The Spectator., 1914-11-20
SAYS SOUTH MUST
 DIVERSITY CROPS
THIS IS 1.-THE OTHER PRESSING AND IMPORTANT PROBLEM"
 CONFRONTING SOUTH.
COTTON LOAN FUND PLANS
perative Needs of the South in Reducing Cotton Acreage.
Western Newspaper rn,on News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service. shington.-WaIning is given by officials of the Federal Reserve Board and the Treasury Department that the South must learn diversifcation of crops and reduce it's cotton acre age if it is to get the full benefits from the $135, 100000 loan fund just completed, and insure material in- crease in the price of raw cotton for next years crop.
 Secretary McAdoo called this "the other pressing and important prob He urged the raising of other food products, which he predicts will find ready market, particularly if the Eu- ropean war continues.
 "The Southern farmer" said Mir. McAdoo, has an unusual opportunity for changing existing methods and habits with certain profit and perma- nent benefit to himself"
 He said that Department of Agri- culture will gladly give methods of crop diversification suitable to the , different localities, and added that bankers have an excellent opportun- ity to direct the character of crops by. imposing proper conditions" on ad- vances made to farmers.
 Secretary McAdoo said general su- under the individuals who compose the Federal Reserve Board, and named the Cotton Loan Committee which will have active charge of the work, which will hold it's first meeting in New York Friday.
 This 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 benefit of the cotton loan fund and it's use under the plan will have a far-reaching and benef- cial influence upon the cotton and business situation, the attention of the South should not be drawn away from the other pressing and import ant problem with which it must in- telligently and effectively deal-a ma terial reduction of cotton acreage in 1914, and the raising of food products on large part of the acreage here tofore devoted to cotton. Not only will crop diversifioation help the prosperity of the South, but the mere assurance of large decrease in the cotton crop next year will immedi- ately enhance the value of the pres ent crop.
 "The food products which the South can advantageously raise on a part of the cotton acreage will find ready market at profitable prices. even if the South itself cannot ab- sorb them with greater advantage than by buying supplies from neigh boring states. If the war in Europe is protracted. the demand for food stuffs will grow in volume and inten- sity. and must be supplied in large part by this country. The recently expressed view of the secretary of az r,culture on this subject should be read by every farmer in the South.
 Where bankers are not dealing d. rect with the farmers. the merchant who supplies the necessary credits cap exert the necessary influence as to the crops to be planted. earnestly hope that the farmers, the bankers and the merchants in the South will cooperate to materially re- duce the cotton crop in 1915 and se- curing a satisfactory crop diversificx- ton. Not only should the Southern farmer plant food crops. but he can raise cattle and poultry with great beneft to himself and the country at large. He cannot do this. however. unless he reduces cotton acreage and raises food supplies"