The Yale expositor., 1911-09-28
g. q

is largely responsible for the satisfactory state of
things in the warm belt" Last years cotton crop
was thoroughly satisfactory in quantity and
brought gratifying prices Indeed the returns
were satisfactory to the planters that this year
has found heavy increase in the acreage put out
In cotton-always a sure Indication of the sent-
ments Of the growers.
And for all that the skeptcal folk have been
wont to declare that such of luck cannot be
expected to continue for more than one season
there Is every indication at this writing that this
years crop conditions will measure up we'll with
the showing of twelve months ago. The yield is
liable to be about good that of last year.
at least Is almost certain to be above the ten
year average and even If the prices that rule are
not quite high as last year lowing possibly to
the increased acreage) the returns will yet be
SUFFICIENT to give the cotton growers very sat
tsfactory return upon their investment and labor.
A few years of rich cotton yield will do more
than anything else to help the south along toward
a par with other prosperous sections of the coun-
try. Particularly is this the in rural Dixie,
for although the country residents of the south
are gradually adopting agricultural policy
whereby all their eggs will not be in basket
the fact remains that they are relying upon cot
ton for the funds that will beget better things
and permit, shall we call it experiments in other
means of deriving livelihood from the soil The
first and most significant evidence of better
things in the south Is seen in the measures taken
to restore or sustain the productive qualities OF
the soil. Land has been abused In the SOUTH
Just as 1t has been in other section of prodigal
America, but In few has the damage gone
beyond repair except mayhap In of the
land devoted to tobacco culture Now efforts are
being made to rejuvenate 1t either by means OF
rotation of crops or where that is not prac
.tcable, through the fundamentally of the scien
tifc methods prescribed by experts.
However, this soil improvement is, of course,
more real than apparent. The evidence Of better
things in Dixie that forces itself most emphatic
ally upon the notice of the traveller or stranger
is found in the better houses that shelter the
inhabitants. The change that has taken place in
this respect is especially impressive to the out
slider who visits today a representative district
with the conditions in which he was familiar ten
years. or even FIVE years ago. 1t Is not necessary
to compare the state Of affairs with the status
Just after the Civil war, or as late as twenty
years ago. The pace of improvement has been
so rapid that 1t may be gagged within much
more recent interval.
That there need Of Improvement in the
housing conditions prevelant throughout most
parts of the south has been all too manifest for
these many years past Indeed, the wretched con-
.ditions In which many of the poorer Inhabitants
,dwelt has invaribly been a shock to persons from
the north or west visiting the south for the first
time Log cabins or the most crudely constructed
frame houses with mud chimneys and like as not
earth for a floor have been too numerous to be
considered exception. Moreover, such habitations
have by no means been restricted to the colored
inhabitants Indeed. in many instances the pow