The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-03-02
SAFE FARMING IS
URGED FOR SOUTH
FORMER AGRICULTURAL HEAD
OF u. S. ADVISES DIXIE TO
CONTINUE TACTICS.


ing to J. A. Evans the reins of the
agricultural departments extension
work in the southern states, address
es as his valedictory to the farmers
with whom he has been so long as
ISOLATED a plea for the continuation
of "safe farming"
According to DR.. Knapp, it would
be disastrous were the farmers OF
Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Missis-
sippi and other southern states,
simply because cotton is bringing a
high price, to produce cotton excess
lively. Here is the advice-and his
definition of "safe farming:
Follow a system which maintains
soil fertility, produces the food and
feed for the people and livestock in
sufficient quantities to secure COM
Portable surplus, and produces cotton
as strictly cash crop This means
all that diversifcation means-noth-
ing more.
Balanced Husbandry Essential.
"The only safe plan for farmers,
merchants and bankers is the insist
ance on a safe-farming programme,
If the southern farmer is in better
financial condition today than he has
been for some years past, it is due
to a better balanced husbandry, the
production of more food and feed
crops and livestock, as we'll as to the
high price of cotton and other cash
crops"
DR.. Knapp makes the point that
the "high value of cotton" is a snare
and a delusion. He adds:
"The price of cotton is high as
compared with prices of former
years, not as compared with cur
rent prices of other commodities.
From July, 1918, to September, 1918,
the price of cotton increased 143 per
cent, cotton yarn 176 per cent, brown
sheeting 2O6 per cent, bleached mus
lin 268 per cent, wool 1853 per cent,
bacon 115 per cent, hams 100 per
cent, pork 123 per cent, eggs 1O2
per cent, milk ia per cent, corn
148 per cent, corn meal 103 per
cent, white potatoes 1876 per cent,
sugar 104 per cent, welt shoes 149
per cent, women's shoes 210 per
cent.
eff we know anything at all we
know the present situation is due
to the wastage of war, and the four
successive short crops. The expe-
| rience of 1919 teach farmers that
they cannot handle with their pres
ent supply of labor an increased
acreage in cotton. The labor is not
there"
His Planting Program.
A safe planting program for 1920
is outlined as follows:
/. A good garden for every farm
and every village and small town
family.
2. Maintain corn production, and
! increase it wherever enough is not
produced to sustain the family and
stock-except in those few com,
munities where corn does not thrive
sorghum should be substituted.
| 8. Produce enough hay and forage
crops to sustain the farms of the
south for one year with a neat sur
plus for the requirements of town
and city.
4. Maintain the meat production
and increase the production of eggs
and milk.
There is no thought" he con,
cludes, "of reducing present cotton
acreage. But we must not be blinded
by the lure of price to the necessity
of food and feed. The purpose now
is to prevent the reduction in food
and feed crops.
eff we provide for the necessities
of life and well-balanced husban-
dry the production of cotton can be
sustained in a good season, and the
prosperity of the south assured"