The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-21
ALABAMA AHEAD IN
 LEARNING LESSON Farmers Quick to Find That Diversification Puts Money
 in Their Pockets

Washington, September 2o.-(Special. ] Of the nlne cotton states'' carrying the heaviest share of the nations war burden. congressman from Alabama opine that their commonwealth Is in the most strat- egic. economic position, due to its early grasp of the lesson that 'the south can- not live by cotton alone" Scranpling metaphors somewhat. Alabama has not put all its eggs in one basket, but has several irons in the fire.
 "If the southern states were not in debt today for the very produce they now are beginning to raise,' said Representative Burnett they would be able to carry their cotton crop without assistance. Even at that however. Alabama as the first state to learn the lesson of diversi- fled crops is in far better position than otherwise 1t would have been, and Is tar better off than some of her sister com monweaths."
 Diversfication of crops is the lesson of the European war to the south. as the members from Alabama see it. Not that they would abandon cotton, but MT. Bur nett for one believes that the cotton acreage can be reduced appreciably with out reducing the crop in proportion; mod ern methods and scientific work on the plantations, he opines, will more than make up in production what maybe cur tailed in acreage.
 Let us cultivate cotton, by all meant, says MT. Burnett, but also let us Iaise our own cattle and garden truck, instead of purchasing, these for more money than nnit for nttr profitable crops can be suggested than corn and hay and alfalfa, and of these Alabama can raise far more than her proportionte shre. So, let us show our versatility, instead of being specialists and devoting all our interest to cotton"
 And in support of his argument Mr. Burnett cites the case of a boy in his district who raised PIP bushels corn t, an acre, at a cost of cents a bushel, but was beaten for a prize by boy in Rep- resentative Hehin's district who raised PA bushels at a cost of F cents push I.
 (Which shows, incidentally" remarks MT. Burnett, that Alabama raises q fine crop of boys. also"
 With the price of corn lowering around $1 bushel, hay about $20 ton, and four crops of alfalfa in sight each year, Mr Burnett suggests that Alabama might make both ends meet with these products alone ,and bank the money Tor her cotton as a net profit.
 Above all however, the members frcm Alabama have great faith in the modest truck farm. and believe that this n l. try will help tremendously to enrich the state. In more than one county. they aver, strawberries appear as early in Florida, and are found to be a prodci- cnsly profitable crop. Garden produce of all kinds can be shipped to distant points and be sold at highly remunerative priess, while even the smallest farmer can raise cattle and pigs under auspices far nora favorable than is possible in scores of other states in the union
 Brains are the best fertilizer n the world, says Mr. Burnett. Brains can raise more cotton. more garden .rucl, more hay and corn and alfalfa and cot ton than any other fertilizer ever devised and the people of Alabama have an lin- limited supply of the best brains in the world. So. l hope and expect to see them show ever increasing interest in farm ing, without losing their interest in cot ton.
 To which several other members Of the delegation murmured "Ameni' in fer vent confidence.