The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-09-01
GOOD
CROP REPORTS
Statistician Hare Speaks of
South Carolina Work .
FARMERS SHOULD STUDY
NOTICES CLOSELY
Boil Weevil and : Low Price of
Cotton Demands Careful
Study of Conditions A.

Saluda, s. c. August 25.--
Never before was there greater ne
cessity for dependable crop estimates
nor was there eyer time, especially
In South Carolina. when farmers
should study government crop reports
more carefully than today. For since
the ppearance of the boil weevil in
most sections of the state many farm
ers are already asking themselves and
making other inquiry as to what they
shal plant IN the place IL cotton, es-
pecially. those who contemplate a re-
duction in acreage next year. To know
just what the reduced cotton acreage
should be PLANTED in is to be the great
problem confronting practically every
farmer of the state. and the data for
its sOluti ION cannot be postponed. He
must decide one way or another with
in the mex. few months. viii the So
Ilution be correct, will 1t be partially
correct, OF, will 1t be failure? We
feel, as already suggested. that an n
ltelligent and careful study OF gov
ernment crop reports by farmers and
business rlen will contribute much to-.
wards knowing just what crops to
Substitute In place OF cotton wherever
there is to be reduction in acreage,
for from. these reports the farmers
win be able to learn Just what crops
ARE being planted In other places, the
acreage and production OF each, the
prevailing prices and the probable de.
nand fol. same at harvest time With
this irlfornlation the farmer will know
to plant those crops in which over
production is hardly probable and
hereby obviate the mistake, of plant
'ng some crop, already grown to such
an extent in other sections to meet
the probable demands. &
One i'lustrations will be sufficient ia
make clear my point. For instance,
after the large crop and very low
price OF cotton in the fall of 1914
many farmers felt that It would be
useless to plant a ful crop OF cotton
the next year and large number OF
them, especially In the lower half OF
tho State, substituted froYn / to 4
acres Of Irish potatoes TO the plow Tor
sprthg market The loss which fol-
lowed in the way of money spent for
seed potaties, fertilizer, labor, etc,
amounted 10 thousands of dollars, q
large portion OF which may have BEEN
obviated by a. careful study of the gov
I'ernment reports at that time, for they
shleo3weo that the fall potato grow
ing states Of the north had carried
over IN the fan Of 1914 an unusually
large surplus which would likely be
placed on the market in competition
with spring potatoes in May or June
N1ng All those who planted pota-
tqes az that TINA for Commercial pur.
poses remember that at harvest time
wnat might have been expected really
elled and prices were hardly sufI1-
cient to pay for barrels and tiigknR.
~ ts not the function Of the crop re-
portilg service to adyse what crops to
plant, when to plant them or 10 what
exterf. but9it does furnish very de-
pendable inforfnation as TO what crops
are planted in Othar section when
they are planted, the extent to which
they are planted, the probab,a nro-
duct-on and The usual time for har-
yesting each, and It appears stFat such
lniolmation, if properly utilized.
should prove to be OF great ADVANTAGE e
70 eyery farmer In organizIng hts
Larnl operations. especially IN south
Slars'iina where reorganization seems
% pe certain within the next few years.
OUT part, therefore,, in this work
y ol mnch value IN making our esti4
mates most dependable, and at the
sam e time you are rendersngfa great
service tosthe plblic. NJ III
b. b, Hare, &
AGRICULTURAL StafiEtieian "a. q /, Z, 4. y