The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-01-31
SOUTH: is NEARLY
- GROWING OWN FOOD

War Makes Changes in Production
Work-Importations Decrease.
The agriculture South of today is
as different from the ,Dixieland of
1910 as the industrious and expert
enced hands of skilled agriculture
workers can make it. A near miracle
has been: performed. Thousands of
acres that were running wild in
weeds and filth are now productive
of profitable crops of corn, wheat,
oats, hay, cotton, tobacco, potatoes,
vegetables, and truck crops. Sections
that formerly had never exported a
carload of cattle, hogs, or sheep are
now extensively producers of NUT
ton, beef, pork, wool, and dairy pro-
ducts. Families which formerly
lived a drear life of meager exist
ence are now not only enjoying
plenty of the staples, but also many
of the luxuries Of country life.
How was that revolution effected? I?
How was a mirage transformed into
an actuality in the Southland? The
was presented the opportunity for
reformation along agricultural lines
due to the unlimited demand on the
American food storehouse. The sec
ond reason is because the United
States department of agriculture and
the State agricultural colleges, thru
the medium of, !, ,539 county agents,
located i'm the Is States from Texas
to Oklahoma and from Florida to
Maryland, have been steadily urging
farmers to increase crop production,
to practice better farming methods;
to maintain more live stock, and to
produce in the South the majority
Of what food the South annually
consumes, utilizing cotton as the.
leading surplus cash crop.
Or Practices Changed.
Heretofore the South has been the
Eden of the one-mule, one-Negro
cotton-farming corporation. The Ne
gro farmers haveraised cotton large
ly to the exclusion Of all other mon
ey crops. Then they have "about
faced" and converted their cotton
money>into imported beans, bacon,
and bread at the local supply stores.
In view Of this prevalent and tradi-
tional practice of buying instead of
raising the bulk Of food, the United
States Department of Agriculture
operated under severe handicap when
it began food work south Of the
Mason and Dixon line. ~ ~
Is Great credit is given to the coun-
ty agents, who have not only shown
southern farmers in Is States how
to raise and produce vegetables,
truck crops, field crops, and meat
products, but have been successful in
getting the farmers to raise such
products on a large scale. Despite
the fact that the record price Of cot
ton has operated against the popu-
larity of other crops, the average far
mer backed up the food program.
Southern farmers and townsmen
raised plenty of potatoes, as well as
sorghum for syrup, in their home
gardens. The farmers increased their
production Of small grains, corn, hay
peanuts, velvet beans, soy beans,
cowpeas, as vel las meat, milk, and
eggs.
For example, during 1913 Alabama
increased its production Of potatoes
6S per cent. cotton 80 per cent. hay
IL per cent. oats per cent, hogs Fl
per cent sheep 10 per cent, and
sweet potatoes 7 per cent over the
yields Of 1917.
The South has been a heavy buyer
Of hay, the majority of her yearly
forage coming !. from the Western
States. The services of the. South
ty agents have increased the local
hay production to the extent that
Alabama nrodncad I oo3 00n :tons of