The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-07-30
SOUTHERN CROPS
ARE DIVERSIFIED
PRODUCE F GOD
Old System OF Raising Cotton
And Importing Food Is No
Longer In. Use.
[ BY Associated Press to The Rannerl

DALLAS, Tex, July 27--The South
has dropped the Onecrop system and
is beginning to feed itself and help
the rest of the nation. thus putting an
end to the story about Texas farmer
who bought his beans in Boston. his
furniture in Grand Rapids. his food in
Kansas City and raised only cotton
and pack of hungry hogs.
The war, according to authorities.
has done more than years of advice
in bringing about the present situa-
tion in the South. where large quanti-
ties of food now are being raised. The
immediate and important effect mem.
bers of agricultural departments say.
is the sharp decrease in the drain on
the North and West. which now per.
mits of greater overseas shipments
from those sections. -"
Fixed government prices. insuring
a fair return, encouraged planting
agents of the agricultural departments
and agricultural schools pointed out
to the southern farmer the benefits of
varied crop, and the excellent wealth,
er brought crops that authorities say
will result in still greater acreage of
wheat and oats next year. The ideal
weather resulted in an early harvest.
Texas. Georgia. Alabama. Louisiana,
North Carolina. Florida and Virginia
will harvest greatly diversified food
crops this year. One striking result is
shown in shipping report from Ala.
bama. Until four years ago from II
counties in the state not single car
load of hogs was shipped In the year
ending April 1. 1918, hogs to fill 1852
were sent from the same counties
The value of the hogs now growing in
these counties was estimated at $4,.
100000. Formerly the section raised
little except cotton.
A summary recently issued by the
Federal Reserve bank for the Elev-
enth Federal Reserve district dwelt
on the prosperity following the plant.
ing of a varied crop I'M the largest
state in the union.
Authorities whom we consider en-
tirely conservative estimate the Tex
as wheat crop from 100000 to. 12..
100000 bushels and the oats crop at
approximately $4,000, 900 bushels" the
report said. "The yield is greatly cur.
tailed on account of unfavorable con-
ditiOns In the Panhandle section
where In normal times, the grain is
extensively produced. In more favor
ed parts of Texas, the North. North.
east and Central portions. the yield is
far above normal. The acreage sown
In peanuts and other feed crops in all
sections of the Eleventh Federal Re.
serve district has been unusually large
and correspondents advise these crops
are doing nicely.
Some sections of West Texas
which for two years and more have
suffered terrific drought almost com
pletely demoralizing the cattle bust
ness are again coming into their own.
"The outlook In the cattle industry
has shown much improvement in the
last month";" the report continues. "A
large area of the range country has re-
ceived fine rains and there is a better
feeling among cattle and sheep men,
1t is still very dry in portions of New
Mexico and the cattle interests are
suffering. In the Panhandle section of
Texas conditions are much improved.
Recent rains have made plenty of
grass and the shipping of cattle to pas.
ture in other sections is no longer nee.
essary."
The fruit crop has been good, peach.
es in particular being plentiful.