The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-09-02
An Invader Oh the Way.

South Carolina is for preparedness
against war, but there is a great deal
more need just now for preparedness
against the boil weevil. According to
w. w. Long, in charge of farm DEM
onstration work for this State, that lit
tie pest will enter South Carolina with
in year. The experts of the United
states department of agriculture are
agreed that nothing can stop the ra-
wages Of cotton's greatest enemy on
the plantations of the south. Cotton
has long been the principal crop in this
State, and with many farmers it is al
most the only crop. The advent of the
boil weevil and the running Of the cot
ton fields which is certain to follow
Will strike South Carolina one Of the
hardest blows agriculturally it has
ever known in it's history, unless-and
mere is where the wise farmer can save
himself and contribute to the develop
ment Of his state as well-farmers i'm
mediately plan to cultivate their fertile
acres in other crops, notably corn,
wheat, grain and other things which
furnish food for them and their stock.
More of the acres now planted exclu-
siVely to cotton could also be most
protitably utilized in the raising of
hogs and cattle. ~,.,~
South Carolinians have never yet
realized the blessing that is theirs i'm
possession lands on which almost any.
thing can be grown, and at profit.
When the European war threatened to
make cotton production a burden in
stead Of an asset, the doctrine of di-
versification was preached and prac-
ticed as never before in this state. And
the result was in every way most en-
couraging. The good results were
! strikingly evident at a time when the
industries of the entire country, and
business generally, had not recovered
from the stunning blow caused by the
war with its blockades, decentralization
Fof exchange relations and other things
fatal to business, and the beneficent
effects are still being felt. This was a
demonstration Of what diversification
can do in this State if given a fair
trial.
Notwithstanding these evident ad-
vantages, however, the tendency just
at this time is to go back to cotton.
The price has almost doubled since the
slump following the outbreak of the
war, due in large measure to the
greatly decreased production of 1915,
the increased consumption in Ameri-
can mills and a general recovery of
business generally. With the price 60
ing up every day, it will be quite nat
ural for the farmer to plan to put ev-
cry acre possible in cotton again next
year with the hope of reaping the re-
ward Of continued high prices. with
the thought also in mind that the war
Will possibly be over by next fall.
bringing an Unprecedented demand for
American cotton and consequent high
prices. This argument will hardly
bear analysis, however, when it is
considered that it is built upon un.
certainties and it's unwisdom is more
apparent when it is remembered that
the boil weevil is surely coming. And
the farmer who has not prepared for
growing something else will be caught.
The man who has learned the value of
putting his energy into other things
will be safe. To the man who has
been used to depending on cotton, the
prospect may appear gloomy. But it
should not. Cotton is profitable
crop, but other things are profitable
also. Other people in lands where the
population is excessive have learned to
make profits out Of small plots of
land not nearly so rich as the soils of
this State. A man who comes from
one Of those countries to make a liv-
ing from the soil in this country, puts
the American farmer to shame I'm the
amount which one acre is made to
yield. Many of them make a COM
Portable living on the land which in
South Carolina is made to produce a
bale or two of cotton. Proper diver
sifcation will also enable the South
Carolina farmer to have something to
Keep his hands employed the year
round. If farming were not so easy
IN this State, it would not stand the
vast amount of time that is allowed to
90 to waste on the great majority of
the farms for weeks and months i'm