The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-03-14

In weeds and filth are now productive of profit
aole crops OF corn, wheat, oats, hay, cotton, tObac-
co, potatoes, vegetables, and truck crops. Sec
lions that formerly had never exported a carload
OF cattle, hogs, or sheep are now extensive pro-
ducers of mutton, beef, pork, wool, and dairy
products. Families which formerly lived Il drear
life of meager existence are now not only enjoy
ing plenty of the staples but also many Of the
iuXuries of country life.
How was that revolution effected? How was a
mirage transformed into an actually in the South
land? The war presented the opportunity for re-
formation along agricultural lines due to the I'M
limited demand on 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 1889
county agents, located in the 10 states from Tex
as 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-nule. One-negro 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 cot.
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 bulk Of food, the United States depart
ment 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 I'm II
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 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 MS sorghum for strip, in their home gar
dens. The farmers increased their production. of
small grains. corn, hay, peanuts, velvet beans.
soy beans, cowpeas, as we'll as meat, milk and
eggs.
For example, during 1918 Alabama increased its
production of potatoes 6S per cent; cotton, so per
cent; hay, Il per cent; oats, 8 per cent; hogs. q
per cent; sheep, 10 per cent; and sweet potatoes.
z per cent, over the yields Of 1917.
The South has been a heavy buyer of hay. the
majority Of her yearly forage coming f-51n the
western states. The services Of The Southern
county agents have increased the local hay pro-
duction to the extent that Alabama produced
1,293,OOO tons of hay during the year 1913, as
compared with 10000 tons in 1909. During the
period from 1909 to 1913. Georgia increased hay
production 426 per cent; North Carolina. 1S3 per
cent; Florida, 362 per cent; and South Carolina.
253 per cent. According to recent crop estimates
the hypothetical value of the farm crops of AIN
bama. Florida, Georgia, Mississippi. North Caro-.
lima, and South Carolina. amounted to $500 .213.
600 in 1909 and 50, log, 396, 900 in 1917, an increase
Of $50 per cent.
1t is only logical that as the production of corn
and hay increases in the Southern states. the
numbers of hogs and cattle raised and kent show
corresponding gains. The razor-back hog has
been traditional of the South since the Civil war,
but Of late years these native rustIers have been
replaced by wellfinished porkers OF desirable con.
formation and breeding which are more econom-
icai In the manufacture of pork under Southern
conditions than are the granted hogs Of the corn
belt in middle Western territory.
According to recent estimates 10y the bureau OF