The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-01-17
LOOK AHEAD

iht hiVith VI 'dihdiy - t'Nh
time to take stock and make plans
for the next year. 1918 is not only
the most important but the most
critical year in the history of agri-
culture in the Southern States. 70
is necessary that the plan adopted
should meet the approval Of all pa
triotic men and women. that il
should sustain our agriculture. sus-
tain our people and sustain our Ma
ton. IL must be a possible, a prac-
tical and a patriotic program.
During the year 1917 the farmers
of the South did a wonderful piece
of work. I'm the face Of an increas-
ing price for cotton they responded
to the call Of the President of the
United States and increased their
production Of food and feed crops
and also their production of live
stock. In some of the States the in
crease in corn production ran more
than 80 per cent and the increase
in the fifteen Southern States was
i3 per cent in spite Of the geat de-
crease in Texas, Oklahoma, and
Louisiana, due to excessive drouth.
The increase in velvet beans. pea
nuts, soy beans, hay, forage crops.
gardens, sugar. syrup. etc, have
been phenomenal, but not more than
our people needed. For the first
year in recent history of the South
the Bureau of Markets has been
able to report that the local de-
mands for corn have been met by
the local supply in many sections.
The South has been almost ma
tional asset and not liability as TO
food. Another year let us have no
liabilities. We must prove our
worth.
Let us go over the items of Safe
Farming program. celebrating them
in the light of present conditions
1. A home garden for every family
on the farm. Let me add TO that
backyard garden for every town
family. Feed the people with fresh /
vegetables from an all-seasOn gar
den 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 syrup supply.
Beware, however, of going into
the production Of perishable pro-
ducts on an extensive scale without
knowing that there is a market for
them, system of marketing already
established, and transportation ia
clities TO get them TO the market. !
This applies TO the undevelOped
trucking areas. All well established
trucking areas where farmers have
had experience in the business will
continue their operations with eau
tious regard TO the needs of their
established markets.
2. We must sustain the production
of corn. There is grave danger this
year OF reduced production Of
corn. This would be unwise. Many
States in the South have gone into
livestock quite extensively. II would
be disaster for us TO have live
stock without the corn to feed /;
next year. If you have gone into
the livestock industry remember
that you must maintain the corh
production. II is your only defense.
There is no profit in livestock unless
the farmer produces his own feed.
3. The small grains as supple
ment TO the corn and for food and
feed were taken care of by your fall
plans.
4. Produce the hay and fora1e
crops necessary to amply supply the
livestock on the farm for one year,
with an excess for sake of safety,
and for city and town consumption.
This is necessary for the same rea-
sons mentioned under corn produce
lion. Soy beans, cow-peas and other
forage crops should by all means
be maintained and increased this
year. Remember especially the
value of these crops as actual cash
crops OF the farm. Peanuts and soy