The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1919-01-18
Place OF Fertilizers
In Southern Agriculture
His Years Of
Experience Observation Study-Timey Relating
to Vital Southern Probem-Extracts From a Address,
Bright Williamson, Darlington, 8. c.

Darlington, .. G.
and abandoned fields of South Caro-
lima yield greater profit per acre
than the richer river lands, once the
pride of the Southern cotton planter.
/ or than the more fertile lands OF
Texas.
Land Values Increased
This statement is reflected in the
fact that these same lands in parts
of South Carolina are selling freely
| for more than $4,000 per acre.
I have been dealing with the effect
OF the fertilizer industry and the use
| Of fertilizers on agriculture, because,
as have said, the effects on business
generally must result from the effect
on agriculture, and it is obvious that
they must be innumerable. The Ter
tilizer business in the South Is one
Of the most important, and concerns
our prosperity more directly than any
other industry. and in its efrects no
other industry SO ramifies into other
business or has a greater effect on the
industries and business generally
Helps Railroads and Manufacturers
Perhaps among the industries which
are more particularly and directly ben
Gifted by the use of commercial fertll-
izers are the railroads and common
carriers, which first bring fertilizers
to the farmers. and in return trans
port the increased products OF the
farm to the ends of the earth; and
finally when these products are sold,
for a third time, the railroads are call
ed upon to bring to the farmer his
supplies OF foreign and domestic prod
ucts
The use of fertilizer has made more
spindles in the South, more Oil mills,
more live stock, msIe people ana more
commerce. The tobacco crop and our
trucking industry, requiring intensive
fertilization and plant food, would be
practically unknown to US. Ships bring
raw material from foreign shores In
greater quantities and in return carry
away more cotton and grain.
cheapens Cost of Producing Crops
The commercial business is affected
in even greater proportion tran the
farmer himself, and there is 10 farm
er in the South who is not benefited
by the judicious use of commercial
fertilizer Large crops give to the
people greater supply at lower cost
of production and at lower price
to the consumer, while on the other
hand small crops not only increase the
cost of production, but may increase in
ieven greater proportion the price to
the consumer. When harvests are
abundant the consumer and producer
alike share in the increased prosper
ity.
Other means Of cheapening the cost
OF production can be used prcfitably
only on a very large or on very
small scale, but fertilizers can be ap-
piled with practically the same sue
cess to the smallest as well as the
largest undertaking from the individ-
ual plant in the flower pot to the thou
sand acre cotton field.
1t was my pleasure some years ago
to know many m1re manufacturers
and dealers in fertilizers than / know
at present, but l wish to testify to
the high character and intelligence OF
those with whom became associated.
The proper use &: commercial fertil-
izer by the farmer Is obviously OF vital
importance to the fertilizer industry
as well as to the farmer, and it is a
matter that Should receive thought and
careful consideration at all times by
those who promote the industry.