The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-08-01
COMMENT ON FOOD SITUATION.
Dalzcll Farmer Discusses CrOps AMI
the Effects OF War Demands.

Editor Daily Item.
The cotton crop i'm this community
Is rather spotted. In looking around
you will find where there was good
preparation, fertilization and cuItiva-
ton, the crop does very we'll vet.
do not think it up to the avearg..
The rains have had telling effect
even where the crop has been wei
cared for and where it has not. il il
somewhat gloomy prospect. OF
course, there is considerable time ye..
for Improvement and we may mae A
good yield. The corn as q rule is
good. From the prospect now AMI
with no disaster in the near future.
this section will gather lots of it, IL
fact the farmers of this immediatS
section plant plenty of corn as a gen.
eral thing and with the condition un.
der which we are now laboring, il il
the one main crop that the farmer,
OF the South should look we'll to. We
are told that there are fifteen hun
dred million people in the world AMI
four hundred million in Europe are
looking this way for their bread and
meat. Then add one hundred mill
lion in this country to that number
and we find one-third of the worlds
population depending on the Ameri-
can people for sustenance.
Under such circumstances, it seems
to the writer that every man who pre-
tends to, farm, should first consider
that he is a factor in supplying this
great mass of people with their food
stuff and should make his plans ac-
cordingly.
We as farmers, must recognize the
fact that large percent Of the one
hundred million Americans are non
producers of feeds and food, but are
consumers and the cry coming from
Europe for those necessities should
admonish us, that unless we give the
proper attention TO the situation with
a resolution individually and collec-
lively to make our farms and coun-
try self-supporting, we will have suf-
fering among our own people. This
cruel war is on us and no man can
tell when it will end; therefore we
should do everything in our power to
help push our course on to victory
and the lot which has fallen cn the
farmer of this country is to contribute
his bit in the way Of something to
eat.
The situation now prevailing in
country and unless the premier sue
ceeds in reestablishing order and sys-
Russia is a problem worthy of very
serious thought by the people Of thus
country and unless the premier does
succeed i'm reestablishing order and sys-
tenn among his people, that they will
help prosecute this war to near and
victorious conclusion, this country
will have to carry additional burdens
which will tax her to her financial
limit and 1 fear her food limit before
the end of the struggle.
Should the authorities now at the
head of the Russian government fail
in their efforts being put forth in
trying to bring system and order out
of the chaos now prevailing; should
another revolution materialize, anoth-
er government organized and separate
peace made with Germany, the gra-
neries of that broad and expansive
country opened up to the central al
lies. the war would be prolonged to
an indefinite period, and the bur-
dens upon the people of this country
will grow in proportion to it's enor-
nifty and length. Mr.. Farmer, pre-
paredness should be the watchword.
j. c. Dunbar.