Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-09-18

much greater dlVerSlhcatl0n'lS being DfacClceu now
than everbefore in the history of this section the
conditions that now confront the farmers of the
South are such as to emphasize with great force
the fact that diversifcation has not been ~practiced
enough yet.
It seem wonderfully strange that a great and
rich section of the country could be so nearly de-
moralized because of poor market conditions Tor
one of its crops as this section now is on account OF
the conditions of the market for cotton, the crop
above all others that should be strictly a surplus or
cash crop. Suppose this section of the country had
acted wisely and had placed itself upon the basis OF
independence of any other section of the country by
raising sufficient feed stuffs, food products, meats,
butter, poultry, etc., the cotton crop representing
the %country's cash crop or clear profits. This ruin
GUS price for cotton could easily be met by our
farmers with the declaration that they were amply
able TO hold the cotton until such a lime as there
was a demand for their product; that the cotton
crop simply represented the cash or profits realized
upon the years operations, and conditions could be
met without any serious results to the general
prosperity of the country.
This could be so, too, without the curtailment OF
the cotton production, since the same number Of
DdltSO VI CIdD IF DOuGAA 10 ~" piNN"~Ac
could and would be made upon a third of the LAND
that is now being required for its production If W.
only rotated our soils more, and used the legumeS
for the enrichment of our soils, together with min
eral fertilizers in proper proportions. In othe'
words; this section of the country could easily pro
duce all the feed stuffs and food supplies that W
are now bringing in from other sections, and j.
addition, the cotton that is now being made. Thi
will necessarily take time, and involves much stud,
of the handling of soils and crops, but this is being
worked out by the many agencies that are now
working for the introduction of the most modern
methods upon he'farms Of this section Of our coun-
try, in connection with and in cooperation with the
progressive and wide awake farmer.
At this time there is nothing better to be done
in this direction than for farmers to plant a large
acreage of oats this fall, putting them in according
to most modern methods of preparation and sowing.
| shall not here enter into discussion of the best
methods of preparation and putting in the crop, but
will simply undertake to offer a few suggestions as
to 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 ir
the country. By sowing oats this fall we may sup
ply any Shortage of corn for feed upon our farms
probably at a time when many thousands of farm
ers will have to pay a very high price for corn
Usually corn is higher late in the crop-makin.
period, as most farmers have enough to feed unit
early in the spring, after which the demand grow
much greater; all distressed corn has been mark
eted and the price is highest.
Then as a matter of fact, under normal condi
tons, the oat market is good in this section of tn
country at thrashing time, as there is always
local demand for many bushels of oats that are no
grown in this section, but shipped in from othe
sections. Oats have been a good money crop i
this country for many years, and the outlook for
good price another season is better than before az
count the fact of a shortage of feeds generally.
The sowing of oats will mean the reduction q
the cotton acreage, and the rotation of the sol
which is very much needed generally. 1t will er
courage the sowing of cowpeas and beans, and wi
result in a large crop of hay and forage, which
turn will encourage the keeping of more live stool
1t is to be hoped that every farmer in the entil
cotton belt will start now to diversifving more, an
to work himself onto the basis of absolute ind
pendence of other sections in the matter of grai
feeds and food products, which will mean indepel
dence of the conditions that may exist with Il
cotton market temporarily as at this time. Co
ton is a great crop for the farmer of the Sout
when handled properly in connection with a ratio
al system of diversified farming, such as this Sc
ton is ideally suited too.
Sow oats! By all means, Sow oats! While Il
country is rallying to the 'Buy-a-bale of Cottor
movement, let's all farmers Sow a crop of Oats
Advise with the county Demonstration Agent, o.
Field Apant of tho Farm Tp,nrovop,ont Worly
the Mobile and Ohio Railroad as to the bestmeth
of preparation and planting.
Let no pleasure tempt thee no profit allure thee, no am
ton corrupt thee, no example sway thee, no persassion m,