The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-07-12
(6y MIQUE MAGNERl

How many people living within the
borders of Escambia county realize
the fact that there is no better produc-
ing land to be found anywhere in the
United States than the virgin soil in
their own county?
If you are a Doubling Thomas"
make trip throughout the agricuI-
tural sections of the county and If goa
do not come back converted, see al efs
specialist at once.
am just recovering from the eff
of 125-mile auto tour with Cor
Agent Smith, into the Ferry I
Bluff Springs, Oak Grove and Bstt
communities. The crops I saw
revelation to me. ] believe ths
know whereof / speak. for until -s
Gently lived in a section that has -
reputation (and government statis
support the claim of being the ! lasf
farming section in the whole of the
United States. When I can honesty
say that never have / seen any better
crops than can be found in Escambia
county today. 7 believe it is time tIat
the people of this neighborhood wake
up and let the outside world know. so
that others who may be looking for
an agricultural location may be induced
to come to this section.
God gave this community something
more than landlocked deep water
harbor, and it is time that the peo-
pie wake up to the fact
Among the places visited were J. L.
Haynes Of Ferry Pass: w. r. TisdaIe.
c. G. Parsons and Mr.. Hardy Of Bluff
Springs; O'Farrell Bros. OF Oak Grove
and J. c. Hall of Bratt. Every place
visited showed the signs Of good
farming. Everyone is pleased with
the crop outlook and has just reason
to be. Confidence is half the battle
and every real farmer in Escambia
county that I met has confidence in
the producing qualities of the soil.
The cotton crop this year will ne
very short. but all other crops are ex-
ceptionally good. especially corn and
sweet potatoes. One OF the fields Of
corn visited will go at least so and
possibly 20 bushels 10 the acre. and in
the same field can be found n fine
prospect for soy beans and peanuts.
While cotton will be short. the acreage
this year is not so heavy as in years
past, as a goodly share Of the farm
ers have come to learn that there are
other crops more sure and profitable.
Next year will find Escambia county
with even less cotton planted.
There is a strong movement or foot
for cooperation among the farmers.
especially along the line Of the nature
Of the crops 10 be raised. For exam
pie, each farmer in a certain neighbor-
hood will plant. we will say. two acres
Of Irish potatoes, and then when the
crop gets ready for market he will not
nave to depend on the local market,
out can join with his neighbor in max
ng carload shipments TO foreign mar
xets. 1t is planned to do this same
hing with a number Of the truck
,rops and there IL not any question but
hat ii will prove a paying venture.
This will mean that Pensacola viii
not receive any great amount Of the
ocaI grown food stuff for home con-
sumption. She will have to establish
IN open market, and quit forcing the
armer to peddle his stuff from house
o house or depend on the middle man
,r street peddler to buy his surplus
garden truck.
The greatest drawback to Escambia
county today is the shortage Of farm
RS and the idle acres of tiIlable land
wing dormant for the lack OF help.
FULLY twenty per cent Of the tillable
and Of the county is not being farmed
md the only reason offered is the lack
II help notwithstanding the fact that
,etter wages are being offered than
he average common laborer is able
o get In town. With all Of this land
ying idle it Is high time to start A
back to- the farm" movement, so that
reduction can cope with consumption.