The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-10
w. p. Redo EXPLAINS
AIMS OF CAMPAIGN
FOR VARIED. CROPS


state. The first principle that we have
to learn, is that of feeding ourselves,
therefore the crop Investigation idea
educational lines.
ut is reliably stated by those who have
Investigated it, that the state of Arkan-
sas last year bought foodstuffs such as
corn, hay, meat etc, in excess of $751;
200 worth, while the cotton crop grown
In the state actually brought about &c.,,
100000. What is true of Arkansas, is
also true of Alabama and other south
ern states.
lone of the most important things to
be taught the agricultural interests also
Is how and where to find a profitable
market for the surplus that may be grown
over and above what is consumed at
home, however, when our people learn
to feed themselves they will have solved
the most important problem In the south
and removed one of their greatest hand
leaps.
I'm an interview with a large western
farmer, he states to me that he grew
70, goo bushels of corn in 1913 When asked
what price he obtained for that corn,
he stated that he did not sell any but
bought 10000 bushels in addition. He
further made the statement that he con-
his hogs and cattle that it brought him
from 81 40 to 1.50 per bushel, regardless
of what price corn was bringing in Chi
cago. This would mean that our south
ern planter would not have to grow corn
for shipment to the west or other mar
kets, but that he could utilize his sur
plus entirely on his own farm by feed
ing it. on a very profitable basis.
Dependent on Farmer
1.-THE south up to the present time is
distinctly an agricultural country and
whether we acknowledge 1t or not, we
are all more or less dependent upon the
farmer and his prosperity, therefore. We
| shall call upon every good citizen in
this community to lend his support to
movement that is SO essential to our
future prosperity that no one should re-
| fuse his or her services We are con-
fronted not with theory but condition.
Our southern people are SO constituted
that 1t seems to take the hand of ad-
versity to make them rise to their great
| est triumphs, and I am firmly of the
opinion that the present adversely caused
| by the foreign wars is but the dawn
of a new era for our state. Our people
| have always been wise, when spurred to
action they have co-operated in times
of need, and cooperation Is all that is
necessary to achieve results far beyond
our dreams. 1t has been wisely said, that
lack of knowledge causes most of our
sufferings. To any close observer, 1t can
be clearly seen that this is the funda-
mental trouble with our agricultural COM
munity. The one crop idea, namely cot
ton, has put us 80 years behind in de-
velopment by comparison with our Sis
ter states of the north and west
God has given us climate and soil
susceptible of more varied diversified
l tor, han ,sart<,
and yet, our southern farmer buys from
these sister states each year foodstuffs
| for man and beast about equivalent in
value to our cotton crop. In order to
| illustrate how the south has suffered DUR
| ing the past season on account of the
one crop idea, wish to refer to state
ment given out by Secretary Houston of
| ington, d. c., in enumerating the value
of our farm products for 1914
First, I will mention that a crop of
something less than 100000 bales Of
cotton of 1918 was marketed for about
81, 900, 100000. He now estimates that we
| have a crop of about 100000 bales and
computes its value at $51S. 900. 900. In other
words, 100000 bales more cotton is ex-
pected to sell for practically $50o, 0oo. 900
less. This condition, regardless of the
foreign wars, could not have existed
where diversfication obtained. In order
| to disabuse our minds of the fact that
cotton Is the only crop of value produced
II will further quote the value of the
principal farm crops as shown by his
statement for 1914.
Corn .............$1. 702,6es.00o