The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-06-17

we have been preaching cooperative
farming methods and urging the farm
ers Of this county to ship their
products. Now that this is being done
successfully 1t is a person Of warped
business Judgment and lack Of discern
ment who would make objection to the
shipments to markets where the farm
er may get fair price for his crop.
For years. now. the South has been
urging upon the farmer not to confine
his acreage to cotton but to plant food
crops as well. But what is the use of
planting food crops unless the farmer
is to find good market?
Farming is business, just like any
other. And every car that is shipped
north makes the future OF this county
brighter. for each Is an assurance of
greater prosperity and therefore in
creased acreage.
The man who ships half dozen cars
this year may ship a dozen next year,
and his increased acreage may also
mean more potatoes for home consump-
ton.
However tais may be. the farmer is
well within his rights to sell his crop
to the highest bidder. We have been
urging upon him to plant food crops
and help to feed the nation. Now that
he is doing that very thing, what pos
Isible ground have we for reproach?
Some farmers in another section Of
the South had been urged for a long
time to devote greater part Of their
acreage, which they had formerly
planted to cotton, to the raising of
food products. One Of these farmers,
believing 1t to be his patriotic duty to
do so, planted his place with early
white potatoes. When they reached
the market they brought about $500
per barrel. although the empty barrels
had cost rs cents each.
AS the gentleman's loss was consid-
cradle. he had an inquiry made as to
the reason for low early potato prices
in the Philadelphia market. The man
who was referred to as their expert by
the Philadelphia Food Administration
authorities said. in effect: Eyes. con-
found it. I fixed those fellows this
year. / broke the market by a little
clever work up here, and guess we've
taught those Southern potato growers
a lessons"
He had. for the gentleman in ques-
ton ceased to grow potatoes, as did
many of his associates and friends.
New white potatoes this year have
been selling for as high as $40 the bar
rel. Does it pay to steal from the
farmer the fruit of his labors?
This little incident was commented
upon recently in one of the trade pub
locations of the South. and its lesson
was applied to the rational solution of
the agricultural problem.
The rational solution of that prob
lem would seem to be to let the farmer
alone, just now. He has been called
upon to feed the nation. Well, then,
when he does his part in this the pub
lie should be fair and give him
square deal He has every right to
ship his products and to get the high
est price for those products that The
market affords.
The land is the most precious pos
session Of any people and the right 70
till it the most sacred of rights. Es-
Gambia county is just coming into it's
own as an agricultural county, and the
farmers OF this section need every pos
sible encouragement. Some of the
finest potatoes grown anywhere in the
world are grown right here In Escam-
bia. The Escambia product was blue
ribbon winner at the Florida state
fair over Hastings, the banner potato
of the state.
Irish potato shipments bring millions
to the Hastings section each year.
There is no reason why the same
should not be true Of the Irish potato
crop of Escambia county.
The Irish potatoes that are sold on
the local market are Of a very good
grade. But even II this were not true, !
The farmers are within their rights to
get the best possible price for their
products at all times. Any other pro-
cedure would not only be detrimental
to the farmer but detrimental to the
section. If the farmer does not get his |
price it will mean not cheaper potatoes
but higher prices, for there will be less |
acreage planted and consequently a |
higher price charged for the crop that
IS put on the market. The law OF sup |
ply and demand will take care ce that.