The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-04-07


In addition. several millions were
sent outside the State for mules and
horses and about $1,000 tons of food
stuffs. not included in the table, and
embracing 2,466 tons Of apples, 2,64S
tons of oranges, 2.626 tons Of peas and
peanuts, 1929 tons Of melons, and g.
Os5 tons Of other fruits and vegetables,
were brought into the State by one
railroad alone, making the total Of
such purchases at least 500, 900, 600.
South Cardinals experience in this
respect is shared in one degree and
another by all of the cotton-growing
States in the South. Eleven Of these
States, which in 1914, raised corn,
oats. hay and wheat to an aggregate
value of s639, 1853. 600, spent in that
year more than $203, 900. 900 for such
products brought from other quarters.
If the proportion Of such purchases to
the total purchases Of foodstuffs and
feedstuffs prevailed in South Carolina
in the preceding year prevailed in the
cotton states generally. the total ex-
p%enditures in the eleven cotton states
for agricultural products brought
from outside their respective borders
would have fallen not far short of
5000, 600, 900, or only about 500, OOO,-
600 less than the value of the 1913
cotton crop, with its seed.
Are not such facts sufficient to turn
the mind of responsible southern
farmers to the wisdom of diverting
some Of their acreage and some Of
their energy away from Affection and
into the raising of home supplies for
man and beast, without losing time in
trifing with such facilities az legis-
lative attempts to control the plant
ing Of cotton? If they require other
facts. they might study the results of
operations Of such bodies as the
Eastern Shore of Virginia Produce
exchange of Accomac and Northamp-
ton counties, Virginia, which handled
2,4S9.955 PACKAGES of products in 1914
or 334,6S4 packages less than in 1913.
the reduction being due largely to a
shortage in the sweet potato crop.
But, in spite of the reduction, the re-
turns in 1914 were $5,S93,942, an in
crease of $1,110,031 over 1913.
Among the members Of the exchange
a dividend Of 10 per cent. was divid-
ed.
Here and there are signs of Il love-
ment in the right direction. In eleven
cotton States, the area planted to
wheat last fall is 7,271, 900 acres, an
increase of 1,S12,000 acres, or more
of the fall of 1913, and the area plant
ed TO oats is 1850 0 acres. an in
crease of 1903, 900 acres, or nearly "A
per cent. over that Of the fall Of
1913. The increase in the acreage in
wheat and oats is something more
than 10 per cent. Of the acreage plant
cd to cotton in 1914 in those eleven
States. This is a good beginning. A
revolutionary change from Affection
to extensive growing Of other money
crops cannot be expected Of hundreds
OF thousands of individuals who know
little about any crop except cotton,
and whose knowledge even Of that is
suggested in the fact hat the aver
age cotton crop in the South is about
onc-third Of a bale to the acre. But
a bit of wise cooperation on the part
Of the most capable growers With their
less fortunate ncighbors ought to suf-
flee To bring about Il widespread de-
termination to make Il beginning o..
least i'm raising foOdstuffs and fe.l-
Stuffs at home. If 100 all-cot-ru
growers i'm every COttOn-raiSing COuuf,
i'm the south could be induced to 70.
ognizc the wisdom OF planting first Yl
all, crops other than cotton SUI
cient to provide, direct! or indire
lY, food for their families and the.i
animals before planting their cottOu