Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-11-30


cotton acreage would have resulted in an even
more serious predicament for the cotton planters
during the summer season.
Another reason for the decline in production has
been the strong pressure brought to bear upon
the South 70 practice diversified farming. This
has resulted in some states In q considerable de-
crease in The cotton acreage in order that more
corn, wheat oats, hay and other food crops might
be grown, hough these conditions are more or
less local. The government is engaged In cam
paign to interest the South in feeding itself, and
many thousands Of farmers who planted cotton
almost exclusively have embarked in diversified
farming in the last two years
The idea back of the diversified farming move
ment in the South is to make cotton the money
making crop and to utilize corn and other staple
farm crops to pay. the expenses of operating the
farm and TO enable the South TO produce enough
foodstuffs 20 feed itself. Thus, a tenant farmer
who has acres in cotton would. provided he
practiced diversified farming successfully make
from $2,50e to $4,000 a year all from the sale Of
his cotton. This would be net profit, but would
not, Of course, include the increased value given
the land through the enrichment of the soil by
the corporation plan. The average tenant farm
who practices crop rotation well can double
his cotton production within two three years it
has been demonstrated.
This gives food for speculation as to the posi-
bility which would follow the general adoption
of crop dversifcation throughout the South. The
average tenant farmer can grow barely more IMAM
one bale of cotton to the acre, though with
proper farming and fertilization he can Increase
this yield 70 three bales acre according to
farming experts. However not all Of the South
ern cotton fields soil impoverished and 1t
would be doing the better-class cotton planter
an injustice TO say that by proper farming he
could double triple his cotton crop. OF the
35000,0O0 acres planted in cotton this year q
large percentage of the acreage could be so in
creased in fertility as to double the yield by
1919 provided crop rotation was followed out
along the most modern lines.
With better farming the South will thus be
able to make its 35OOOOOO ac~os or more do the
work of from 100000 TO 50OOO00 acres under
the old plan. Any important reduction in acreage
therefore Is not to be looked upon with alarm
for there is certain to be consequent increase
In production. barring Unforeseen weather caIami-
ties. To this increased production must be added
the millions of dollars added TO the wealth Of the
South by the other farm products grown in in
creased quantities.
The slogan. "The South Must Feed Itself" is
the out~-ovth of this campaign FOR crop rota- |
ton as practiced in the North and West
The realization Of this dream would odd hun |
dreds Of millions of dollars TO the wealth of the |
South alone. for almost all Of the states will be-
come producers instead of consumers Despite |
the enviable climate and the good soil possessed |
by Alabama there are many counties which spend |
one million dollars or more each year in import |
ing outSlue IOodStuifS. With the practice of d. |
yersihed farming 1t will be possible for every
county In the state to export rs much corn and |
other farm crops IT now Imports
Some observers have taken the view, especially
since she entry Of the United States into the
war has resulted in increased activity in the d.
versihed farming campaign. that serious blow
Is intended at King Cotton. but such Is not the
'ase. The whole Idea of the campaign Is not 10
lproot the chief Southern crops for the Northern
,rops. but 10 rotate such crops ms have soil (
snHchng values, to enable the Southern
oil to produce even greater cotton crops Be-
'ause Of its revolutionary character the divers-
led farming campaign has not made much prog
ess except in Alabama Georgia and neighboring
tates which have been adding tens of millions
f dollars to the value of their farm products
ach year in recent years.
When the sent corn and wheat to sky
Ugh prices along with cotton, IL proved much
asier to enlist the sympathies of the Southern ,
armer and many thousands OF farmers are max
ng more money growing highpriced corn and
heat than they did in growing cotton. This is !
ne chiefly to the relief given the soil by crop
citation, and such conditions will be even more
ommon next season. when the soil rebuilding 0
recess adopted by nature is given time to get G
ell underway. Impetus has alone been given d
rop diversifcatIon by the shortage Of labor The Il
lost of these crops require less labor than cot Il
IN and can be tended more efficiently than cotton Fl