Pocahontas star herald., 1924-07-25
From the County Agent
DiversifcatiOn

=
much talk and read many articles on
crop diversification. Along with thus
we have heard much idle talk, for it
is impossible for any country to tear
down altogether their plans Of farming
and change to a new system in a few
years time. Along with this crop di.
versifcation talk we have heard much
said about the one crop system over
! the south. In other words the arsjl-
ment has been for diversiication and
against the one crop system. And very
fortunately we have nearly arrived It
the time when the one crop system
can no longer exist.
At recent meeting Of the Arkans $
Bankers Association the president OF
this association, Mr., Wood Rainwat:'
of MOrrilton, asked the bankers
join him in Il state wide campaign {
forever put stop to the one crop sys-
ten. Mr.. Rainwater proposed that
the bankers form an ironclad rule not
to loan money to any farmer who did
not raise enough feed to last the entire
year. This proposition is before the
bankers of our state now for consider
alton and from all reports is meeting
with very little opposition.
Now, lets bring this matter down to
our home county and figure out whit
can be done. Other counties over the
state are getting away from the one
crop system and at the same time pro-
ducing their quota of cotton. 1t would
be foolish to stop producing cotton al |
together and no one has been asked
to do this. Cotton is our money crop |
and when handled in the proper man
ner is a very creditable one. But let's
see what cotton has done for Randolph |
county so far this year. SO far we
have had good season for corn, but
our crop is far from what it should
be in a great many instances. Why
is this true Of our corn crop? Simply
Jecause the farmer has neglected his
corn trying to make a cotton crop.
The outcome is that most farmers were
oyer-cropped and consequently are go
ing to reap little enough from both
cotton and corn.
The following figures will throw
some light on the feed situation OF
our county. From May 1, 1923, to
May 1, 1924, there was pa carloads
of feed shipped to five stations in Ran
dolph county. This includes corn,
mixed feed and hay. The money that
was spent for this feed was sent out
of the county, never to return. Would
1t not be the right thing to do to raise
enough feed for our use, thereby keep
ing our money at home?
In the year 1922, Randolph county
raised 577, los bushels of corn, 23,059
tons of hay and 1925 tons of oat hay.
In 1922 Randolph county had '4,3G9
horses. 4,744 mules, 1O,157 dairy cattle,
s ,2O4 beef cattle and 5,S34 sheep. Our
rorn crop in 1922 averaged 10 bushels
per head of live stock. In other words,
If our corn had been divided equally
there would have been 10 bushels for
each animal including horses, mules,
cattle and sheep Our hay and oat
crop if divided equally, would have
give each animal 2,421 pounds.
Some more figures in favor of diver
sifcation. The population of Ran
lolph county is 17,713. In 1922 we
raised 23,O59 bushels of Irish potatoes =.
md 23,735 bushels of sweet potatoes.
Counting five persons an average fam
ly, we have 1872 bushels of Irish and
sweet potatoes per family. Is this !,
enough, with none to sell?
The value Of poultry per farm in
county is $34.4O. The value
If all poultry in 1922 was $97 ,76O. The
value of poultry products, including =,
'hickens and eggs, the same year was :,
S2l4,142. The value Of the products =,
sold from poultry was 81 times the
otal value. Doesn't this seem as IL /,
here was some money to be made from !
poultry raising.
The total number Of bushels Of ap-
lles and peaches raised in Randolph !,