Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-12-23

}. N. HARPER flation of prices
had hurt the farmer more than any
other class, and that on this account
the farmer is entitled to every consid
GRAFTON within reason.
At such time as this when the
farmer is facing the problem of which
crops to grow, and how much he can
venture to spend in their production,
Mr. Harper says, that he, as a farmer
himself, knows that 1t is the most diff
ticult situation of the kind he has ever
! confronted.
This is the way this agricultural
authority figures out the proposition
Of profitable crop production in 1921
Grow enough food and feed crops
to supply as far as possible the needs
of the family, the tenants and live
stock. Then pick out the kind OF cash
crops that seem to offer the best pros
poets.
Cotton. will always be one of the
best cash crops that Southe-e firm
er can grow. No cotton farmer can
afford to throw cotton aside alto
gether.
But cotton should not be the only
cash crop. 1t would only be another
case of carrying all the eggs In one
basket. 1t is better to go to market
with more than one crop. Among
these other crops are peanuts, legume
hays, tobacco, sweet potatoes. sugar
cane, sorghum, rice and perhaps other
crops. In addition there should be
gradual adding, as means will allow !
of more livestock, beginning with hogs |
preferably and taking on other ami !
mails as soon as possible.
"In facing the problem Of profitable |
crop production for the year 1921, two |
facts must be considered. ~ Crop |
prices are low CD Crop producing
expenses have not fallen correspond
ingly.
THE farmer must remember that
when crop prices are Ing. it takes
more of the crops to cover the pro
duction cost This narTows the mar
gin of profits Therefore, il a farmer
does not look well to keeping up his
acre yields, there will be no margin
left above the cost of production.
Always, the most expensive yields
are the low yields and the most re-
are the high yields. II
there are losses to be sustained, as
was the case in 1920 the farmer who
grew the greatest yields per acre lost
east
"a safe and sane policy that needs I
especial emphasis FOR 1921, is: Guard ,
5our profits with high acre yields
This involves good preparation Of the
seed bed, the use of high producing I
iced. liberal fertilization and thorough 7
cultivation. A neglect to employ any I
me of these to the proper extent may
mean that the farmer VII find him.
elf poorer at the END OF rne season
han at the beginning.
Labor is the greatest item OF cost =
n producing a crop yield. 1t must
re used to the extent of thorough cul (
ivation. Fertilizers are next In the !
st of cost items. Since high yields I
er acre are so essential in times of
DIV prices of crops, and since fertiliz-
RS increase acre yields more than any
hing else, they cannot be reduced in .
921. In fact, 1t may be that they will
ave to be depended upon more than .
yer, to make acre yields that will 3
e profitable.
IAN investment in good seed is one =
{ the best that farmer can make :.
any time.
an a word this is time for farm y.
Efficiency, faith and courage. These Z
lrtues exercised, the farmer WI q
merge from the postwar struggle vic. p
,riously." "