The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-09-25

agriculture, in fact, Is directly con-
cerned in all that goes to the upbuild- :
Ing Of agriculture. l have been a
member OF this committee for four
years and am now the second demo-
crat on 1t and one OF the five MEM
bers who make up the appropriation
Dill which keeps the department Of
agriculture going, which in turn gives
US our soil survey. our demonstration
farm work. our dairy work our cat
tie tick eradication work, our diversi-
fcation Interests and all Of the vari-
Gus lines OF work being done by the
department in the South. The ap-
preparations Of this department. dur
ing this year, 1910, amounted to near
I sl2.O0O.000 exclusive Of the $1,000
600 which we appropriated for en-
forcing the meat inspection and pure
food laws.
1t Is not hard for you to appreciate
the responsibility that rests upon one
who has TO vouch for the appropria-
ton Of this tremendous sum of mon.
ey, which is nearly ten times as much
as the amount appropriated to run
your entire State government.
l have had a deep appreciation of
the possibilities OF Southern agricul-
ture and am an enthusiast with re-
spect TO them. 1t has been my ef-
fort to interest the department in our
section, and to secure appropriations
for the imitation of new lines Of
work and the development Of the old
ones.
FIRST OF all, you will remember that
1t was my bill that secured the ap-
propriation Of $4,000 for the teach
ing Of dairying in the south. When
W. remember that South Carolina i'm
ports dairy products TO the value of
three and one-ha!f million dollars per
year, you can readily understand how
young industry be promoted and Civ
EN- every consideration which is legi-
innate,
The experts of the department, men
who have had actual experience, are
teaching our dairymen the most inn
proved methods Of the business. The
result Is shown in the report Of the
secretary OF agriculture for 1907 in
which the statement is made that the
herds with which the department has
dealt show an increase in value Of
production of 1915 per month for
each dairy COW. This gives you some
little idea of the value of expert in
formation as ii touches our natural
resources. There is no reason why
the South should not be a successful
carrying country. 1t defends upon
the use of improved methods in the
business. The department OF agri-
culture is giving us these. The re-
suit is certain.
l expect to see the day come when
IA great live stock industry will be
quilt up in the South. Dairy and
beef cattle are at the very founda-
ton Of successful agriculture the
world over. The trouble has been
the slavishness Of our people to the
one crop system-cotton--and the
presence of the cattle tick. the latter
making II impossible almost to make
the cattle industry profitable.
Several years ago the department
began the work of the eradication of
the cattle tick in the infested area
covering fifteen States, this state be-
ing one of them. | am very much i'm
pressed with the promising results
and have my whole heart in the cf-
fort TO secure large appropriations
to enable the department to conduct
a campaien against this Southern pest
which ii is estimated is costing tn,
South not less than 100000. 900 p,r
year ana this state $500 600 Tn
appropriation for 1909 Was $l5o.0op.
which was secured largely throug q
my ciforts in the committee. For
1910 this appropriation was increased
100000.
Your state legislature appropriated
$4,000 to co-opcratc with the fvicra'