The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-02-13
PROSPERITY OF THE SOUTH

Are you convinced of the prosperity
of the South present and future? Ii
not, consider the figures that have
been compiled by the. Manufacturers
Record and published in their issue of
February 5.
The estimated value, of all crops in
1919 for the South, was $7,022, 012, 900
and for the rest of the country outside
Of the South $8,768, PIT, 900. "In other
words" says the Manufacturers Re-
cord, "the South last year produced
Al per cent. of the entire crop values
Of the country, and of this amount the
total cotton value including seed was
little more than 2,O45, 100000, near
| Iy S5,000,000,000 being the value of
| its diversified crops. In these figures
| it must be understood that no amount
| is taken of the value of livestock pro-
duction in the South or elsewhere.
These statistics relate wholly to
crops"
1.-THE decrease in the United States
winter wheat acreage of 25 per cent,
| or 100000 acres" says the Record,
"and the similar percentage of de-
/ crease in rye, are among the most
significant signs of the times, showing
the tremendous decline in the grain
| producing regions of the west of the
acreage given to winter crops. If this
/ decline of 25 per cent. in wheat and
| rye should be followed by similar de-
cline in the corn acreage, we would
Inevitably be confronted by scarcity
tof food next winter. which would be
! appalling in its effect. A decreased
corn crop means a decreased meat
production This is already in evil
dence in Kansas and other parts OF
the west Unless the decrease which
is taking place in the west is Offset by
the increase in the South we shall
: have prices for wheat. corn and meat
/ products very much higher than those
now prevailing, and under those con
ditions even high priced cotton woulC
net to the Southern planter offset the
higher prices for food and feedstuffs
ard the country at large would be {
tremendous sufferer"
According to the article in the Man
ufacturers' Record, it is diversified
: crops that have brought Astounding
:. prosperity to the South and not cot
: ton.
: at is an interesting fact" the Re
: cord says, chat California with al
: Of its vast agricultural wealth had
: fetal crop production last year o
: $45, 100000 less than South Carolina
, and sos 100000 less than North Car
= DINA. Oregon and Washington whicI
: boast nightly of their vast agricul
tural potentialities, are not eve
lamong those who also rank as com
: pared with the Carolinas or with othe
Southern states"
- The Record goes on to state tina
the South ''has about one-third O
: over of the live stock of the countr!
= having about 40 per cent of the cour
= try's swine, and somewhat smalle
: percentage of cattle and sheep. Base
= on the total value of meat product
:, of the entire country during last yea
: the South had a total value of liv
= stock products of about So ,000, 100000
Adding this to the crop values give
= total approximate value of til
- Sc uth's agricultural output in 191
- of $100OO,00O,000. This is $4,000
- 100000 in excess of the aggregat
[value of all farm products, crops ar
: meats for the United States in 191
;, which was the highest total ev'
- reached up to that time. This is ju
. little less than half of the tot
:. value of the entire country of Il
- farm products for 1918.
E These stupendous amounts gil
= some indication of the amazing a
- vance in diversified farming and
- the agricultural wealth of the South
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