The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-05-31
Harris Urges
Diversificatiol1
Plant Stuhble Lands in Corn and
Peas

COI0I0DIa, May Z1.-IAe all aDSOrD-S
i ing topic for the last few days has
been the damage done to the growing
crops by the continued rains. Com
missioner B. Harris before leaving for
Atlanta to attend the convention of
Southern commissioners of agricul-
ture gave out a statement in which
he urges the farmers not to replant
| too heavily in cotton.
"It is not too late,' said he, ..tc
plant corn and peas, to sow sorghum
and peas, and to make forage Cor
roughness. I urge the farmers not
to plant one acre of stubble in cotton,
Notwithstanding that cotton, has gone
to 35 cents. I beg them to plant com
and peas and such crops,
"One of the greatest Qualifications
against a return of the low price ofS
cotton is for every farmer in the
South to have his crop well dIversi-
fed with live stock, corn, hogs and
roughness, sufficient to feed every ami
NAL on his farm. AS long as we buy
so much corn, hay, bacon, horses and
! mules, we will have a hard fight to
keep cotton above the cost of produc-
ton so as to leave the farmer a profit
for growing it."
Don't let 35 cents and above, for
cotton run away with you. There Will
be no trouble for You to name your
own price for the great money crop
Of the South.
II have said for the last four
months that the farmers, the bank
ers, and the business men Of the South
had at least realized that for success
in the South they would have to>or-
ganize and cooperate before success
would come. I am proud to say that
this has been done, and the farmers
of the South are going to have the
privilege that they never have had
nor did they think that they would
ever have The plans for the organ
ization Of the great cotton corporation
have already been felt in the market.
Il have said for the last five months
that the farmers would in 1919 be
able and in a position to name the
price of the product Of their labor.
That no longer would they submit to
having few men name the price that
they would give, and the farmer
would have to take when a large per-
centage Of price manners had never
even seen stalk Of cotton and knew
nothing of the cost of production.
"I stated in the beginning Of this
fight that this was one year that the
farmer was going to fool the boys.
The bears realize now that they are
up against the biggest proposition
that they have ever confronted. They
are dying game and hard They
fought just as long as the ammunition
lasted and the armistice has been
signed for a considerable length Of
time although only few knew it.
Peace is being settled, not by a league
of nations but by the farmers, the
cankers, and the business men Of the
South. And it will be settled upon
terms of prosperity and future advan-
tage to the South.
From all reports from every cot
ton belt State the 1919 crop is going
to be one of the shortest, according to
acreage, that has ever been known
Reports come in 900 much rain, cot
ton dying'-'much replanting has to
OG uOHc - IilOE0 SlGoo lii1ll Ids
been reported'-'labor scarcer and
higher I was told today by Lex
ington county farmer that women
were being paid at the rate Of $3.50
a day to chop cotton and could not
be had in sufficient number to do the
work as it really needed to be done.
Reports come in from many sections
of the country saying that unless the
weather is very favorable from this
date on there will be great amount
of cotton acreage that will have to be
abandoned on account of grass. Farm
ers. do not be disturbed. Within reach
is 35 cent cotton. In less than two
months we will think Of S5 cents cot
ton as we now think of 90 cents cot
tom Sit steady in the boat and VIC
tory is yours