The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1921-01-27
FARM MEETING
DRAWS LARGE CROWD
FARMERS FROM ALL PARTS or
COUNTY ATTEND

Memphis Chamber of Commerce
Members Fail to Come. But Other
0ut-of- Town Speakers Addressed
Meeting and We're Heard with
Interest-Many Important Points
Brought Out Showing Advantage
of Diversified Farming.
The better farming meeting held
here Monday afternoon was de-
cided success. The circuit courtroom
was filled and there were number
who were forced to stand in the
aisles for the lack of seats. 1t had
been announced that there would be
several members Of Memphis Cham
Der of Commerce present and that
they would address the meeting, but
these men did not come. However,
Mr.. A. r. Gwinn, of the industrial
department Of the Illinois Central
Railroad, and Mr. McAmis. Of the
Department of Extension, Univers-
ity Of Tennessee, Knoxville, were
present and addressed the meeting
on the situation as it confronts the
farmer today
Mr.. J. W. Darby, who introduced
the speakers, In his Introductory re-
marks, stated that the occasion was
not just Speaking but was in
the nature Of conference to ex-
change ideas as to the best plans to
pursue in the agricultural develops
ment Of this county
Mr.. Gwinn made an interesting
talk, stating at the beginning that
he was great deal more familiar
with conditions as they are in Mis-
sissippi than he was with them in
West Tennessee. He stressed in his
remarks the Importance Of getting
away from the one-crop system,
showing how the season and market
conditions affect this kind Of farm
ing. He brought out the fact that
where a farmer was raising several
different crops that it was not at iii
probable that the seasons would be
unfavorable to all of the crops, as
the season that binders one crop helps
another. The fact that a depression
in the market was not likely to hit
all the crops grown was also brought
out.
Diversified farming, which is now
necessity in the South, is the same
thing that the Northern farmers
We're up against when the Hessian
fly and the chinch bug hit their
crops, and Mr.. Gwinn stated that
they were better off for the expert
ence.
In the Memphis territory IA million
dollars were spent last year for corn
and hay alone. and ii the same ter
ritory there were only one million
bales of cotton produced.
AS suggestions as to how the pres
emit situation could be relieved, Mr..
Gwinn offered the following: Have
good home garden; not garden for
just a few months year, but
garden that will furnish the table
practically all the year round. Plant
spring oats If the supply Of corn ID
not enough to last until the next
harvest. Make provisions for plenty
of hay apd roughage for the follow
ing year Have enough milk for
home use and some to sell. Have
plenty Of chickens and eggs to supply
the table and surplus to be
marketed.
Mr.. GWinn closed bis. speech BY
pointing out the splendid opportunity
that exists In dairying Cream IS
one of the few farm products that
has not declined in marked degree
and cows can be purchased at much
lower figure than has been possible
for some years past.
Mr.. McAnnis opened his address by
stating that the conditions, as they
are faced by the farmer today, is an
individual problem and that each
farmer will have to work out his own
individual method Of getting away
from the one-crop system.
One Of the most important things
to be done during the coming year.
Mr.. McAmis stated, is reduction In
the cost Of producing all crops.
Several methods Of reducing the
cost of farm products we're suggest
ed. One Of them was that every
farm Of over 50 acres should have a
good brood mare raising mule colt.
It was stated that alfalfa and apples
are two crops that are adapted to
this soil and climate that were being
almost entirely overlooked and that
they are both money producing crops.
The fundamental principles that
must be observed in the changing
from a one-crop system to DIVERSE
fled farming we're the points that
Mr.. McAmis brought out III con-
vincing way in his address.
The fact that the courthouse was
crowded evidenced the fact that the
farmers Of the county are ready for
some change in their methods Of
farming and that they are seeking
Information. There win be in aiI
probability a large acreage planted
50 cotton in this county this year.
but it will not be as large as in 1920,
and the tendency to get away from
cotton farming to the exclusion Of
everything else is stronger now than
ever before.
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