Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-03-10
sOUTH's GOLDEN FUTURE
RESTS ON AGRICULTURE
Secretary Wilson Declares
Agriculture Is Greatest Cues
ton Before So. States


one OF the most notable addresses at
the session Wednesday afternoon of the
convention OF the Southern Commercial
congress was that of Secretary Of Agri-
culture James Wilson. He predicted a
remarkable future for the south through
its agricultural development and declared
that the most important question now
before the southern states is agriculture
Mr.. Wilson said:
The south. with the wealth that must
come to it if it follow economic lines
with your usual characteristic energy"
he said, will soon be living in period
Of prosperity undreamed Of by the age
preceding you. In that period I shall
expect to see you credited with more cot
ton than you now produce and with two
OF three billion bushels Of corn instead
OF one billion. Your dairy products viii
mount INTO tie millions and your pcuI-
try products win supply nation. OF
fruits. no man can conceive of what
yo1 may do for the wrld. You have
such a variety of soil and climate. your
rivers all flow to the sea, you are COM
paratively free from extraordinary tenn
pests and all that is necessary is to wait,
confidence in yourselves and in your soil
take advantage Of opportunities that
are offered you
Secretary Wilson told his hearers
what has been done in development by
his department TO help the south in all
branches Of agricultural development.
He remarked that the old idea had been
exploded that il was better for the
south to stick to cotton and go to other
parts of the country for other farm
products and manufactures.
If there is any reason why Georgia
and Alabama should go to Tennessee or
Missouri to buy mules I have failed to
discover it," he declared Il would be
still more emphatic in regard to poultry
and dairy products, with your superb
grasses. mild winters and abundant tim
Der. The )rti. really believed that II
was no corn country and a man would
have regarded it as an indication of
slight insanity if any one had gone
through the south and told them it was
one Of the best corn countries in the
world. But you have shown during the
past year, through the boys corn clubs,
that it is strictly true that the south is
a marvellous country for the production
OF corn
MUST RAISE FOOD.
The south in order 10 keep her money
at home must raise all her food supplies
Let us look forward to the time when
the south viii feed not only half itself
but win help to feed the teeming popu-
lation OF our eastern cities; when the
one crop system will be supplanted by
diversified farming, including stock rails
ing and dairying when the fertility OF the
soil will be largely kept up by liye stock
without the buying of large quantities Of
expensive fertilizers; when the native
scrub viii be replaced BY the pure bred
animal; when feed will go to make beef
and milk instead of to fatten ticks. and
when better methods and conditions will
have built up a prosperous agriculture"
Secretary Wilson spoke Of the work of
the department of agriculture in helping
TO exterminate the cattle tick which had
caused heavy losses to southern cattle
raisers. and the efforts OF the department
TO develop the dairy industry of the south
and TO improve cotton varieties and cul-
turaI methods. The greatest agricultural
need OF the south. he asserted. is more
and better live stock.
SOUTH'S ADVANTAGES
I'VE have heard much about The in
creased cost of living and conserving our
food supply" said Secretary Wilson.
The country's beef supply has been di-
minishing in proportion TO population as
an alarming rate in recent years. Beef
has been getting scarcer and higher; our
supply, and our export trade has shown a
heavy decline The western ranges are
being taken up by settlers. and we must
look elsewhere for considerable part OF
our beef in the future. Here in the south
is plenty OF unused land that could be
proftably used in cattle raising; here is
a temperate climatei here are conditions
favorable for producing abundant feed;
here are pastures that can be grazed
practically the year round. while northern
farmers must feed through a severe win
ter
Corn is the basis FOR cheaper food
stuas and OF course cheap meats. II
there Is a plenty OF cheap corn i'm coun-
try. we viii see a decline in the price of
living IL Is necessary TO have a good
corn crop 10 carry on the dairy business
successfully. The south. instead OF inn
porting dairy and poultry products. should
be shipping large amounts TO other coun-
tries and ] predict the time will come
when such shaII-5e n fact. nOttSs thez
the south Is aroused. Her people are get
ting the best machinery and trying TO
make every one-horse farmer into two
horse farmer. ] rejoice in this great pros
perfty that Is coming TO you"