and boards at the same place."
The farmer who raises fine cattle,
sheep, milk, butter, chickens, eggs,
fruit, vegetables, hogs, wheat and
corn on his own plantation has solv-
ed the problem of profitable farming,
and is beyond the reach of panics and
above financial depression.
The increase in the value of farm
property in the last eight years is
estimated at $4,000, 900, 600, or nearly
nine times the capital Of the coun-
try's national banks. A writer in the
Manufacturers Record states that
the farms of the south alone will this
year yield a production valued at
nearly s2,5O0,O0O,OO0 This is more
than the total production of the
country in 1880 and about the same
amount that all the states produced
in 1S90-only 1S years ago. In 1890
the 1865, 900 persons engaged in agri-
culture produced total of 81, 2,466,0Ou,-
000-S287 per capita. The total pro-
duction in 1907 was $7,412,000,0 900
s61S per capita.
Every one who has kept a close
watch upon events has noticed the
steady increase in the valuation of
farming lands in the south, and it is
plain that this is justified by the
constantly increasing production and
consequent increase in profits.
With the improvement in methods
of culture, the growth of population
and ever-increasing demand for food
the future prosperity of the farmer
seems to be assured. Whatever po-
litical, social or industrial changes
may come, our very existence is bas-
ed on the farm, for "the farmer feeds
us ALL"
The telephone, the telegraph, rural
free delivery, good roads and the ex-
tension of electric car lines are
bringing the farmer into close touch
with his neighbors and his markets.
Farm life is becoming more and
more attractive year by year, and the
farmer is coming to realize that he
is not only an important factor in
the country's life, but the most in
dependent man in the world