The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-06
Let's Feed the South Before We Raise
Cotton.
Progressive Farmer.

Progressive Farmer.
Some of the cotton factors and oi,
mill operators. in some sections.
seem much excited through fear that
the South will not produce its usual
full crop Of cotton this year. We
think their alarm unfounded. More
cotton in proportion to food and feed
crops will be planted than should be,
In this serious shortage in food and
feed supplies and in the face Of the
certain demand for food to feed our
armies. In fact, the South should be
forced to more than feed herself this
year. II she will not do 1t voluntarily
and as a patriotic duty. And it is not
too much to say that any man who
az landlord, supply merchant, banker,
or adviser of the farmer offers any
encouragement or hindrance to the
planting of food and feed crops, is no
patriot.
We need a cotton crop, 1t is true,
but we do not need large one. What
we need in the South is the largest
possible food and feed supplies of
staple, non-perishable nature. Such
crops will certainly be profitable, al
though possibly not so profitable as
cotton. But no patriot will seek to
reap large profits at the, expense of
the needs Of the nation in time Of
war. for food and feed supplies
The South must not in this year of
short food supplies and increased de-
mands by our armies and our allies
continue as parasite on the food
supplies of the nation. If it is be-
meath the honor and patriotism of
the South to take for her own use
food supplies produced in other Sec
tiOns. while our army and our allies
are suffering for food, then the indi-
vidual farmer of the South who per-
sists in growing cotton at the ex-
pense Of food supplies should not be
permitted to buy and consume the
foodstuffs prduced by his more pa
triotic countrymen.
There is no need to advise cotton
planting. An ample crop will be
planted and 1t will receive attention
at the expense\Of all other crops. 1t
Is true that the cotton crop has food
value. That every ton of cottonseed
is equal in feeding value to a ton Of
corn. there is no disposition to deny.
Or that from each ton of seed may
be obtained 800 pounds Of oil suitable
for human food and 1900 to 1900
pounds Of high-class cattle feed; but
the statements of some Of the advo-
Gates of cotton in these war times
are, to say the least, somewhat ex-
travagant. For instance, one daily
paper states that the seed from a
14-million- bale crop Of cotton would
equal 1890, 100000 bushels Of corn.
Estimating a pound Of cotton seed
equal to a pound of corn in feed
value--it Is not nearly equal in hu-
man food value-the seed from a
14-million- bale crop Of cotton would
equal about 25O,O0O, 900 bushels of
corn. But only about 16 or II per
cent Of cotton seed can be or is used
for human food.
There is no need to advise the
planting Of cotton or to proclaim it's
great value as a money or food crop.
Enough will be grown and too much
whenever it displaces that proportion
OF food and feed crops necessary to
feed the whole South. We are under
duty bound to not only produce the
food and feed supplies for Southern
| farms. we must also grow enough to
feed the whole South and stop our
drain on the food supplies Of the
North, which are all needed for our