The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-05-20

pound.
We send out Of the State for horses
and mules annually $11.S50,OOO and
there Is no country where you can
raise a horse or mule any cheaper
than you can In South Carolina.
can raise better one for 800
than our farmers are paying $3.50 for
out Of the State. I can raise all of
the feed on one acre that q colt will
require until he Is three years old.
and at the end OF that time will have
$50 In cash to the credit of the land.
Apply the manure the colt has made
In three years to the same acre and
you will increase the production of
that acre 20 per cent. Now why
should we impoverish our country by
sending West for horses and mules
and bacon?
South Carolina spends annually
s2o.0o0.o00 for -four and $4,000, 900
for corn. How are we to recla1m our
worn out lands? The answer is, d.
versification Of crops and live stock
raising. I have seen from the car
window. since I left my home, coming
200 miles. enough waste land, IL 1t
was used for sheep raising, to grow
more mutton than is now consumed
In South Carolina. AS this land stands
today. the taxes are a burden to the
owner. but II properly husbanded
with sheep raising. II would be In 10
years the most fertile land on the
farm. I can see some cause for a
machine or man to wear out, but
more rust out than wear out.
There Is no cause for an acre of
land to wear out: it would be 20
times more productive after being
in cultivation 100 years. than it was
the first five years. How Is this to be
done Raise more live stock and
better live stock.
It requires intelligent effort to
breed and handle live stock. Now II
10 not that We lack the brains and II
is slander to say that we have not
the energy and application necessary.
You can grow cotton and do the other
things you want to do. and right sue
cessfully. too; but you have never
wanted to grow live stock. What has
been the result Of efforts to grow live
stock In this and all other Southern
States In the past? Ninety-nine out
Of every 100 men who have engag-
ed In IL have made failures. Why =?
Because they were men with mon
ey. and without knowledge or expe.
rience in the business. and they turn.
ed the work over to men who
knew but little more and usually
cared less.
Any negro can raise cotton, but
when II comes to diversified farming,
he 10 not in It, How are we to keep
our boys on the farm? We will have
to educate them above the cotton field
and mule. How can we do this BY
teaching them that by diversified ag-
ricuiture and stock raising they can
make money on the farm. and can
cope with men in any other pro-
fession.
Now, brethren, I think we have
rather discouraged our boys and have
sent them away from the farm. I
have heard mothers and fathers say
to their boys. There Is nothing on
the farm; you will have to get into
something else" feel sad whenever
hear this. for as soon az we show
them that they can make money, they
will stick to the farm. 1t takes a
boy With stamina and grit to go to the
city today and develop into a man
that will be an honor TO his country.
How are we to do this? Again I
say. by diversification and liye stock
raising. The man who d!versifies,
feeds and clothes his family better;
the man who diversifies. educates his
family better. the man who diversi.
fies. makes better citizen and when
he crosses over the river. the people
will mourn at his departure.