The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-02-28

in weeds and filth productive of profit
able crops of corn. wheat oats hay. cotton tobac-
CO. potatoes. vegetables and truck crops. Sec
lions that formerly had exported a carload
OF cattle hogs. or sheep are extensive pro-
ducers Of mutton, beef pork wool, and dairy
products. Families which formerly lived a drear
life OF meager existence are now not only enjoy
Ing plenty OF the staples but also many Of the
luxures OF country life.
How that revolution effected? How was a
mirage transformed into aceualfty in the South
land? The presented the opportunity for re-
formation along agricultural lines due TO the un-
limited demand the American food store
houses The second reason is because the United
States department OF agriculture and the state
agricultural colleges, through the medium Of $50
county agents located in the Il states from Tex
to Oklahoma and from Florida to Maryland,
have been steadily urging farmers TO Increase
crop production; practice better farming meth
DDS: 10 maintain more live stock and tn 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
nne-mule one-neCro cotton farming corporation.
The negro farmers have raised cotton largely to
the exclusion of All other money crops. Then
they have about faced" and converted their
ton money into imported beans, bacon. and bread
at the local supply stores. In view of this preva
lent and traditional practice of buying instead Of
raising the hulk OF food, the United States depart
menr of agriculture operated under severe handi-
cap when it began food work south OF the Mason
and Dixon line.
Great credit is given TO the county agents. who
have not only shown Southern farmers in Il
states how raise and produce vegetables truck
cropa field crops and meat products but have
been successful in getting the farmers TO raise
such products 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 towuSmen raised plenty of potatoes.
as well rs sorghum for sirup, in their home gar
dens- The farmers increased their production of
small grains. corn, hay. peanuts. velvet beans.
soy beans, eowpeas well meat. milk and
eggs.
For example. during 1918 Alabama increased ITS
production of potatoes IS cent; cotton. 80 per
cent; hay. l. per cent oats, per cent hogs, II
per sheep. 10 per cent: and sweet potatoes.
per cent. over the yields OF 1917
TIE South has been Il heavy buyer Of hay the
majority of her yearly forage coming from the
Western states The services OF the southern
county agents have increased the local hay pro
iuction 10 the extent that -Aabama produced
i.293,6o tons Of hay during the year 1918 as
compared with $4,000 tons in 1909 During the
period from 1909 1918 Georgia increased hay
production 4a6 per cent; North Carolina, 1S3 per
cent: Florida. $50 per cent: and South Carolina.
os3 per cent According TO crop estimates
the hypothetical value of the farm crops of Ala
haula. Florida Georgia. Mississippi North Caro-
Ina. and South Carolina. amounted TO $3.50 o21S-
200 in 1909 and s.. 1o-s3'sooo in 1917 an Increase
| Of go per cent.
| II is only iogies1 that the production Of corn
and hay increases in the Southern states the
numbers of hogs and cssttle raised and kept show
corresponding gains. The razorback hog has
been traditional Of the South since the Civil
but OF late wears these native rustlers have been
replaced by well-hnished porkers of desirable
| formation and breeding which are more ecouom-
ical in the manufacture of pork under Southern
conditions than the granted hogs OF the corn
| oelt in middle Western territory
| According to recent estimates BY the bureau OF