McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1914-10-16

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rotated our soils more, and used tn
legumes for the enrichment Of ou
soils, together with the mineral fer
tilizers in proper proportions. Il
other words, this section of >th
country could easily produce all tn
feed stuffs and food supplies that w
are now bringing in from other sec
tichs, and in addition, the cotton tina
is now being made. This will neces
sarily take time, and involves mucl
study Of the handling of soils AM
crops. but this is being worked ou
by the many agencies that are nov
working for the introduction of thu
most modern methods upon the farms
of this section of our country, in con
nection with and in cooperation will
the progressive and wide awake farm
er.
At this time there is nothing bet
ter to be done in this direction thar
for farmers to plant large acreage
of oats this Fall. putting them in ac.
cording to most modern methods Of
preparation and sowing. | shall moi
here enter into a discussion Of the
best methods of preparation and put.
ting the crop, but will simply under
take to offer few suggestions as tc
why the Importance Of sowing oats
this Fall.
First, we have a short corn crop,
or a shortage of grain for the work
stock and other live stock in the
country. BY sowing oats this Fall
we may supply any shortage of corn
for feed upon our farms, probably at
a time when many thousands of farm
er will have to pay very high price
for corn. Usually corn is higher late
in the crop-making period, as most
farmers have enough feed until early
in the Spring, after which the demand
grows much greater; all distressed
corn has been marketed and the price
is highest,
Then as matter Of fact, under
normal conditions, the oat market is
good in this section Of the country at
threshing time, as there is always a
local demand for many bushels of oats
that are not grown in this section,
but are shipped in from other sec
tions. Oats have been a good money
crop in this country for many years,
and the outlook for a good price an.
other season is better then before on
account of the fact of a shortage of
feeds generally.
The sowing of oats will mean the
reduction Of the cotton acreage, and
the rotation of the soil, which is very
much needed generally. 1t will en-
courage the sowing Of cowpeas and
beans, and will result in large crop
of hay and forage, which in turn will
encourage the keeping of more live
stock. 1t is to be hoped that every
farmer in the entire cotton belt will
start now to diversifying more, and
to work himself onto the basis of
absolute independence of other Sec
tions in the matter of grain feeds
and food products, which will mean
independence of the conditions that
may exist with the cotton market
temporarily as at this time. Cotton
Is great crop for the farmer of the
South, when handled properly in con-
nection with a rational system of d.
versifed farming, such as this section
is ideally suited 70.
Sow oats! By all means, SOW oats!
While the country is rallying to the
"Buy.a-bale Of Cotton" movement,
let's all farmer Sow a crop of Oats"
Advise with the County Demonstra-
tion Agent, or Filed Agent Of the
Department Of Farm Improvement
Work of the M. & O. Railroad as to
the best method of preparation and
planting.