The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-10-27
The Department of Agriculture
Offers Timely Suggestions

In a circular sent out to the farm
ers and business men in the cotton
states the department of agriculture
at Washington offers a series of sug-
gestions to remedy the situation Gre
ated by the falling off in the demand
for cotton. Instead of. attempting
to obtain through cotton the cash re-
quired to buy other necessities farm
ers are urged to raise these necessi-
ties themselves. Cotton is low and
likely to remain so. Food products
are high and also likely to remain
so. A man, therefore, who has all
his acreage in cotton finds himself
compelled to exchange a 1ow-priced
article for a high-priced one. This
is not profitable.
One way within the reach of all to
cut down expenses is to pay proper
attention to a homegrown garden.
A piece of good land, as near the
house as possible, should be devoted
to this; given extra care and we'll
supplied with manure. In return the
farmer will have an abundance OF
good wholesome food throughout
large portion of the year which will
cost him little or nothing in cash.
Vegetables and fruits should be cam
ed for winter use. In this connec-
ton it is pointed out that summer Is
not the only time that work can be
1 advantageously put into a garden.
Farmers are advised, therefore, to
get in touch at once either with the
county agents or with the state and
federal departments of agriculture If
they wish any information on this
matter.
In addition to garden truck every
farmer should grow his own corn,
hay and forage crop and keep enough
chickens and hogs to supply his table
with at least the bulk of its meat.
Few farmers, in the cotton states at
least, keep enough chickens. The
profits that may or may not be made
out of the poultry business have lit
t1e to do with the fact that with
! some a sufficiently large flock OF
chickens can be kept on the farm to
supply the family with eggs and
much of its meat. Hogs, too, can
easily be raised for home consump-
ton. and beef cattle as we'll.
Again farmers can economic IN
! fine use of fertilizers. 1t is the poor
est possible economy to starve the
land; but there are other ways OF
feeding it than by buying high-priced
manures and commercial fertilizers.
Crops of such 1eguminous plants as
crimson clover, yetch or other winter
Ieeumes. or if seed for these cannot
be secured at a reasonable price,
oats. rye, peas or beans add greatly
70 the fertility of the soil when they
are plowed under. certain amount
of commercial fertilizer, of course,
NAV be necessary, but the farmer
should ascertain carefully how much
and what kind his land really re-
ouires. Above all, all the farm ma
nure should be carefully saved ana
distributed over the land.
It is obvious that if the farmer fol-
lows this advice he will plant less
cotton. Much of the acreage that ne
has in the past devoted to this cash
crop will now be required to produce
food crops. This is precisely the re-
snlt that is desired. It is prooaoie
that some millions of bales OF COTTON
will have to be carried over from
this years crop. If there is no de-
crease in the cotton acreage and no
increase in the quantity of food prod
nets raised the price of cotton must
necessarily continue to be low ana
the cost of living high. This condl-
tion is at the bottom of the demand
that some means be found to restrict
the cotton acreage in the coming
wear. Experience, however, mas
shown that such movements result |
not in a decrease, but in an actual
increase. Each man believes that his
neighbors will plant less cotton and
that the price will consequently go
mn He determines, therefore, to
take advantage of this by planting
all the cotton he can. On the other