The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1917-04-09
FARMERS URGED To
PLANT F0OO SUPPLIES

W Davis, commissioner or agricul-
ture.
This country Is now facing the
most remarkable food situation ex-
istent since, perhaps, the days of the
Civil var.
Viewing it as regards Texas alone,
the producers Of food crops are reap
ing the richest harvest OF their life-
time.
Breadstuffs, meats, vegetables,
dairy products, poultry products. all.
iare bringing higher prices on tina lo-
cal markets than ever known be-
fore, possibly.
And there IS a shortage OF Iaaay
Of these things. Frequently mer-
chants cannot supply their best Gus
toners with butter, eggs, etc, and
there are thousands OF families that
are now doing partly without these
things families that heretofore al
ways kept them on their tables. They
are doing without because the price
is prohibitive and because some
times these things are not in the
market
There are thousands of families OF
farmers whose tables are not as we'll
supplied as they once were. They
are the all-cotton farnlers-both ten
ants and farm owners. They are
those who have found ii nearly i'm
possible to afford the price and some
times nearly impossible to find what
they want.
That large element of the people
who live on wages and salaries are
facing the most distressing situation
ever before them The cost of liv-
ing has increased, in the instance of
many staple foods, 100 per cent. To
meet this their salaries have been in
creased about 10 per cent. The dis
tress in this class is much more than
| is generally recognized.
Cotton for two years past has
brought handsome prices. Yet the
growers of this, as a whole, are not
as well entrenched financially as
they should be. Those known as
Affection farmers are the ones least
benefited by the good prices. They
neglected to raise food for their own
| use to the extent they might have
done. and having to buy this food
| in the market, the receipts from theil
cotton crops have been heavily
drawn upon.
1t is the business of every man il
! fare of the whole people at heart
| 1t is the business of the state depart
ment of agriculture to promote tht
| interests of the farmers as whole
| The state department of agriculture
| is attending to its business in this
| instance, by attempting to show
! when and where this and that crol
may be planted with advantage.
gives assistance in the matter o
methods of producing crops and pro
tecting them from disease and insec
pests. Through its marketing blu
reau it lends aid in the disposal o
such crops to the interests of tht
farmer as is dictated by justice ant
fair treatment.
| The department wants to see th'
farmers prosper. individually anc
collectively. 1t is iaboring 10 in
crease personal efficiency to the ex
tent that two tons of feod may b,
produced with the same amoant q
labor and land as formerly rela res
to produce one ton.
The department is laboring to in
| crease the efficiency of marketin.
channels so that this feature may b,
accomplished in much greater degre,
of economy.
And with the setting forth of al
| the above facts, and with full con
| sideration of same, I believe l an
we'll within bounds of safety whel
call upon the farmers of Texas t.
raise more food crops and | do i
now. this year. Also raise more cat
tie. hogs, sheep. goats and poultry
| Discard many of the old habits of do
ing these things. and call ON thos,
who can supply the most approved
and modern methods,
There should be no all-cottou far
mers this year. Landlords SHOULD
give their tenants every consisten
aid and encouragement in this. TIL,
all-cotton farmers will themselves b,
the chief beneficiaries of this Cot
ton prices may come tumhling about
our ears another season. | ask you
rs individuals, all-cotton farmers
whore would you have been had tn,
price dropped 40 per cent and LEI
you thus to pay for the high priced