The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-04-22

- A. iAAiNi En- Ilatlon or prices
had hurt the farmer more than any
other class, and that on this account
the farmer is entitled to every consid,
Grafton within reason.
AT such time as this when the
farmer is facing the problem Of which
crops to grow, and how much he can
venture to spend in their production,
Mr.. Harper says, that he, as farmer
himself, knows that 1t is the most dif
ffcult situation of the kind he has ever
confronted.
This is the way this agriculture:
authority figures out the proposition
Of profitable crcp production In 1921:
-Grow enough food and feed crops
TO supply as far as possible the needs
Of the family, the tenants and live
stock. Then pick out the kind of cash
crops that seem to offer the best pros.
poets.
Cotton will always be one of the
best cash crops that a Southern farm
er can grow. No cotton farmer can
afford to throw cotton aside alto
gether.
But cotton should not be the only
cash crop. 1t would only be another
case Of carrying all the eggs in one
basket. 1t is better to go to market
with more than one crop. Among
these other crops are peanuts, legume
hays. tobacco, sweet potatoes, sugar
cane, sorghum, rice and perhaps other
crops. In addition there should be-
gradual adding, as means will allow,
Of more livestock, beginning with hogs
preferably and taking on other ami
mails as soon as possible.
I'm facing the problem of profitable
crop production for the year 1921, two
facts must be considered. ~ Crop
prices are low, (2) Crop producing
expenses have not fallen correspond.
ingly.
"The farmer must remember that
when crop prices are low. it tax %
more of the crops to cover the pro.
duction cost. This narrows the mar
gin of profits. Therefore, If a farmer
does not look well to keeping up his
acre yields, there will be no margin
left above the cost of production.
always, the most expensive yields
are the low yields and the most re-
munerative are the high yields. II
there are losses to be sustained, as
was the case In 1920, the farmer who
grew the greatest yields per acre los,
least.
"A safe and sane policy that needs
especial emphasis for 1921. is: Guard
your profits with high acre yields.
This involves good preparation of the
seed bed, the use OF high producing
seed. liberal fertilization and thorough
cultivation. A neglect to employ an,
one of these to the proper extent may
mean that the farmer will find him
self poorer at the end of the season
than at the beginning.
Labor is the greatest item of cos
In producing a crop yield. 1t mus
be used to the extent of thorough cul
: tivation. Fertilizers are next in tn,
list of cost items. Since high Yield
per acre are SO essential in times O
low prices of crops. and since fertile
ers increase acre yields more than any
thing else. they cannot be reduced il
i921. In fact, 1t may be that they vii
have 10 be depended upon more thai
ever. to make acre yields that vii
be profitable.
IAN investment In good seed is on
Of the best that a farmer can max
ct any time.
an q word, this Is time for farr
efficiency, faith and courage. Thes
virtues exercised. the farmer vi
emerge from the postwar struggle vi,
toriously."