The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-04-25

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after they have made some growth, but
the earlier the mulch is placed the bet
ter the results will be.
war; at 33 cents it will purchase about
| the same amount / say to you, there-
| fore, that on the basis of it's purchas-
! ing power, which is the test the farm
er cannot afford to neglect to grow
his own food and feed as a business
proposition this year.
| l am not saying a word against the
| production of cotton. We need cotton,
but the best way to increase the cotton
| production is to remember that large
acreage poorly handled will almost as
| suredly produce less at greater expense
than an average acreage wen hanuieo.
Increase the production per acre in lime
of labor shortage and food shortage
! rather than increase the acreage ana re-
duce the production per acre. Good
work on an average is the best plan.
| The risks are too great to warrant spec
| ulation in cotton. Remember, puplic
duty and self-protection." These demand
that we take steps to provide the food
for southern people and the iced Tor
southern live stock on southern farms.
This is the only way the south can avoid
drawing from the sorehouse of the ma
ton and avoid placing burden upon
Other sections to produce her food and
iced
CONSERVATION
Upon the side of conservation l need
not say much. When there is surplus,
as there has always been in America, we
think little of conservation. The fact
that the word has become common talk
in almost every American home is the
best indication of the fact that the
Shortage actually exists The best proof
| OF the necessity for food production this
year lies N the urgent appeals that have
| been put forth for a greater conserva-
ton. 1t should be our business this year
to conserve not alone in the use of food,
but especially, among the farmers and
the people everywhere, to conserve in
the processes of production itself. The
frugal living. the thrift and the live-at-
home spirit which conservation has done
much to introduce into the south, should
indeed be a lesson not only for this
year, but for all the future. The only
way in which the south can be placed
upon basis of strength and indepen-
dence, comparable with the best agricul-
tural sections of America, is for her to
learn now the lesson of thrift. of econ
omy. and of a productive safe farming
system If she will introduce live stock
and produce foods which can be con-
lsumed in the south and purchase the
minimum of food from outside her own
DOrueTS, a uecdue Will see ner farmers
rich beyond their own dreams; but il
she continues policy which brought
he rto ruin under the boil weevil, a policy
which menaces her industry under the
pink bollworm, policy which made her
beg under 6-cent cotton in 1914, a policy
which makes fat years and lean years,
richness and poverty, plenty and starva-
ton follow each other in rapid success
sion, she will continue to be less pro-
lass rio lasc
Influential and less a contribution to
the support and the defense of the coun-
try than she really should be.
| Last year, with only about 500 women
at work in the rural sections of the
south in the home demonstration work
and the canning clubs for women AMI
for girls, in the war emergency they
We're enrolled practically 100000 women
and girls who put forth a mighty effort
to conserve the food from Nthe abundant
crops which they had planted and from
the waste fruits and vegetables which
the south can produce so splendidly At
n very conservative calculation based
upon less than so per cent of the aver
ages obtained by those reporting. these
women and girls put up nearly 200. 900. Ooo
cans of fruit and vegetables for future
use. They are going to do it again, and
even better than that this year. Last
year they put up for home use over
100000 pounds of dried fruits and vege-
tables, and they will do better than that
THIS year. At a time when the national
government, through the army purchas s.
ing board, is asking from IS to 40 per
cent of the product of the great Gamers
or this country, the women and girls
OF the south are going to prove the sal
vaSon Of the south in food production
and conservation
In far-off France. whence came our
help insthe days when our forefathers
sought the wonderful prize of libert..
freedom and equality for all men. there
IS now going on struggle. the magni-
tude and the importance of which no
man can yet see but truly it may be
said that not only the most awful but
the most far-reaching battle in all hu-
man history is now going on 1t Is a
contest between those who preach the
doctrine of love of our fellow man and
those who make virtue of hatred. ne
tween those who believe in mercy and
those who show no mercy: between those
VINO believe that governments derive
their just power from the consent Of thc
governed and those who believe that
the King IS the source of power; that ne
nerves MS powers from God alone ana
is responsible to God alone: between
those who believe in human liberty and
those who have during the past three
years enslaved whole nations between
those who would sustain nations. weak
fand strong, and those who seek to de-
stroy nations. weak and strong; between
cNliization itself and the cruelties OF
ii barbarians.
II there were no other reason under
tne sun for every southern farmer TO
De sood producer and for every town
ana city man to produce part of his own
1000. 4 he can. surely the sincere desire
70 win this war would be the reason.
put now of all times we may saw. and
say truthfuliy. that the plan which con
tributes the most in time of war is the
plan which viii last longest and bring
pest results In time OF peace There is
no other course which will make OF this
: ""2'ion so prosperous an area, so i'm
no"fant. so strong. or SO resourceful
? 0eop!e as the following of this one
lr'c~en: EVERY southern farm se'f-snp-
go HN''tSorrer food Fro
'sr NJ ] lcoaservcr'