The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1918-02-21
SUGGESTIONS FOR SAFE
FARMING IN THE SOUTH

the Office of Extension Work in the
South, United State Department of
Agriculture:
This is not only the most important
but the most critical year in the his
tory of agriculture in the Southern
States. 1t is necessary that the plan
adopted should meet the approval of
| all patriotic men and women, that it
should sustain agriculture, sustain
1t must be passible, practical, and
patriotic program.
South Almost National Asset as to
Food.
During the year 1917 the farmers
of the South did a wonderful piece
of work. In the face of an increasing
price for cotton they responded to
the call Of the President of the Uni
ted States and increased their pro-
duction of food and feed crops and
also their production of live stock.
In some of the States the increase in
;orn production ran more than so
Der cent. and the increase in the Is
'outhern States was 13 per cent in
pite OF the great decrease in Texas,
Oklahoma, and Louisiana, due to ex-
essive drought. The increases in
clvet beans, sugar, sirup, etc, have
cen phenomenal, but not more than
ur people needed. For the first year !
recent history of the South the
ureau of Markets has been able to
port that the local demands for
"rn nave been met by the local sup
y In many sections. The South has
'2n almost national asset and not
liability as to food. Another year
i us have no liabilities. We must
rOve our worth
Needs of Nation Demand Safe Farm
ing Program.
Under the present circumstances |
the needs of the Nation are best met
by pursuing a safe farming program,
improving each year on what we have
done heretofore. By doing so we
place>+he least possible burden upon
the transportation facilities of the
country, we keep our cotton as real
cash crop, and we support our peo-
pie and our growing livestock indus
try by producing high-priced food
and feed products and marketing
them to ourselves at the cost of pro-
duction. A taste of prosperity dur
ing the past year, due to a better
balanced husbandry as well as high
prices, should encourage us to con-
tlnue the great safe farming program
of food, feed, and cotton.
Let us go over the items of safe
farming program, celebrating them
IN the light of present conditions:
A Home Garden for Every Family
on the Farm.
Also backyard garden for everv
town family. Feed the people with
fresh vegetables from an all-season
garden as many days in the year as
possible. Grow the home supplies of
sweet potatoes and Irish potatoes.
Continue the sorghum and sugar cane
for the sirup supply.
Beware, however, of going into the
production of perishable products on
an extensive scale without KNOWING
that there IS a market for them,
system of marketing already esta-
bllshed, and transportation facilities
to get them to market. This applies
to the undeveloped trucking areas.
All well-established trucking areas
a hax, 4
the business will continue their oper-
atoms with cautious regards to the
needs of their established markets.
Must Sustain the Production of Corn
There is grave danger this year Of
a reduced production of corn. This
would be unwise. Many States in
the South have gone into live stock
quite extensively. 1t would be a dis
aster for us to have live stock without
the corn to feed it next year. If
you have gone into the livestock in
dustry remember that you must main
tain the corn production. 1t is YOUR
only defense. There is no profit in
live stock unless the farmer pro
duces his own feed.
The small grains as supplement to
,hc corn and for food and feed were
taken care of by your fall plans.
Hay and Forage Crops Necessary.
Produce the hay and forage crops
necessary to supply amply the live
stock on the farm for one year, with
an excess for safety, and for city and
town consumption. This is necessary
for the same reasons mentioned un-
der corn production. Velvet beans,
soy beans, peanuts, cowpeas and 9TH
er forage crops should by all means
be maintained and increased this
year Remember especially the value
u these crops as actual cash crops
Of the farm. Peanuts and soy beans
furnish the oil much needed in these
war times. The Nations need, your