The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-09-17
Farmers Raising.
Their Own Food Supplies.


1t is difficult to determine whether
the following from the Montgomery
Advertiser is to be taken seriously or
was intended merely as q fine piece
of sarcasm in the discussion of a sub
ject that is of vast importance to the
people of the entire south. The Ad-
vertiser says:
In the hope of in the future prevent
ing a repetition of the present prevail
ing distressing condition of the cotton
planters in regard to their being forced
to sell their crops at q price dictated
to them by persons having 1t il their
power to force the farmers to sell
practically without profit, w. H. Sey-
mour, director OF the Alabama bureau
of cotton statistics, is working on a
plan through which he will, he be-
Heves, make the cotton farmers indie
pendent, besides developing to a laTg-
er degree certain other agricultural in
terests.
1t is his plan to advocate the plant
ing by the cotton farmers Of a sui
ficient amount of farm produce
through the home consumption of
which they will not only supply a
greater part of their own food but
will also make money by putting the
produce on the market, especially the
home market Thus will they make
themselves independent of the imme-
date sale of his cotton as a means
of sustenaRce, using it as his chief
profit, to be placed on the market
when favorable prices are quoted.
Not only to such staple products as
ffef9f:ssffng' b brA ttzttfe. out ne wlshes &c
draU close attention to truck farming
and as the agricultural education al
Vances and with the possible intro
auction and enforcement OF a dog Jaw,
| the extensive raising OF sheep ana
II is not believed that the farmers,
who are a slow moving people, Will
| take readily to these innovations, Du'
il is thought that in four or nve years
| this cultivation OF farm prouuctS
other than cotton. will make the Ala
bama farmer independent or quief
cotton sales
but will be Systematically experiment
Cd with and worked out. The resul
| ia expected to be the metamorphosl
Of the farmers, from a dependent, Z
/ one who will be in position 10 dl'
, tate. make money, and truly pTospei
i The idea that the farmers shout
, plapt "a sufficient amount OF farI
!. prodrce" to supply a greater part
p their own food" is a startling on
6 The further idea that the farmer
a will not take readily to these innoV
>. lions" and that "the whole plan is
i. embryo now. but will be systema
= calIy experimented with and work'
ont constitutes delightfully."- refres
IS ing piece of humor worthy OF Ma
re Twain or George AIDE
st Seriously, are We to understa
at that the cotton growers of Aiabar
m and elsewhere haven't already enou
= sense to raise their own food2 Do
HI they have gardens and are they ]
ta raising their own chickens and p
of and cows? Is it possible that faI
er will not take readily" to the Il
49, of producing the butter, eggs, mt
"A fruit. potatoes. and various vegetar
n1x that he uses on his table2 And
such a thing considered an limo
I'M ton by any man whose business
,.,. is to till the soil for living
If that is the view that the col
CT planters of Alabama aud elseWf
ing nave oeeh '@NiNe u M. =
- sooner the low price of cotton TO
-. them to take a different view of
-, matter the better it will be for I
and for the country
NOR The farmer who has to be told
al. HE ought to produce on his own
the food that he uses on his own
ave Occupies about the same relative
ticaI lsition as the man who has to be
A IN TO come in out of the rain