The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-04-29

- - AA%AANA - lldIlOu OI prizes /
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 a time as this when the
farmer is facing the problem of which |
crops to grow, and how much ne can
venture to spend in their production
Mr.. Harper says, that he, as a farmer
himself, knows that It is the most dit
ficult situation of the kind he has ever
confronted.
This is the way this agriculture.
authority figures out the proposition
of profitable crop 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 Southern farm
err 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
a gradual adding, as means will allow
of more livestock, beginning with hogs
preferably and taking on other ami
mails as soon as possible.
In facing the problem of profitable
crop production for the year 1921, two
facts must be considered. (D Crop
prices are low, CD Crop producing
expenses have not fallen correspond.
lngly.
THE farmer must remember that
when crop prices are low, it takes
more Of the crops to cover the pro.
duction cost. This narrows the mar.
gin of profits Therefore, if farmer
does not look well to keeping up his
acre yields, there will he 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. a,
: was the case in 1920. the farmer whit
grew the greatest yields per acre los
least.
"A safe and sane policy that needs
especial emphasis for 1921, is: 'Guar(
: your profits with high acre yields.
: This involves good preparation of tn,
seed bed, the use of high producing
seed, liberal fertilization and thorougl
cultivation. A neglect to employ an,
one of these to the proper extent ma.
mean that the farmer will find him
self poorer at the end of the seasol
than at the beginning.
Labor is the greatest item of cos
. In producing a crop yield It mus
be used to the extent of thorough Gu
= tivation. Fertilizers are next in tn
list of cost items. Since high yield
!. per acre are so essential In times 4
II low prices of crops. and since fertilii
ers increase acre yields more than an,
- thing else, they cannot be reduced /
kIs21. In fact. 1t may be that they wi
I have to be depended upon more tina
/ ever, to make acre yields that wi
1 be profitable.
L IAN investment In good seed is or
/ of the best that a farmer can NAL
| at any time.
/ I'm a word, this is q time for far
1 efficiency, faith and courage. The
1 virtues exercised. the farmer vi
| emerge from the postwar struggle VI
/ toriously."