Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-04-09
Bright Williamson

Agriculture Is the bed rock and
foundation upon which every other in
dustry must stand or fall. All the
people prosper or fail to prosper ac-
cording to the abundance of the har-
vest of the soil, and upon agriculture
depends the prosperity and happiness
Of the world.
Better methods of agriculture in
clude the use of modern implements,
modern cultivation and soil improve
ment. This brings us directly to the
Importance of che fertilizer industry
as. means Of improving our soils. Fer
tilizers are absolutely essential in or
der to increase the fertility of the soil.
They have a direct effect upon agri-
cultural production and through the
products of agriculture direct effect
upon all other industries.
Anything which contributes to an
increase in our agricultural produc-
tions, contributes to the welfare, COM
fort and prosperity Of our people as
a whole; and this brings US directly
to the consideration of the importance
of the fertilizer industry in relation to
other lines Of business.
Fertilizers Necessary In South
The very nature Of our soil, climate
and rainfall makes it impossible to
farm successfully without regularly
feeding our crops from artificial
sources with at least two Of the sew
eral principal elements entering into
the composition and development Of
plant life. Without fertilizers much Of
the best producing cotton lands in the
South would become unproductive and
farming would be improbable. In
many states, except in a few local1-
ties, soil is no more capable Of pro-
drcing without being fertilized than
stock is capable Of performing work
without being fed. Our lands must be
fed just as we feed the stock that
work them or they will become too
poor to even pay the cost and expense
of cultivation.
u 'lFdNSlOEIlCO SSSSiStS
Large sections of land in various
parts of the South Atlantic States, for
ty or fifty years ago. required four
or five acres to produce one bale of
cotton, which now. by intelligent farm
ing, made possible by the use of fer
tilzers, yield one bale to each acre,
or the equivalent, of other crops. Pow
srty stricken sections of one or two
generations ago have been transform
ed into populous and prosperous COM
nunities. Our ability to rebuild and
make our lands more fertile has en-
abled people to live and settle in Slore
desirable communities, and to enjoy
advantages of better markets, schools,
churches and social conditions. Bet
. ter rural conditions have made the
"back to the farm" movement not only
o possibility, but reality.
Prosperity Due to Fertilizers
Whatever may be the direct benefit,
1t. is obvious from study of the sit
uation that the present prosperity and
!. greater population in South Carolina
is due more largely to the use of
commercial fertilizers than to any 9TH
er cause, because in South Carolina
fertilizers are absolutely necessary to
profitable agriculture, upon which most
of our business and other industries
depend. Had it not been for the use
of commercial fertilizers South Caro-
lima could not be considered. an agri-
cultural state.
Taking into consideration the cost
of fertilizers, statistics will bear out
!. the statement that the once worn out