Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-02-22

, the West, and after the freight has
been paid 1t is sold in competition
with our homegrown product. The
farmer of the West finds corn a
profitable crop as well as the South
ern farmer, though he sells his pro-
| duct at such price that 1t can be
hauled to this market and sold in
competition with Southern grown
corn. The reason Of this is apparent
The Western farmer works on the in
tcnsive plan, making every acre
| count for all it is worth, while we Of
| the South are content to multiply
acres in planting and then divide the
result by poor cultivation. This Is
not business method; it Is simply
an antequatcd system that we seem,
loath to give up.
1t has been hut a short while since
we noticed in one Of the agricultural
Journals a statement from farmer.
in which he said, in substance, that
"he supposed when we all get to
making a hundred bushels Of corn or
bale of cotton to the acre, these in
tcnsive farming advocates will be
satisfied, as the prices by that time
will be so low that none OF us can
live if we depend on the farm for our
living This peculiar system Of rea-
soning backward has a wonderfully
strong hold on large percentage Of
the farmers Of the country. and It
seems strange indeed that it should
be so. While every other business
in the country is bending every en-
ergy to lessening the cost Of produc-
ton in order that competition may be
successfully met and the profits Of the
business increased, the farmer Cor
rather some farmers, for there are
many who are getting out of this de-
plorable rut seems to hesitate to pro-
duce at a lower cost what he has to
sell, for fear that the price will also
reduce and he be the loser.
And yet the farmer is the user of
by far the greater portion Of this very
crop, and he will be the greatest
gamer in the lower cost Of the pro-
duet. He uses his own corn to fat
ten his hogs, to feed his stock and
to supply at least a portion Of his
own bread. BY reducing the cost Of
production he at the same time re-
duccs the cost Of his meat. lessons
the expense OF keeping his stock and
his family. In fact the farmer re-
ceives some benefit at every turn.
Those who fear the lowering Of
sale prices on the products need have
but little fear Of the final result. It
is the man who clings t. the theory
OF many acres and light cultivation
that Is going to lose in the end, and
is losing every day that he operates
his farm. Agriculturists everywhere
are taking to the idea Of the intensive
plan Of farming. and the man who
ignores the great possibilities OF this
system is the man who is going to
face ruin sooner or later. Others are
going to perscvere in it. placing them
selves in position to meet all COM
petitors and still make money. 1t is
the man who will not see and grasD
his opportunity who will be forced
from the farm, not because money
cannot be made by the intensive plan,
but because he will not adopt that
plan. Farmer Oldstyle will never be
able to keep up with Farmer Pro-
greSs.
one OF the greatest things for the
farmers OF OcOnee is the adoption, by
the Farmers Union, of the competi-
tive plan TO secure the greatest yields
at the lowest possible cost. This Is
a great thing that the union has un-
dertaken, and especially so since for
l9l |, they have withdrawn any re-
strictinns from the contest, which !
stands open to any farmer within the |
borders OF Oconee. We urge our far
mcrs to take up this work. 1t Is the |
salvation OF the Southern farmer. |
Enter the contests for this year |
There are prizes offered for the sue
ccssful contestants. but those who win |
these prizes are not going TO be the |
ones most benefited. The greatest |
benefit is going to be his who, enter
ing now for the first time and adopt
ing the business plan OF agricultural |
cndcavor. shall catch the enthusiasm
and lcarin that farming, like any |
other business nave hest whom =