The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-03-18
PLANT MORE CORN,
AN APPEAIsL TO THE FARMERS
OF THE STATE.

NOtOH |hSSociotiol Urges IrOuuC-
ton Of More Hog and HOminy THIS
Year.
Columbia, March 12.-President T..
ID. Smith Of the South Carolina Cot.
ton association has Issued an address
to the people OF the State, urging the
| farmers to provide for an abundant
grain and forage crop and thus se-
cure further independence in The cot
ton world. Mr. Smith believes the
| high prices Of cotton for two years
have enabled Inc farmers to be IN
position to provide these supplies ard
thus be practically Independent Of
the lien. The statement is as follows:
after careful investigation as to.
conditions in this State, 1 deem it to
be nay duty to ask every farmer in
the State, now that the time has come
to purchase for another crop, to take
no chances but so lay his plans as to
provide for an abundant grain AMI
forage crop. BY abundance mean
not only enough to meet the necess-
airy requirements Of the laborers and
family, but a surplus Of it sufficient t,
provide for the conversion of part
of IT into pork and beef and for the
purpose Of using this live stock as a
means Of permanently improving the
plantation, reducing the fertilizer bill
land the supply bill. The three las.
years oflcontinued high priced cotton
has put us into a position where we
can make the .expe riment of an album
dance OF food and supply crops. I an,
particularly anxious for the State to
try one time. the experiment uf rro-
ducing a supply Of these food supply
crops. .-l.
In licking over the causes that
bring about the terrible fight for
higher priced cotton, I have found
that the main cause, and per haps the
only cause. when reduced to it's last
analysis. has been indebtedness of the
producer to tho banker and merch-
ants and investigating I fnd that
this Indebtedness IS practically all for
those very things which surplus OF
food crops on the farm would elimin-
ate. ] once thought that having con-
troll Of the price Of cotton we could
afford to purchase these things. 4
still think so. but I am convinced
That. we will ncve.' able to control the
price Of cotton until we first cease to
purchase these things.
"As have called attention Incl
dentally in another article the appall-
ing number OF liens recorded in this
State gives the answer to why so
much cotton is put on the market
at price which the sc llcr knows Is
not what hs Is entitled to. but which
necessity drives him to take.
I'VE have made wonderful fight
and have accomplished q wcnderful
victory, and with practically the lien
debt eliminated and the FERTILIZER bill
largely decreased means the comrara-
tive emancipation, and absolute con-
Ntrol of the cotton crop by the cotton
grower. :'o
''The present outlook is for much
higher prices during the spring and
summer, and for that reason I fear
there will be a tendency on the part
Of the cotton grower to load, himself
up again with debt for fertilizer and
supplies; and then, in order to make
provision; to meet this deot, 10
load h!mself up with big cotton
crop. which means a burden too great
for him to bear and consequent
sacriHce Of what otherwise would he
his.
$50 without attempting to begin an
organized effort, appeal to the COM
mon sense, experience and wisdom Of
the farmers and beg each and every
one to let's start this year with the
determination to provide for the
liquidation at home of our hay. grain,
meat and fertilizer bill, so that we
will be In debt to nobody for these
things but ourselves, then next fall
lot all those who nave tried it meet at
the fair grounds in Columbia and
nave an experience meeting as to
what our propects are for the next
year, based upon the consciousness OF
having III abundance at home and no
pressing obligations to force our cot
ton on the market at price less than
that indicated.
II have no doubt Of our winning
the price for which we stand this |
year. In no State do 1 hear Of any |
inclination to weaken, but having 50 |
much debit iiS hoino MT. e.,