The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-25
Triple Standard Agriculture of The
South.
Wilmington Star.

Wilmington Star
The reason that the South is the
greatest agricultural region on the
race of the earth is because Of it's
triple standard Of agriculture. Take
eastern North Carolina as an instance.
It's agricultural pOtentialities embrace
truck growing, the production of ali
the staple food crops, and the grow
depends for clothing. If we were to
eliminate every crop but cotton, agri-
culture in the South would be assured,
for more countries of the entire world
depend upon the South for clothing
material than depend upon any other
portion of the productive globe for the
other necessaries for the populations
of civilized and half civilized coun-
tries.
Some countries boast Of their agri-
cultural advantages because they are
specially adapted to the production Of
"
vantages for truck growing. Others
are adapted to dairying and cattle
raising, but when it comes to agricul-
ture in the South she is equal If not
superior to all other countries in all
the branches of agriculture that are
known to man. On top of all that,
the South is the worlds premier cot
ton-growing country, the dependence
of all the world to keep it's spindles
at work to furnish clothing for hun
dreds Of millions Of people. With the
versatility embraced in the growing
Of all staple food crops, the feecy
staple, early vegetables, fruits, and
what practically all portions Of the
world cam produce Of anything,
Southern agriculture challenges the
confidence Of the world. 1t should
certainly be looked upon with the ut
most assurance by us who dwell in
the Nations Garden Spot and know
what a country of magnificent YER
satility as We have in easten North
Carolina.
All the world is interested in the
cotton industry and it's future. More
over, the world is uneasy lest produc-
ton shall fall below the needs Of the
mills Of America and Europe The
European spinners and cotton ex-
perts, especially, are anxious about
the supply. They look to production
in the South to keep up with the de-
mand. According to a German au-
thority the worlds cotton crop, esti-
mated at 20,000,O0O bales annually,
produced in the South, India, Egypt
and other countries, is barely equal
thority is Ludwig Bendix. who recent
ly furnished a long article on this
subject for "Plutus," well-known
German periodical dealing with econ
omic subjects.
Mr.. Bendix furnishes statistics to
show that fom 1900 to 1911, there
were six years in which production
was less than the mills demanded.
During the same period production
exceeded the demand during five
years, showing that consumption and
production are about evenly balanced,
but it is the years of deficiency that
worry the manufacturers most EN-
cess Of production can be taken care
Of later but shortage Of cotton means
severe blow to the milling industry,
so that the cotton crop each year is
carefully watched by manufacturers
here and in Europe, especially by the
spinners. The European spinners
often get panicky over probable
short cotton crop.
European spinners want plenty Of
cotton and for it they are depending
upon the South, for Mr.. Bendix says:
considering the momentous impor-
tance Of the cotton fibre for the
worlds economy, it is only natural
that attempts should be made to bring
about a considerable increase in the
worlds crop. Particularly, people in
terested in the European cotton in
dustry have tried to increase cotton
production outside the United States.
SO far such efforts have not been
crowned with success and the su-