The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-02-04
A Word to Farmers.

Mr.. Editor:-I have been asked so
many times fer an expression as to
what the future has in store for the
farmers Of this community, that |
shall endeavor to say. Remember,
though, that l claim no authorship
Of any new doctrine.
TO my mind, the small farmer has
possibilities ahead of him such as no
other class of cur generation has
| had. | know some of my friends
will not agree with me, but whether
or not they do, the future of this
country will depend largely upon the
proper cultivation Of the soil. Fur
tEer than this. it will depend wheth-
er or not the land in this country is
owned by great many people Or
just few people. l am not advo-
eating giving every man mule and
forty acres of land, but do say that
no country can attain to that state
Of existance to be. desired where SO
few people own the land upon which
they live. You cannot name &
single man who owns his land upon
which he cultivates and lives that is
not better citizen by reason of
ownership. You cannot name
man who owns no land that would
not be better citizen if he owned
his land and home. | do not mean
that man who owns no land is not
q good citizen; | mean, though, that
he would occupy 2 position as land
and home owner which would give
him two sides % most questions to
look at. A man can better under
stand the question Of taxation if he
owns something to be taxed.
But enough said about this phase
Of my article. AS to the method Of
farming the present year, | think
the farmers will act very unwise if
! they plant more than one-half as
much cotton as they did last and
previous year. Why do I say this?
Because the foreign war has clogged
+, the wheels Of industry abroad where
! all Of OUR surplus cotton went, and
we will use very poor judgment to
plant thing that we know will be
depressed.
Now we have our equipment in
the way Of implements suitable for
] cultiVatiog cetton, but we can use
most al-of these in the cultivation
Of other crops" l know, too, that
the period of.transition, going from
one crop to another will disturb
good many plans made, but the
sooner we al see and realize thatwe
have just got to do this, the better
for US all. The land owners have
with them now the opportunity net
only to do what is best for them, but
they can set an example for their
children which will benefit posterity.
II you " i'll act wise, farmers, you will
try and make IS near everything
YOU eat as possible, and then make
as much to help feed the world with
as You can. You will not see any
low wheat, corn Or meat in several
years TO come. | believe we can get
our lands in condition to raise what
we have been buying heretofore. |
am well aware that the good Lord
has made one section to trade with
another section, and | am not adyo-
eating cutting loose from: our neigh
bors. We will always want and will
have to have some things made and
produced in other States and in
other countries, but what want 20
impress on your minds is this. is thai
we must change our nett oil Of
farming. We can do this without
hurting anybody or any industry,
You cannot make cotton and sell il
Tor SIX Or seven cents g pound and
pay your merchant, and surely he
Goes not want your trade unless vc,.
can pay him. It has ALWAYS seemed
to me that We have not farnoed
right in this section, although I was
| raised on small farm. and T fea1