The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-12-16
unpaid taxes

mentable neglect Of live stock pro-
duction in the South"
The secretary's report includes a
table giving the census figures for
1889 and 1909, showing that in all
products except corn and meat ami
mails there has been a marked in
crease III production during the ten
year period. Continuing, the report
says:
I'VE know that the wheat crop of
1914 Of approximately $4,000, 900
bushels is the greatest ever produced
in our history and that the crops Of
oats, barley, rye, pOtatos, tobacco
and hay are unusually large. The
cotton crop, forecast in October at
6,340, 600 bales, is the second largest.
The apple crop, estimated at 259, ,O0O,-
900 bushels. is the greatest ever har-
vested. The total production Of six
leading cereals is estimated to have
been nearly 5000, 900, 900 bushels, or
about 42S.000,00O bushels in excess
of the crop Of 1913. For the country
as whole the crop yields per acre
were 2.3 per cent. better than the
average for the past ten years. The
average yield per acre Of all the staple
crops was 9.4 per cent. greater than
1913. and, except for corn, oats and
flaxseed, greater than the ten-year
average.
But after all our efforts, while
there is an increased diversifcation Of
agriculture and both a relative and
absolute increase in important prod
ucts, such as wheat, forage crops.
fruits, dairy products and poultry, we
still note not Olny a relative but also
an absolute decrease in a number Of
our important staple food products,
such as corn and meats. In the for
mer in the last Is years there has
been no substantial advance. In cat
tie, sheep and hogs there has been an
census year of 1899 to that of 1909, Of
from 50.O00.O0O head to 41,OOO, 900; in
sheep. Of from 100000 to 52,O00,-
600; in hogs, Of from 63.000,O0O to
5S.OO0,OO0. Since 1909 the tendency
has been downward and yet during
the period since 1899 the population
has increased over 2O,OO0.OOO.
This situation exists not in a
crowded country but in one which is
still in measure being pioneered;
in one which, with 935,000,000 acres
Of arabic land. has only 4O0,0OO,OOO,
or As per cent under cultivation; and
in one in which the population per
square mile does not exceed 81 and
ranges from or person in Nebraska
to sos in Rhode Island"
In urging farmers generally to di-
versify their products and especially
to produce beef, swine and poultry.
at least for home consumption, the
secretary said:
If farmers in the South had here
tOfore practiced diversitcatiOn on a
sufficiently large scale, producing
their own home supplies. that section
would not now be in it's present hard
case. The experts of this department
are labOring earnestly to bring about
q better direction Of the agricultural
activities of the South"
The report reviewed the increased
activity Of the departments informa-
tion bureau and included a statement
Of the plans for II reorganization of
the department to increase efficiency. !
The opening Of the forest reserve i'm
Il manner that would aid local COM
munities and at the same time pre-
serve the forests, and Il system where
by the government could. bear a part |
Of the local burden Of taxation to be
against future timber sales,
where forests are not at present avail
able for tmbcring. were recon-
mcnded.