The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-12-02

Thomas j. Pence, in News and Observer.
Washington, d. c., Nov. 26.-"Go !
South, young man," is the plea that
results from the meeting OF the Ma
tional Farmers Congress in Raleigh,
which was attended by thousand
delegates from all parts of the ma
tion. Secretary of Agriculture Wilson,
British Ambassador james Bryce
and other prominent citizens, and it
is cry that promises to displace
the shibboleth of another day to
which expression was given by the
editorial sage of two generations
ago in speaking OF the future devel-
opment OF the country.
Secretary Of Agriculture Wilson is
! ricultural possibilities of the South.
He has expoded the idea that there
are WORKOUT lands i'm the South that
cannot be made as productive as the
best farming lands in the nation. The
head of the Department of Agrieul-
ture has outlined simple methods Of
farming to guide the planter in the
South, which he says will make the
lands of this section equally as pro-
ductive as the rich lands OF the
Northwest, and at the same time
will result in increased crops Of
double and treble proportions.
The Secretary OF Agriculture is OF
the opinion that the South is making
the most rapid success Of all sections
in the agricultural department. The
cheap price of Southern lands and
the possibility OF making them the
equal OF any for agricultural pur-
poses leads Mr.. Wilson to the belief
that many farmers in various Sec
tions OF the country will migrate to
the South to engage in farming.
In most interesting interview on
tn agricultural possibilities of the
South, Mr.. Wilson said today:
"The cheapest thing in the South
today is land. Some of those farm
ers from the Northwest who attended
the annual convention OF the Nation
al Farmers Congress, in Raleigh, N.
c., this month, own farms at home
that are worth from 500 to $3.50
per acre. Southern lands that will
peoduce equally as well are held at u
great deal less. The Southern farmer
has yet much Improvement to make
| in the methods of agriculture. The
moet striking advances of the South
have been along manufacturing lines.
| No farmer can leave his Southern
land to better his condition by farm
ing elsewhere. The meeting of the
Farmers Congress at Raleigh will
result in many farmers of the North
selling their dear lands and locating
in the South to buy cheaper lands. u
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 $3.50 an
acre, Mr.. Wilson said: "Why, oi
course. What's the hindrance? But
the Southern farmer must quit send
ing his cotton seed meal all over the
world to enrich other lands. He must
uss this rich fertilizer himself. The
South has produced this year the
heaviest corn crop it has ever grown
This increase is due to the demon
stration work of this department
Our campaign of education is finally
producing results. The next ste[
will be for the farmer OF the South to
grow his own hogs, and make hi.
own meat from his own corn. DIR
Knapp has prepared a circular show
ing them how to do this. We have
circulated fifty thousand OF these
and / gave authority today to prin1
sixty Thousand more.
"The farming industry in the Soutf
is picking up. Right now more prog
ress is being made in the South ir
improving farming conditions thar
, in any other section Of the country.
Anybody who says the farm land,
OF the South are played out does not
know what he his talking about. The
rundown farming lands can bt
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 it will be nee
essary TO rotate crops and make pas
lures Eliminate the cattle tick, and
feed the cotton seed meal of the South
to the cattle, and the Southern
farmer will grow twice or three times