The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-11-30
By THOMAS J.. CT.


BY THOMAS j. PENCE.
Washington, D. c., Nov. 26.-"Go
South, young men, is the plea that
results from the meeting Of the Ma
tional Farmers Congress in Raleigh,
which was attended by a thousand del
egates from all parts Of the nation,
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson, Brit
ish Ambassador James Bryce and 9TH
er prominent citizens, and it is a cry
that promises 70 displace the shibbo-
leth OF another day to which express
sion was given by the editorial sage Of
two generations g in speaking Of
the future development of the coun-
Try.
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson is
II great believer in the wonderful ag-
riculturaI possibilities of the South.
He has explained the idea that there
are WORKOUT lands in the South that
cannot be made as productive as the
best farming lands in the nation. The
head of the Department Of Agriculture
has outlined simple methods of farm
ing to guide the planter in the South,
which he says will make the lands or
that section equally as productive az
the rich soils of the Northwest, and
will at the same time result in tn
cIedSeu crops Oil uouUic NO tIcbic
proportions.
The Secretary of Agriculture is of
the opinion that the South is making
the most rapid advance Of all sections
in agricultural development. The cheap
price of Southern lands and the pos
sibility for making them the qua OF
any for agricultural purposes leads
Mr.. Wilson to the belief that many
farmers in various sections Of the
country Will migrate to the South tn
engage in farming.
In a most interesting interview or
the agricultural possibilities OF the
South, Mr.. Wilson said today:
The cheapest thing in the South
today is land. Some Of those
from the Northwest, who attended the
annual convention Of the National
Farmers Congress-, in Raleigh, N. c.,
this month, own farms at home that
are worth from 500 to $50 per acre.
Southern lands that Will produce
equally as well are held at a great deal
less. The Southern farmer has yet
much improvement to maxi in the
methods of agriculture. The most
striking advances of the South have
been along manufacturing lines. No
farmer can leave his Southern land
to better his condition by farming
elsewhere. The meeting of the Farm
ers' Congress at Raleigh will result
in many ers Of the North selling
their dear lands and locating in the
South to buy cheaper lands"
Asked the question whether the
farm lands Of the South can be made
as productive as the rich lands of
the Northwest, which sell for $50 an
acre, Mr.. Wilson said: Why, Of
course. What's the hinderance? But
the Southern farmer must quit send
ing his cotton seed meal over the
world to enrich other lands. He must
use this rich fertilizer himself. The
South has produced this year the heav-
lest corn crop it has ever grown. This
increase is due to the demonstration
work of this department. Our cam
paign Of education is finally produc-
ing results. The next step will be for
the farmer of the South to grow his
own hogs, and make his own meat
from his own corn. DR.. Knapp has
prepared a circular showing them how
to dc this. We have circulated fifty
thousand copies of these, and I gave
authority today to print sixty thou
sand more.
The farming industry in the South
is picking up. Right now more prog
ress is being made in the South in
improving farming conditions than in
any other section OF the ountry
Anybody who says the farm lands
of the South are played out does not
know what he is talking about. The
rundown farming lands can be
brought back to their original state
and made as fertile as ever. There
has already been a wonderful I'M
provement in the condition of some
southern lands First 1t will be neces-
sary to rotate crops and make naa-