The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-09
HOUSTON APPEALS
FOR DIVERSIFIED
CROPS IN SOUTH.
Secretary of Agriculture
Advocates Constructive
Movement. :.
PRICES OF FO0DSTUFFs
TO BE HIGH FOR YEARS
Part of Wisdom for Farmers to
Take Advantage Of
Situation.
HEARTY COOPERATION NEEDED
Plan to Restrict. Cotton Acreage, He
Thinks, Will Not Be
Effective.

WASHINGTON. October s.-Secretary
Southern exchanges letter ad-
vocating constructive movement for
diversified crops in the South. rather
than an attempt merely to restrict cot
ton acreage. He had been asked to
secure and publish pledges from cotton
season. Restriction, Secretary Houston
said, he believed would not prove ef-
fective.
Secretary Houston's letter says in
part:
Elm the face of past experience and
knowledge of the human element in
volved, 1t does not seem likely that an
effort to induce Southern farmers simply
to restrict acreage will solve the prob
lem. In the past such an effort has
been made. 1t has been found that
where agreements have been made to
reduce acreage they have not been OBJ
served. and that instead of a reduction
of acreage resulting. there has been
an increase and the production OF
larger crop. Many individuals, thinking
that others would reduce acreage. have
increased theirs, and the result has
been that which 1 have)indicated.
"The constructive plan, which appeals
to this department as wise and prac-
ticable, is simply this: To bring home
to the farmers the fact that In the
y 81
prices Of all foodstuffs are likely to
be high, and that 1t is the part of
wisdom for the farmers OF the country
to make every effort to take advantage
Of the situation, and to increase their
products OF foodstuffs SO far as pos
sible. Even If the Southern farmers
should not think 1t wise TO produce
grains, such as wheat and corn, for
foreign export or for interstate ship
ment, in competition with the Middle.
4 = - 4. Axv
should recognize the wisdom of pro-
ducing q enough, OF these comm oditiea
for f[homerconsuniptfon and for the Inter
community market"
SHOULD PRODUCE GRAINS
FOR HOME CONSUMPTION
Many OF the Southern States import
many millions OF dollars worth or grain
each year. With the increasing prices
cf these products, 1t Is economically
, unsound for the South to rely SO large
ly on other sections for them. 1t seems
clear to this department that Southern
farmers should at least produce grains
for home consumption as a means OF
cutting down the family expenses. and
that they might increase their produc-
tion of chickens, guineas. turkeys and
hogs to the point at least OF supplying
their own needs. and the needs of their
neighbors. With adequate attention to
marketing, they can. also profitably
produce these things for interstate
shipment I am told that the number
of poultry on the average Ohio farm Is
approximately 125, while the number
on the average South Carolina farm is
fourteen. The same comparison would
doubtless obtain with reference to most
OF the Southern States. This gituation
should be remedied and can be rene
died. The whole nation Is confronted
with n problem of securing enough
meat for It's own consumption. Too en-
n "a m haa
given to the production of large ami
| mails, such as beef cattle, and to the
production of these on the big ranch,
which Is in measure disappearing. We
are confronted with a decreasing meat
supply and rapidly increasing popu-
iation. 1t is obvious to everybody who
thinks that much larger part Of the
| meat consumption of the nation might
! we'll be the consumption of poultry OF
| n considerable variety and of hogs. AS
a matter Of fact. a very large percent
nge to-day of the meat consumed is
of this kind. The production of these
| smaller animals can be very considera-
bly increased, if each Individual farmer
| Will give his attention to their produc-
ton, and they can be increased and
! quickly increased without very great
expense. They can be consumed at
home. relieving the farmer of the OK
| rense of securing his meat from remote
States. paying transportation and mid
oleman's cost; and with the use of
known methods of marketing, they can
| be shipped beyond the community. If
the Southern farmer will give his at
| tcntion next year and the year after. to
! these things, and economize in produc-
! tion by saving manure, thereby reduc-
| ing his fertilizer bill and by planting
winter cover crops, especially winter
legumes. he can secure the surest relief
for himself and for his community in
| this emergency, and can bring about
wiser direction of his activities as a
permanent part of agricultural econ
| omy in tho South.
IMPEDIMENUS IN WAY
OF SOUTHERN FARMERS
"T recognize that there have been i'm
pediments placed in the way of many
Southern farmers in his attempt to
diversity his agriculture by failure of
banks and merchants to extend his
credit on other things than cotton. 1t
seems to me that this has been short
| sighted on the part of banks and mer-
| chants. After ALL the character of the
Continued on Third Page)