Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1915-01-21
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AS41AAuN1EATkD-
Tia Tshsese os~ssisa.
The recent letters on the tobacco
question and the proposed melting ii
Morganza are Of vital importance %
the tobacco growers OF st. Mary,s
county and take this opportunity 70
urge every farmer that can be there 70
come and devote some of his energy
70 devising some plan for pus.Ing our
principal money crop on . profitable
basis.
There are only two questions 70 Il :
one the cost of production, the other
the selling price, r. these are equal
and cannot be rensdied, IL Is foolish
for anyone TO suggest growing more
tobacco. But this condition can be
remedied by concerted action OF the
farmers themselves and by no other
agency viii il be remedied. Our farm
ers in the first place can greatly reduce
the cost of producing tobacco, in many
cases as much as half, By increasing
the yield per acre, Is well as the quail.
ity per plant through q more Suitable
rotation and economical and lntelll.
gent use of commercial fertilizers.
This would add considerably 70 the
profit side, as dollar saved Is q dol.
lar made, and then, the grower 10 grow
tobacco profitably must know the buy.
er aud the market better than he does
at present.
Our people are not sufficiently In.
formed as To the needs of the trade.
We have made the grea. mistake OF
expecting other people to look after
our interests. Corporations aud wise
business men look after their own.
We must not blame others for wha,
we have neglected 10 do. IL Is q mis-
take to think We can hold our own
while men In all other lines of bust.
ness are working together for the ends
they desire. Organization Is neces.
sary-through II let Us get in closer
touch with the trade, learn the best
methods OF handling and marketing
the crop. learn the types of tobacco
needed by the trade,-then will we be
In position TO grow tobacco econom-
ically and probably. There are many
causes that contribute 10 the expense
oil the crop under control of the grow.
er, principal among these is the fail
ure TO grow the food for the men and
farm. The principal of these, corn,
wheat and hay. furnish the power for
the production of our money crops.
also the materials for the maintenance
Of the fertility of our soils. When we
are producing these crops at a cost
over the market price, as ut present.
it must reduce the profit from our
money crop by increasing the cost OF
production. Ii is to remedy these con-
ditions that the Department OF Agri.
culture is urging a strong campaign
Tor diversification. on our southern
farms. We cannot afford to buy high
priced supplies with low priced to.
bacco.
Our condition Is the natural result
OF one crop system. History proves
that 1t always results in a rundown
soil and from that to a run down PEG.
pie. The error of q one crop system
is especially manifest in the time of a
crisis like the present. Many farmers
have sold their tobacco at a loss.
Some claim that conditions have i'm
proved. 1t should be the duty of our
farmers to inform themselves upon this
vital question. The safe plan Is "a
grow-less acres in tobacco try to Inn
prove the quality and grow all the
food crops possible. Plan divercif-
cation, be independent and we will not
be at the mercy of the next crisis.
Not alone Is this question of in
creasing the farm profits of Importance
to the farmers but to all other voca.
ton as we'll. The success of the bust.
ness man, the banker, the professional
men are dependant upon the profits de-
rived from the farms OF our county.
Every one should be actively inter-
ested in producing in our county the
necessary supplies for this year and
keeping in the county the money that
usually goes out for high priced food.
We all agree that there is lack OF
profit coming to the farmer. Just so
far as he profits win country life be
attractive. Let us organize. cooperate,
find the cause and apply the remedy.
@. +. WATHEN, JR.,
Local Agent.