The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-09-05
OATS As MONEY CROP.
LONG ANTICIPATES CtyY~rON AC-
ItEA(E REDUCTION.
Director of Farm Demonstration, u,
Work in State Explains, Choice Of
Oats to Replace Cotton

stration work for the United Sttaes de-
partment of agriculture i'm cOopera-
tion with Clemson college, said yes
terday that the farmers of South Car
lima ought tn consider in the present
emergency what they would plant for
a money crop next year after they re-
duced their cotton acreage. DR.. Long
suggested that oats would be the
most available crop.
"Since the beginning Of hostilities in
Europe the farmers Of South Caro-
lima have held many meetings for the
purpose of devising ways and means
of financing the present cotton crop"
said DIR. Long. This, of course,
should receive their most thoughtful
and serious consideration, but have
seen no evidence that they were at
the same time giving thought as to
the wiscst policy (other than a re-
duction of cotton acreage) that
should govern them in the planning
for next years operations, a matter
that can not be overlooked at this
time.
IF we secure the means Of protec-
ting the present crop against a disas-
trous decline in prices. what will this
avail us II we fail to reduce our acre
age next year. even though the war
may be terminated and peace prevail
within the next six or eight months /?
Will not the expenditure Of $50, ,OOO,-
600 a day. that we are told Is the cost
of now maintaining the field forces of
the warning powers, have so impov-
erished those countries and there will
be such general decentralization that
they will be unable to take anything
like the usual amount Of cotton they
purchased from us under normal con-
ditions? Would not 1t be wise for us
In planning our future agricultural
operations to calculate that this de-
preston and decentralization that cx-
lists now will likely exist In the cot
ton trade of the world for some time
after peace has been declared?
''The effect Of this decentralization
may not be over until we are con-
fronted with another serious problem
that will be more demoralizing local
iy than the present war and that is
the appearance OF the Texas boil
weevil in the cotton fields Of the
State. With these thoughts in mind,
what crop or crops are we going to
turn to at this time that will give us
immediate profitable returns 1t must
be crop with which most of our
people are thoroughly familiar. We
know little Of trucking and horticul-
ture, we are not prepared for live
stock as a general proposition, for it
takes time to develop this type Of
farming. and this Is as it should be,
for our people must grow into live
stock rather than go into it.
'The supply Of the winter legume
seed Is limited. AS we obtain the
greater part Of our vetch and GRIM
son clover seed from Germany and
Russia, therefore we must seek some
crop or crops our people are familiar
with and which furnishes us o. sufi-
cient quantity of available seed.
THAT crop Is oats. We must re-
member that the amount Of potash
on hand is exec edingly limited and
the crop or crops grown must be ones
that can be produced with the least
amount of fertilizer on our present
cotton fields. 1t will he we'll to men,
ton here that the potash mines of
Germany are owned by the govern
Inent and though peace may come at
an early date the German government
will take advantage Of the situation
and will make the most out Of this
profitable source of revenue. There
fore. we have every reason to expect
that we will have to pay exorbitant
prices for potash :or some time to
| come.
we are recommending the seeding
or large acreage Of oats for the
reason as above mentioned, and for
the Following other reasons: In the
event that war continues, as has been
predicted by men high I'm authority
Tor the next year or possibly two
years oats will furnish us most proh-
table source Of revenue, for those
countries must have feed for their
'iNe stock III. however. peace should
De declared within the next few
months. and by chance the situation
clears up we will have magnificent
winter cover crop to turn under and