The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-16
ELOQUENT APPEAL


Continued from First Page.)
of the South we have treated the SOIL,
the fundamental source of all wealth.
as a drunken sailor treats his pay
when he gets ashore. 1t Is why soil
depletion has gone az far as II can
and why the hour for the return 10
intelligent handling OF the soil on a
basis Of maintained soil fertility If
Mt hand why we must start all over
again in some sections, with legunes
and livestock. and must restore cal
cium carbonate and bacterial Ire now
all but exhausted And so we appear
to the men OF the South, where gen
eraI rotation and modern methods
have not been employed. to reaiize
that artificial forcing on soil de-
pletion basis and on one-crop inea
IL not economic production of wealth.
and permanent development. that ee-
cry energy should be Bonded to the
restoration of soil fertility.
Lack of knowledge and recogni-
ton OF false meih@ds has led US to
take no cognizance in a business-like.
Intelligent way of costs Of production.
and explains why we founder along
IN the dark often finding man rais-
inr cotton at an actual cost or ~
cents per pound, corn at cost OK
sl.l5 per bushel. and hog meat at IL
cents per pound without knowing IT,
Soil science a Cqosed Book.
Soil science as such Is as yet
closed book. and present-day methoas
IRE as yet Ineffective In reaching the
root OF the trouble, We call upon All
agricultural workers. Federal ana
state, In hearty cooperation with the
people to bend all their energies TO
nf tntnItl.
gent soil handling. to the end that
payment of heavy doctors bills Tor
the treatment of a sick soil be eiimtn-
ated as far as possible.
Then comes the problem OF eco
ncmic production-teachin the farm
err to study a proper system OF ac-
counting and getting at the cost or
production of all of the commodities
he raises, and teaching him how to
balance his undertakings out intelli-
gently SO that he will make fair
profits This problem can be solved.
but 1t must be done by intelligently
directed cooperative effort and not
by higoted ignorance.
Incidental to all production and an
important element IL labor. 1t IL one
Of the South's real tasks to handle Its
labor problems. Whether II will be
done by making the negro more eff
factent or by the utilization gradually
OF ether labor and the distribution of
the negro over the country, A. farm
ing becomes more diversified and In
tensive, 1t - not for us to say. We be-
lisye II will be solved by training the
negro to be more efficient and USE
ful laborer. and through efforts to
that end instead OF by general educa-
ton.
Mfddlennen Absorb Profits.
but why solve the problem of soil
conservation and economic produc-
ton? Why ask the farmer to raise
more than he can sell and let it go to
waste? Why encourage over-produc-
ton in Texas or in Maine OF products
that there Is great demand for In
Oregon and Nebraska? AZ things now
are, the nation is without efficient ma
tional or State governmental agencies
to look to distribution OF products in
such R way that the individual on
the distant rural route can benefit BY
them. It IL true that transportation
facilities are being improved and the
General government and the States
have made a beginning in the matter
Of public highways. but as yet the dis
tribution' of products 10 In the hands
o. countless and useless middlemen.
and the people Of the nation are at
their mercy. the more 60 III prOpOF-
ton as ignorance prevails in the sec
lion. Profits belonging legitimately to
the producer are absorbed by the
army Of parasites for their own en-
richment.
THE tremendous demand for ef-
1S,cient and sufIlcient methods Of dis
trfbution and marketing comes from
All parts Of the nation. The creation
81 the present marketing bureau in
the United States Department OF Agri-
culture IL but the mantfestati ton OF the
realisation OF the government that an
attempt to do something must DO
made. We have no criticism Of the
scores Of mon employed In this branch
~ this time. but We do assert that
any effort that fails to open the OPP
6ortunity to buy and sell to John
6enes, living At Route No. I, JONES'
INC. Texas. ~ an individual. n money
Eneted and u doomed to failure. Dis
(n1hption and marketing are severely
Sseotlcal business propodtions. and
hAorakics will never solve the prob
11m.s The mobilization of the German
eu1fem Of chambers OF agriculture.
1rovonjy eAloient, ought to be estab-
&ihod h this country Just - quickly
~ 3 OoNld ~ done. The every South