The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-14
SERIOUS WARNING GIVEN.
STATE DEFENSE COUNCIL ADVIS.
ES FARMERS TO PREPARE
FOR HIGH PRICED
FERTILIZER.
All People Warned to Beware of EN-
travagancc and Speculation and
Urged to Save Surplus Dollars for

David Il. COker, of Hartsville, chair
man Of the State Defense Council, has
issued the following statement to the
people of South Carolina:
THE State Council of Defense wish
es to call attention to several features
on the present and prospective tsitua-
ton which seem to call for thought
full consideration by all Of the people
of the State, but especially by the
farmers.
Tremendous advances have recent
ly taken place in fertilizer materials
and especially in ammoniates. Tank
age, cotton seed meal and dried blood
are already so high that it is doubt
full whether they can be profitably
used as fertilizing materials. This is
because these materials are more and
more being used as food for live stock,
being substituted to some extent for
corn, wheat bran and other materials
which can be used for human food.
Sulphate of ammonia, which has been
largely used for fertilizers, is almost
entirely off the market, being required
by the government for the manufac-
ture Of munitions. 1t is altogether
probable that next spring the average
farm will be unable to buy any source
of ammonia except nitrate of soda,
which is now nearing 10000 per ton
with a possible further advance. There
is no certainty that even this mater
ial can be obtained in adequate guam
titles as it is also used largely in mu-
nitions of war.
This situation seems to call for the
planting of every acre of stubble land
and all vacant corn middles to COW
peas which is the only available le-
gume for planting at this season. La =
ter OH (September 18th to October
l5th) it will be advisable to plant
cover crops in all of the cotton.
The farmer who understands the
situation now and takes all possible
steps to meet it in advance may be
able to carry on his operations next
year without contracting fertilizc,
bills so heavy as to cndanger his pro-
ilts. The farmer who takes nc
though fer the morrow" will be in a
very different position and may face
a situation next spring out of which
he will be unable to figure a living.
We trust the people of the State will
carefully consider the above situation
caused by the prospective shortage
and high prices of fertilizer and will
take all possible steps to lessen the
threatened danger TO our agriculture.
Another very difficult problem
seems to us to confront our people
If the State this year produces an
average or even three-quarters of an
average cotton and tobacco crop and
1t sells at anywhere near present
|
paid' the greatest volume of surplus
money ever known in this State Pre-
Vious periods of unusual prosporitv
nave almost invariably been accom-
panied by speculation, extravaganza
and large investments in new enter
prises. With the boil weevil on our
threshold and with the war present
ing Kaleidoscope of problems which
at any time may reverse the financial
outlook, our people should show a
wise conservatism this fall. If the
present outlook for profitable busi-
ness is realized it will present a great
and unusual opportunity to all farm
ers and business men to pay off 40.
cuiulated debts and to lay aside q
surplus to meet boil weevil conditions
and other probable contingencies.
Every man who reads and thinks
should use all of his influence to sec
that the prospective prosperity is
tually result in disaster. Waste and
extravaganza should be frowned upon
ana made unpopular by public senti
ment.
The government will undoubtedly
offer other issues of bonds from time
to time and a large part of the nro-
nus or our people must go toward
financing the nation if the war is TO
be successfully conducted. The Red
Cross, the Y. NJ. G.. A. and other not
ional charities must be supported and
supported literally
After debts are paid and national
financial needs fully attended to every