American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-02-24
SAFE
Program That Means Real Diversifi-
cation and Freedom From the Risks
Of One-Cr0p Agriculture.

Seven objections to a one-crop sys-
tenn Of agriculture are set forth In
Circular No. 56 of the Office Of the
Secretary, which is a reprint of an
address delivered by Bradford Knapp
at a conference of southern bankers.
The reasons why a one-crop system
fs unsafe are stated by MI. Knapp to
be as follows:
First. Because the system depends
upon market and crop conditions of
the one crop alone. Failure of crop
or failure of market alike bring SER
ious disaster.
Second. Because 1t does not pro-
vide for the maintenance of soil fer
tility.
Third. Because 1t fails to provide
for a sufficient live stock industry to
consume the waste products of the
farm and make its waste lands pro-
ductive.
Fourth. Because 1t does not pro-
vide for a system Of farm manage
ment under which labor, teams and
tools may be used to the fullest ad-
vantage.
Fifth Because it brings returns
In cash but once a year instead of
turning the money over more than
once a year.
Sixth. Because 1t does not pro-
duce the necessary foods to supply
the people upon the farm and keep
them In health and strength.
Seventh. 1t limits knowledge, mar
rows citizenship, and does not foster
home building, but does encourage
commercial farming"
The remedy for these evils Is diver
sified farming. Diversification, how
ever, g something else than a
change from growing cotton to grow
ing something else. One Louisiana
man, who believed tina. he was a
convert to dive~rsification, planted 500
acres OF tomatoes. In other instance
es farmers turned from cotton to corn
and had nothing else for sale In the
fall. This. Of course, is not diversi-
fication at all. The term is defined
In the new circular as IAN agricultur-
al system through which the living OF
the people upon the farm is first pro-
duced and then a number OF products
suited to the soil, the climate and the
market conditions Of the country are
jrdiciously selected and made the
main items Of profit through sale In
the great markets of the world. al
ways keeping in mind the necessity
for maintaining the fertility of the
SOIL"
h Is practically the same thing
as safe farming" The essentials for
its attainment in the south are stated
as foll.ws.
Il. A home garden for every fam
lily on a farm.-From one-tenth of an
acre to one-fourth or one-half of an
acre, we'll located, well titled and tend
ed as carefully as any other crop on
the farm. is what We mean by a home
garden. 1t must be planted In rota-
ton so as to have continuous crops.
thu providing something for the fam
lily table as many days in the zeal as
possible. To this should be added
one-fourth of an acre of potatoes. eth
er Irish or sweet potatoes, or both
TO be used as food for the family. An
acre OF sorghum or cane should be
produced to supply the family with
strip. On the subject of gardenine.
bulletins may be obtained from your
agricultural colleges and from the de-
partment Of Agriculture.
y. Produce enough corn to last the
family and the live stock, with GER
tainty for one year, with a little ex-
cess for safety.
%. Produce sufficient oats and
other small grain to supplement- the
corn as food for a year with certainty.
Remember these small grains con-
serve the soil in winter and provide
some grazing for live stock.
4. Produce the hay and forage
crops Necessary to supply the live
stock on thu farm for one wear. NOT
forgetting the winter and summer Ie-
sumes which not oaly produce hay
also enrich the soil.
.. Produce the necessary meat for
he family by increased attention to
poultry and hogs. I say poultry and
logs because they can be increased :
most rapidly for meat production.
Then farmers should plan eraduallv