The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-03-06

In s0me states they handled more
than 20 per cent greater acreage than
IN 1916. The explanation is simple:
First. Under a system of diversi-
fled farming every farm laborer can
handle greater acreage because OF q
better distribution of the labor on the
farm,
Second. Fhrmers of the South re-
sponded to the patriotic cali Of the
president OF the United States and
worked harder than they had work
ed before. should hate to think
that these two reasons would fail to
account for large acreage In the
season of 1913.
The Reason for sclf-Supt,drt.
Are there any added reasons why
he South should produce it's own food
and feed in 1918 which did not exist
horei ofore? i5mphatically there are
Not only is tho food problem still the
most important agricultural problem
In the world, but the transportation
problem adds another element of very
serious concern. This great nation is
taxing It's every energy to defeat a
we'll planned and long prenared ef-
fort to overthrow democracy in the
world. The defeat of this nation
would mean the overthrow of every
thing held dear by men. women, and
children of America. We are fighting
for our very independence. Under
such circumstances the more we can
to the national cause and
the less we burden the nation or 9TH
er parts of the nation to help us, the
more we do in our own interest and in
the interest Of the nation. Under our
present circumstances the South can
not afford to burden other sections OF
the country to produce her food, and
above all she can not afford to tax
the already overburdened transporta-
tion system of the United States to
bring the food to her. She must grow
it herself. This is self defense and it
is national defense.
What the South Must Do.
I would suggest. then that the fol-
lowing items be considered carefully
by everyone:
First. A home garden for every
farm family and every town and viii
lage family in the South to supply the
home needs, with a sufficient surplus
to can or dry for future use. In this
home garden would include an
ample supply Of Irish and sweet po-
tatoes. There ought to be on every
farm, as far as possible. either cane
OF sorghum to produce syrup. :.
] would not advise going into the
of perishable products on
an extensive scale without knowing
that there is market for them, a sys-
tom of handling already established
and, ii necessary, transportation ia
cilitics to get them to the market. II
other words. we ought not to develoI
new trucking areas i'm the South in
this time of trouble. All well-estab-
lished trucking areas where farmers
have had experience in the business
will, of course, continue their oper-
ations, but with cautious regard to
the needs of their established markets.
Second: We should sustain the
of corn in the South. For
the first time in many years market
reports show local needs are being
met by local supply and that some ex-
portatiOn Of corn has taken place.
With an increase OF population, with
the many army camps in our midst,
and, more particularly, with an in
crease of our livestock, we can not af
FORD to let down on the production of
corn. 1t would be a disaster for us
to have increased livestock production
and not provide the feed to sustain it
There is no profit in livestock unless
the farmer produces his own feed.
There is always danger after a large
yield in any crop of reduced acreage
the next year. Guard the corn cror
ir 1918. 1t means safety for the peo-
pie and safety for our growing live.
stock industry. Remember that al
though the country produced an i'm
mense crop Of corn in 1917, an un-
usually large proportion of the great
northwestern crop was injured By
frost and, therefore, soft and unmar.
ketable.
Third; need not say anything re.
gardng the small grains, because that
item was attended to in the fall seed.
ing.
l.