The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-10-06
NOW FOR FOOD CROP
Atlanta Journal.

iH ''"hN 'dSh VI IeduJuSImen- ana
preparation for the future. Through
government aid and the loyal CO
'Ier"tio" IL is owG Interests, the
South no doubt will pass safely
through the present emergency, but
II 1T is to escape a recurrence OF diff
culties and dangers i'm the seasons
a""au ii must adapt Its Agricultural
methods to cham ii economic &c,
diticn" il must cease to drG.oG
uH0n Il S,ngiC crOo III must tu.a Ic
thos' :roducts TO >',5ch there Is u
varied CId stead u,nand.
Should the European war be pro
longed, the cotton market would
continue to shrink. True. we have
assurance of an American merchant
marine to carry our material abroad
and there are indications that Eng
lish mills will keep going. But i'm
the most favorable circumstances
to be expected, the demand for cot
ton twelvemonth hence will be
less than it is today, and still less
in 1916, if the war keeps up This
is no cause for present discourage
ment, for the plans to protect the ex-
listing crop are adequate; but il is
urgent cause for vigorous and far.
sighted action. If the South con
tinues stalking it's fortune upon cot
ton, adding to the supply of a com
modify in the face of a decreasing
demand, it must reap the conse-
puence of it's folly.
Our need for diversified farming
and for the production OF more food
stufts has long been manifest: to-
day that need is thrust upon us as
a matter of sclf-preservation. A
few seasons ago The Journal pre-
Sentcd figures showing that Georgia
lacked more than thirty-scven mil
lion dollars annually Of making
enough money from it's cotton crop
to pay for the food supplies its
people purchased in distant mar
kets. 1t has been estimated that
this state spends approximately one
hundred and seventy-two million
dollars year for corn. oats. hay
meats and other necessaries. which
could be produced easily and cheap
ly at home. These conditions OBJ
tain largely throughout the South.
They ought to have been improved
long ago; they must be improved
now, If we are to escape heavy mis-
fortune.
The European upheaval has
brought warning and opportunity to
many fields OF American interest
but to none has it brought sharper
warning or richer opportunity than
to the farmers of the South. And
If they profit by the lesson, South
ern agriculture will gain strength
and prosperity beyond measure The
south heretofore has been like
giant, endowed with siuews to move
montains and possessing the treas
ure of vast kingdoms, yet content
with using but puny tithc Of his
strength and with enjoying scant
corner of his wealth. The resources
OF the South are capable of Welding
iood haryests sufficient to supply
It's own needs and those of the en-
tire Union besides; they are capable
OF producing enough meat and
beef TO create new national indus
try; they can furnish the material
and motive power for more factories
than New England ever built or
imagined. \ land so wondrousIv
gifted cannot afford to cnsIayc IFS
thought and energy to single field
OF interest which is so bcsct with
uncertainties as is that of cotton.
An expert in the national DEPART
ment Of agriculture has said after
thorough investigation that i'm tbo
Atlantic and Gulf states of the
South there is land enough and eli
mate sufficiently favorable to pro-
duce the vegetable and fruit sun
plies required by many times the
present population of the cntir.
country Lack of suitable lands
he declares, lis eliminated for man,
generations, and further dryeIop-
ment waits only upon the solution
of economical problems. not nIpon
ihe discovery of suitable soils"
Experts in the federal bureau or
animal industries declare that tbn
South is exceptionally well suited to
cattle raising; and somf students
believe that this is the only section
OF the country on which the nation
may count for its future beef sup
ply. Certain it is that live stock or