The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1918-02-21
DISTINGUISHED MISSISSIP-
Plan GIVES SAGE AD-
VICE TO PLANTERS.
URGES FOODSTUFFS
Points Out Existing Shortage
And Says Needs Must Be
Supplied.


John Sharp Williams, one of the
largest growers of cotton in the Unit
ca States, believes that the safest
course the farmers of the south can
steer this year lies in the zone of
crop diversiication. He believes in
TIE south going more and more into
variety as a sound economic propo-
sition, but this year particularly he
says should witness crop diversified
tion on scale not hitherto attempt
ed. So strongly does Senator Will
liams believe in diversifcation that
less cotton was cultivated on his
plantation in Yazoo county last year
than ever before, and if his wishes
prevail there will be only limited
acreage planted in cotton on his old
home place this season.
Senator Williams sees disappoint-
ment and danger to the cotton farm
er in the high prices the staple has
commanded since last fall. Because
of this fact, he said today, many
farmers. apparently were bent on
planting for an increased acreage.
and if this course is persisted in
there's sure to be an over production
next fall. He said that if the war
should end before this years cotton
crop is ready for marketing, the
priceof the staple would tumble down
to 5 or 10 cents, and even if the war
goes on another year or two he does
not see continuance Of the present
high prices of cotton. While the prob
able duration of the war is purely
matter Of speculation, some of its
closest students in Washington do
not fix the end at shorter distance
than two years. Of course, it is re-
garded as humanity possibly to end
the war sooner than before the end
of another two years, but something
would not now even dimly fore
shadowed would have to eventuate
in thes meantime. The allies on the
western. front, for instance, might
win a decisive victory over the Huns
in theg latter's big drive now loom
ing on.the horizon, but there can be
no assurance in advance that such
good fortune is in store for the allied
powers.
But the demand for food products
and the high price at which they are
sold will continue whether the wal
goes on another three or four years
or is brought to an end before the
year is out. There is shortage of
food everywhere except in America,
and the demand upon its food sup
plies are far less now than they will
be by the time of the next harvest.
The transporting of food supplies is
assurediin in any event, but no such as
surance can be given as to cotton
Obviously, the world needs cotton
and will get cotton if it can, but an
overproduction of the staple and
limited shipping facilities to carry it
over seas mean low prices.
Senator Williams said today that
it was never more necessary for the
south to diversity its crops than this
season, and as one individual inter-
ested in farming he intends to prac-
tice what he breaches by having va
riety Of food products cultivated on
his plantation. This does not mean
that no cotton will be grown on his
place this year, but that the kingshir
of the staple will be disputed by
grain and grass crops. In other
words, he intends to raise food for
man and live stock. The Mississippi
senator, however, was not optimistic
as to the widespread adoption of the
crop diversifcation propaganda, for
the reason that 30-cent cotton this
year appealed powerfully to the
average man who makes crop.
"You might as well shoot peas at
Gibraltar" said the senator, "as to
try to persuade some men this year
that there is danger and disaster in
an overproduction of cotton this
fall"
Senator Williams believes, how
ever, that the farmers of the south
are realizing more and more the wis
dom and practical food in crop diver
sification.
BY R. M. GATES