The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-11-21
CROP D|VERS|F|CAT|ON SOUGHT
NADOO SAYS GRAIN NVST nr,
SUBSTITUTED FOR COT.
TON.
ioihts out That Only in This Way Can
south Secure Benefits Expected from
"reat Cotton POOl-Rcscrvc Board
Members to Supervise Fund.

''0'0'VoV COTTON loan fund has
peen completed, officials of the federal
reserve board and the treasury de-
partment declared today that the
oouth must introduce diversification
OF crops and a resolution of cotton
acreage next year to get the full bene-
nts from the fund and insure a ma
terial increase in the price of raw
cotton for next years crop.
secretary McAdoo, in a statement
tonight called this the other pressing
ana important problem with which
the south must deal. He urged the
raising of food products which. he
predicted. will find ready market
particularly if the European war per-
sists.
Tile southern farmer" said Mr.
McAdoo, therefore has an unusual
opportunity now for changing exist
ing methods and habits with certain
proht and permanent benefit to him
SELF
lie suggested that the department
OF agriculture would gladly outline
methods of crop diversification suit
able to different localities and added
that bankers had an excellent oppor.
tunity to aid in this work by using
their influence to direct the charac acter
OF crops by imposing proper condi-
tions' upon advances to farmers.
The farmers of the South" con-
cluded the statement Ought to wake
up to the importance of crop diversi-
fcation. There never was a. time
when they could wake up with such
certain profit to themselves"
Members Of the federal reserve
board were inclined tonight to believe
that present conditions pointed to
decided reduction in cotton acreage
and predicted that with acreage re-
duced cotton would go to a normal
level next year.
General supervision Of the cotton
loan fund will be under the reserve
board members with the recently ap-
pointed cotton loan committee in ac-
tive charge of work, according to an
nouncement at the treasury tonight.
The first meeting of this committee
will be held in New York Friday
morning.
"The plan gives the cotton loan
committee power to appoint commit
tees in each Of the cotton producing
States of Alabama, Arkansas. Florida,
Georgia. Louisiana, Mississippi. North
Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina,
Texas and Tennessee, to assist it in
carrying on the practical work.
while the creation Of the cotton
loan fund and it's use under the plan
will have a far-reaching and beneficial
influence upon the cotton and busi-
ness situation, nevertheless the atten-
ton Of the South should not be drawn
away from the other pressing and i'm
portant problem with which it must
/
namely, a material reduction Of cotton
acreage in 1915, and the raising of
food products on a large part of the
acreage.
Crops diversificatiOn will not only
help the prosperity Of the South but
the general situation will improve.
Food products which the South can
adVantageOusly raise on a part Of the
acreage will find ready market at
profitable prices even if the South it.
self can not absorb them with greater
advantage than by buying supplies
from neig;hboring States. If the wal
in Europe is prOtracted the demand
fod foodstuffs will grow in volume and
intensity and must be supplied il
large part by this country.
The recently expressed views o.
the secretary Of agriculture on this
subject should be read by every farm
er in the South. The department OF
agriculture will gladly give informa-
ton to the farmers of the South about
the best means and methods Of crOl
diversification suitable to the condi
tiOns Of each locality.
The bankers also have an eXcep
tional opportunity to aid in this com
mendable work. They can in larg'
measure influence the character o
crops by imposing proper conditions
upon the advances they may make t.
the farmers. Where the bankers ar
not dealing directly with the farm
ers, the merchant who has salpplie'
the necessary credit can exercise tn
! necessary influence.
z Il earnestly hope that the farmer
p the bankers and the merchants in tin
= South will cooperate with each othc
y for the purpose of materially reduc
l ing the cotton crop in 1915 and SO
l. curing Il satisfactory crop diversili