The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-07-20
SAYS FOOD CROPS
WILL BE SOLUTION
Chairman OF York County Association
Gives Views on Situation.

Chairman OF York County Association
Gives Views on Situation.
Rock Hill, July 16.-J. B. Johnson,
chairman Of the York Cotton Asso-
citation, IS a firm believer in the fact
that the growing of food crops is the
one sure means Of bringing the South
out of the depression and placing this
favored part Of the country on the
threshold Of permanent prosperity.
DR.. johnson has transmitted his views
to j. S. Wannamaker, president of the
American Cotton Association, and to
President r. c. Hamer, Of the state
association, urging that meetings be
held in each cotton growing state dur
ing the month of August to start a
drive for more foodstuffs during 1921.
DR.. johnson declared today that
something must be done to save all
interests in the South; that the fate
of the farmer was not alone in the
balance as various other interests are
SO entwincd about agriculture that
they are in as bad shape as the farm
ar, if not worse. BY producing a
greater quantity of foodstuffs next
year the farmer will make himself
more independent and by doing SO he
will automatically cut his cotton acre
age, thereby insuring fair price for
what staple he grows this year and
next
In view Of the success of the cotton
association this year, Dr. Johnson be-
lieves that this organization is in po-
sition to further the foodstutrs cam
paign. The acreage reduction obtain
ed was around 30 per cent, he said,
while the fertilizer reduction was
around so per cent. A year ago, de-
clared the head of the local cotton
association, it looked like an impossi-
bic task to stimulate food production
and thereby automatically cut the
cotton acreage, but it was done. Now
is the time to start the movement for
a reduction in acreage for 1922.
81 have taken the matter up with
President Wannamaker, of the Amcri-
can Cotton Association, asking him to
call meeting in each cotton-grow-
ing state during August, at which the
question of increased food production
will be considered. | know it is the
logical thing to do, because in Au-
gust, September and October grain
and cover crops should be sown If
we can show on November | an cx-
traordinary acreage sown to grain and
cover crops, with drive on for a
further reduction in the cotton acre
age for 1922, / am satisfied that the
cotton buying world will be so i'm
pressed that we will be able to OBJ
tain fair price for the 1921 cotton
crop and for the cotton held over
from 1919 and 1920 A production Of
100000 bales this year and from 81
100000 to 100000 bales for 1922
will absolutely save the South; and in
doing this we will lend helping hand
to every other section Of this great
country"
Asked whether the farmers could
secure aid in purchasing seed grain
and seed for cover crops, DR.. Johnson
replied: "Evcry merchant and every
banker in the Southern cotton states
will, | am sure, back up this propo-
sition and help the farmers to the last
ditch in obtaining seed for the car
rying out Of this common sense and
practical plan"
DR.. Johnson referred to the fact
that the farmers who have increased
their food crop this year would be in
better shape than the ones who did
not increase their acreage in food
stuffs but kept to the usual amount of
cotton. And the same state Of af-
fairs would obtain the coming year.
1t is an absolute fact that the grow
ing of more foodstuffs for man and
beast will make the Southern farmer
Independent, whether he plants much
or little cotton, in, the opinion of DR..
Johnson, who is a large farmer as
well as banker and merchant.