The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-19
DIR. KNAPP GIVES
 { ADVICE TO FARMERS

Washington, February lS.-(Special)-- Dr. Bradford Knapp. before yielding to J. X. Evans the reins of the agricultural deparements extension work in the south- ern states addresses, as his valedictory to the farmers with wEom he has been .so long associated. plea for the con.- imitation of safe farming"
 According to Dr. Knapp. it would be disastrous were the farmers of Ala bama, Georgia Florida, Mississippi send other southern states. simply because cotton is bringing a hign price, to produce cotton excessively.
 Here is his advice, and his definition of safe farming':
 Follow system which maintains soil fertility, produces the food and feed for the people and live stock in sufficient quantities to secure a comfortable sur plus, and produces cotton as a strictly cash crop This means all that diversi- .fcation means-nothing more.
 Further to the farmers of the south he says: "The only safe plan for farmers, merchants and bankers is the insistence on a safe farming programme. If sIAs southern farmer is in better financial con dition today than he has been for some years past, it is due to a better bal anced husbandry, the production of more food and feed crops and live stock, aS well as to the high price of cotton and other cash crops"
 pr. Knapp makes the point that the high value of cotton" is a snare and a delusion. He adds; ''rhe price of cot ton is high as compared with prices of former years, not as compared with cur rent prices of other commodities. From July, 1913, to September. 1919, the price of cotton increased 143 per cent, cotton yarn 176 per cent, brown sheeting 206 per cent, bleached muslin 26S per cent wool 15S per cent, bacon 115 per cent, hams t09 per cent, pork 125 per cent, eggs 102 per cent, milk 114 per cent, corn 14S per cent, cornmeal 103 per cent, flour 15S per cent, rice 149 per cent, white potatoes 155 per cent, sugar 1Oi per cent, welt shoes 149 per cent, womens shoes 210 per cent.
 If we know anything at all we knew the present situation is due to the vast age of war, and the four successive short crops. The experiences of 1919 teach farmers that they cannot handle with their present supply of labor an increased acreage in cotton. The labor is not there"
 A safe planting programme for 1920 is outlined as follows:
 1. 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 story, except in those few communities where-eor soes not thrive, sorghum should be substi- tuted.
 8. Produce enough hay and forage crcps to sustain the farms of the south for one year with a neat surplus for the re- quirements of town and city.
 4 Maintain the meat production and increase the production of eggs and milk.
 There is no thought, he concludes, 'of reducing present cotton acreage But we must not be blinded by the lure of price to the necessity of food and feyl. The purpose. now is to prevent the re- duction in food and feed crops.
 "If we provide for the necessities of life and a weIl-balanced husbandry the production of cotton can be sustained in good season, and the prosperity of the eouth assured"