American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-03-21

in weeds and fifth are now productive Of profit
able crops OF corn, wheat, oats, hay, cotton toDac'
co, potatoes, vegetables, and truck crops. sec
ilans that formerly had never exported a carload
OF cattle, hogs, or sheep are now extensive pro
ducers OF mutton, beef, pork, wool, ana DAIRY
products. Families which formerly lived Il dreaf
life of meager existence ure now not only enjoy
Ing plenty OF the staples but also many OF the
luxurles Of country life.
How was that revolution effected? How wns n
mirage transformed into an actually In the South
land2 The war presented the opportunity for re
formation along agricultural lines due to the UNI
limited demand on the American iood store
houses. The second reason is because the united
States department OF agriculture and the state
agricultural colleges, through the medium of l,o30
county ngents, located In the 10 states from Tex
MS to Oklahoma and from Florida to Maryland,
have been steadily urging farmers to increase
crop production; to practice better farming meth
DDS; 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.
Heretofore the South has been the Eden Of the
one-mule, one-negro cotton farming corporation.
The negro farmers have raised cotton largely to
the exclusion OF ell other money crops. Then
they have 'about faced" and converted their cot
ton money into imported beans, bacon. and bread
Mt the local supply stores, In view of this prevn'
lent and traditional practice Of buying Instead of
raising the bulk OF food, the United Stutcs depart
ment Of agriculture operated under severe hnndl'
cap when Il began food work south Of the Mason
aud Dixon line,
Grent credit Is given Ia the county agents, who
have not only shown Southern farmers In ~
states how 10 raise and produce vegetables, truck
crops, field crops and meat products, hut have
been successful In getting the farmers to raise
such products on n large scale, Despite the fact
that the record price OF cotton has operated
against the popularity of other crops, the average
farmer backed up the food program. Southern
farmers and townsmen raised plenty OF potatoes
ms well as sorghum for strip, In their home CUR
dens. The farmers increased their production al
small grains, corn, hay, peanuts, velvet beans
soy beans, cowpeas, rs well MS meat, milk ant
eggs.
For example, during 1913 Alabama Increased II
production OF potatoes 6S per cent cotton, 30 re
cent hay. IL per cent; oats, s per cent; hogs, .
per cent; sheep, 10 per cent; and sweet potatoes
Z per cent, over the yields OF 1917.
The South has been n heavy buyer OF hay, IN
majority OF her yearly forage coming from tn
Western states. The services OF the Southern
county agents have increased the local hay PR
ductIon to the extent that Alabnnm produce
f,2a3,0O0 tons OF hay during the year. 1918, a
compared with 100000 tons In 1900, During tn
period from 1900 20 1aiS. Georgia Increased ha
production 420 per cent; North Carolina. 1873 pc
cent; Florida, Sa2 per cent; and South Carolln,
2bs per cent. According to recent crop estimate
the hypotheucoi NhluN Oh Nhe lHrln cFoNS vi All
hama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi. North Car,
llaa, and South Carolina, amounted to SSS9,21S
600 in 1909 and So. 1odS90,0o 0 In 1917, au increas
= of $50 per cent.
I It is only logical tina, as the production of cor
. and hay Increases in the Southern states, III
A numbers Of hogs and cattle raised and KEEP sho
corresponding gains. The razorback hog hi
been traditional OF the South since the Civil wa
hut OF late years these nstive rustlers have bee
replaced by well finished porkers of desirable Co
. formation and breeding which are more econor
a !cal In the manufacture of pork under Southei
conditions than are the g~rain'fed hogs Of the col
I belt in middle Western territory.
According to recent estimates by the bureau