The Wilmington morning star., 1945-01-29
Carolina F arm Comment
By F. H. JETER

Arson. also, is one OF those nne
old general crop counties ina
cannot be erloo ed When
meas surfing rural progress in North
Carolina. For more than 81 years
now Jimmie Cameron and MIS-:
Rosalind Redfearn have WORKED
together as farm and home agents
in that county, comprising a team
that is unexcelled in the United
States Both have been repeatedly
honored by citations and plaques
and medals and other marks OF
distinction until these have become
commonplace. Not that the two OF
them do not appreciate any good
thing that may come to Arson
county. because they do; but, rath-
er that they are interested prl-
marily in their homefolks because
both are natives Of Arson and thus
have greater incentive IN try
inc to build there a civilization the
equal of any.
Arson folks had a hard time last
year. just as farmers did every
where over North Carolina. In the
first place, the season opened with
a cold, wet spring and with a short
age of labor and machinery. De-
spite this, the farmers produced
one of the best crops in Arson S
long and honorable history. They
produced one Of the largest small
grain crops in their history and
harvested it mainly With combines
during an almost perfect harvest
ing season. They grew one Of the
largest and best yields OF corn,
and the cotton yield amounted to
bale or a bale and one-half of
over entire farms. There are hun
dreds of other acres in Arson right
now that would yield bale Of cot
ton per acre but these acres have
never been picked and probably
never will be due to the labor sit
uation. The county does not grow
much tobacco, yet more than 300
acres were put to the crop last
season and paid well. Some of the
growers took matters in their own
hands and grew the tobacco with
out an allotment, paid the tax and
still made more money under those
circumstances than with other
crops.
Arson, like neighboring Union,
is lespedeza county. There was a
large acreage seeded last year
and splendid crops of hay and seed
were harvested Yet, hundreds of
tons of hay were not harvested
due to lack OF labor and thous-
ands OF bushels Of seed were lost
for the same reason. More beef
cattle were grown out in the coun-
ty than ever before and farmers
were pleased with the prices re-
ceived; more dairy products were
produced; and, the turkey crop
was much above the acreage.
Jimmie Cameron estimates that
the turkey growers received a min
imum OF $125,O00 for their birds.
Arson dropped a bit in its hog and
chicken production; however, the
production was equal to that of any
year before the war. All this was
done under severe handicaps be-
cause many farms were idle en-
tirely, others did not have half
enough labor, and only through the
determination of the farm owners
themselves were good crops pro-
duced.
The outlook for l945 is not so
bright in Arson or elsewhere in
North Carolina. Every farmer in
the county is worried over the lab
or situation. Many boys who were
deferred in 1914 to make a crop
and were key men in opera ting
tractors, combines and other farm
implements have been drafted in
to the armed services. Those who
failed to pass the physical re-
quirements have been tempted to
go into higher paying work and
while there were idle farms in
1914, more will be idle in 1915.
Some results of this condition are
seen already because less small
train was planted last fall Some
men sowed none at all while 9TH
ers cut down on their usual acre
age. 1t appears now that there
will be from Is to 80 per cent less
labor available than usual.
AS in other counties, some of the
labor usually available for farm
work is now receiving money
from boys in the service and is
very indifferent about going into
the fields. AS result, the farmers
say they hardly know what to do,
yet, they are patriotic and feel
that they must do their part in
producing food, feed and fiber.
producing these products. they
have said to County Agent Cam
eron, sis our part in helping to win
this war and We plan to use more
to use it more efficient
ly, to work longer hours, to ex-
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