The courier-index., 1918-07-05
HOME PRODUCTION
 0F FOOD IS URGED
CAN THE ARKANSAS FARMER PRODUCE ALL COTTON
 PROFITA3LY7

By ". c. Lasseter. Director Agricui-
 tural .Extenaion Division. University
 of Arkansas.
 For many years the agricultural agencies of the South have urged the home production of food and feed supplies The reason given was that such system added to the profits or the farm. We have scattered through out Arkansas and throughout the South innumerabIe progressive farm CTS who are living examples Of the correctness of this teaching. These men have grown their home supplies of food and feed and have produced cotton as a cash crop. These men have prospered and today are owners of unmortgageds farms.
 However. the question has been raised as to the effect of the high price of cotton upon the profits under a system of this kind. Many farmers today believe that they can better af- ford to grow cotton and purchase their supplies of food and feed that are used while the cotton crop Is being produced
 All Cotton VIII Not Pay.
 1t is true that with cotton A soc per pound many farmers Of the state will be able temporarily to make bet ter profits through adherence to cot ton as one crop However, these same men will be surprised when they come to reckon with the costs of feed. Cotton is worth only that which 1t will buy It cotton at BOG per bound win buy no more in the way of food and feed than it would at 12c per pound, then in reality 1t is worth no more Careful comparison of the re- tail equivalent values of cotton In July. 1914. and under present condi- tions show that on the average the purchasing power of cotton today IS practically no greater in food and feed supplies than it was before July, 1914 Previous to July, 1914. the av- craze for cotton might well be said to be 13c per pound or $50 per bale. With recent prevailing prices it is worth BOG per pound or sl50 per bale. Yet bale of cotton today will buy only one more bale of hay. will not buy as much corn. win not buy nearly so much lard, will not buy as much salt pork. nor as much bacon. very little more ham, only few more eggs and a little score butter, only few mora sweet and Irish potatoes. Oa the av- craze. considering all farm products entering into the ordinary expenses of tae oae erop cotton farm, tue pur- chasing power of cotton is no greater today a soc per pound than in 1914 at f2c
 If the progressive farmers of tho South prohted by producing their own food and feed previous to 1914. why could they not prosper under present conditions by observing the same farm system.
 In producing our own food and feed supplies in Arkansas we can reasona- bly say that we are not sacrificing in money. On the contrary we can say that we are rendering a patriotic ser vice.
 Grow Food and Feed or You May Not
 Get it.
 Mir McAdoo. Director General ot the Railroads. says for us to grow it-- that if we do not grow it we may be unable to get 1t.
 May every cotton grower in AriIan- sas siga the food production pledge and receive Ais honor card to display. testifying to the fact that as s patriot ic citizen he recognizes his duty to his Government. his duty to himself and famiiy and the best principles of good buaiaess management aS ap-