The Semi-weekly leader., 1921-01-22
"DoEs THE HEN STOP
sCRATCRxNG9"

That is a question that should be an
swered by everyone individually at this
time. Some would answer this by say
ing that she does not stop scratching;
others would say she does stop; without
being able to back up their statements
with proof. But those who have OBJ
served the hen in all her activities and
watched her as she cared for her little
family. know positively that she does
not stop scratching, but provides the
necessary food. And we also know that
the harder the worms are to find, the
more diligently she searches and the
harder she scratches to capture the sup
ply needed. She does not scratch for
herself alone, but for her whole family.
No matter if the picking in good today
and poor tomorrow, she remains an op-
timist. She believes the worms are
there and if she only scratches hard
enough and deep enough she will find
the hidden treasure. No matter how
many other hens may be out scratch
ing there will always be some worms
left.
To the man who bemoans his fate
because of the present financial depres-
sion of the cotton market we would
say: Does the hen stop scratching?,
There are other worms besides cotton.
They are hay, oats, corn, hogs, beef
cattle, poultry, dairying, sweet pota-
toes, vegetables, etc. How can we get
There is not farm in Mississippi
that could not support livestock of all
kinds and grow crops such as we have
mentioned, and thus make the South
self-sustaining. Mississippi must pro-
duce enough food and feed-stuffs for
local consumption if she would follow
safe and sane policy. In 1914 when
cotton was drug on the market and
the slogan Buy a Bale" was famil-
lar one, the people realized their situa-
tion and commenced to scratch.
Today we are confronted with practi-
cally the same condition as in 1914 and
we would urge the Southern farmer to
use the same prescription given at that
time Diversity Grow all the food and
feedstuffs to supply the needs of your
own farm, your own community, your
own county and your own state. Live
at home!
We note with alarm that in many
instances farmers are selling their
herds of cattle to get a little ready
cash to pay taxes and meet some of
their obligations, and are holding their
cotton for more money. We believe
this is unwise. The sale of your live
stock brings to you only temporary re-
lief, and your second plight is worse
than your first, because you do not
have your livestock to fall back upon.
Besides your livestock is an asset and
not a liability. The South needs more
cattle of all kinds.
We take great satisfaction in being
able to state that the farmers in COM
munities in Mississippi where they en-
! tered the dairy and livestock business
and carried on diversified farming are
not feeling the pinch of the low price
of cotton, as are those who have fol-
lowed the one crop cotton.
Annually the South buys from the
Northern States more than $500, 900, 900
worth of hay, grain, meat meal and
-four. This in our judgment is an eco
nomic error and Is a tremendous drain
on the South's finances. This money
should remain largely in the Southern
States, where it has been produced.
How can it be done? The answer is
SCRATCH!
Isn't $5OO,O0O,000 worth scratching
for? We have scratched for a great
deal less, and several times before we
got it. Sitting idly by will not remedy
conditions in the slightest. A policy
of constructive cooperation backed up
by an inexhaustible supply of pluck
will do more towards solving our per-
picking agricultural problems than any
thing else we can suggest.
Grow cotton, but with all your grow
ing, grow livestock and all the food
and feedstuffs necessary for consump-
ton on the farm.
1t is not the first hen off the roost
in the morning that gets the worms.
it's the one that SCRATCHES.