The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-04-14

lease other grain products for use as
food.
Corn Is the leading food and feed
crop Of the United States in geo.
graphic range of production, acreage
and quantity of product. The vital
importance Of large acreage of this
crop properly cared for. therefore is
obvious. Conditions warrant the
planting Of the largest acreage of this
crop which 1t is possible to handle ef-
fectively.
'Earliness Of maturity, other fac
tors being equal. Is advantageous in
the case Of practically all grain crops.
Relatively early maturing varieties
should be selected where possible and
planting should be done at the earliest
suitable date.
''The usefulness of cowpeas and soy
beans as human food has been rec
ognized only recently in this coun-
try. Existing conditions warrant the
planting of all the available seed of
varieties known to do we'll in the
several sections.
"The soy bean In particular has
proved sufficiently resistant to cold in
spring and to adverse weather during
summer to warrant heavy planting.
especially throughout the South. The
value Of the beans for oil production
as well as for human food has become
recognized so quickly and so generally
during the past year that the crop
has acquired commerciai standing
far in excess Of it's previous status.
THE high food value Of field beans
an6 the shortage of supply due to the
light yields Of 1915 and 1916 render
them Of great importance in the re-
gions to which they are adapted.
"A deficiency of. hay and forage for
the next winter would jeopardize the
future meat and dairy supplies of tho
country and result in q shortage O
roushage for military draft ard sad
die animals. -..tss * y,
Seed potatoes should be con-
served by planting on the best lands
available and planning for thorough
tillage and protection Of the crop
against disease and insect pests.
Potatoes can be grown most ad-
vaDtageously near the centres of pop
ulation in the Northern States where
transportation cost may be reduced
to a minimum. This crop Is capable
Of quick and large increase Of pro-
duction when conditions are favor
able. There Is. however, considerable
risk Of improbable production Of po-
tatoes when they are grown at long
distances from the consuming mar
kets. owing to the disproportionate
weight and bulk Of the product in
comparison with cereals.
such vegetable crops as carrots,
rutabaga turnips. onions and cabbage
arc worthy of much more attention
tlan they generally receive. All these
crops are capable of large production
or suitable land under intensive cul-
ture throughout the more densely
portions Of the country.
I'm the Southern half Of the coun-
try perhaps no crop has larger posi-
bilities for quick increase of produc-
ton OF food for man and animals than
tho sweet potato. The peanut in many
sections Of the South also is capable
Of greatly enlarged production.
"Only about 20 per cent. of the sup
ply Of sugar normally consumed in
the United States is produced domes-
tically and this amount can not be in
creased appreciably during the coming
season.
'The high prices for foodstuffs that
have prevailed during the last few
months have stimulated interest in
the increase Of home supplies of vege-
tables. poultry and dairy products on
farms. This interest has been quick
ened most noticeably in the South
where for several years this depart
ment and the State through their
extension workers have urged such an
increase as necessary for economic
reasons. even under normal condi-
tions. Other parts Of the country have
responded to these appeals but en-
phasis on this feature should be con-
tinued by all agencies in position to
operate effectively.
Through increased attention to
poultry on farms 1t Is possible to add
quickly and materially to the food
supply. When conditions render II
feasible small flocks Of poultry shoult