THE DEMONSTRATION WORK 



the food for the operatives in cotton mills from its northern base to 

 the cotton centers of the South, or to ship the cotton bale to the food 

 centers of the North? Cotton is the cheaper freight. If, however, 

 we shall become a great food producing people, the whole problem 

 will be changed. General cultivation and use of rice in the South 

 will solve the factory problem. 



To afl&rm that rice in the South can occupy the vantage ground 

 of wheat in the North, both in extent and economy of production, 

 is equivalent to a commercial declaration of independence. It means 

 that we shall feed our own people with a home-grown cereal, and 

 that with by-products shall produce the pork, the beef, the butter and 

 the cheese required for home consumption. It means a better grade 

 of cattle and horses, better beef and stronger teams. The substi- 

 tution of rice for corn and wheat as a principal food for Southern 

 people will tend to the development of a hardier race. It will de- 

 crease dyspepsia, malaria and mortgages. It will strengthen and 

 fortify every line of industry and give us support at our weakest 

 point, a lack of a proper ratio between the food and the fibre prod- 

 ucts. By general consent cotton is recognized as the best material 

 to clothe the nations, and iron occupies a peerless position in all 

 mechanical and structural works. In both these world necessities, 

 the South has no successful rival. With the home production of food 

 commercial independence will be complete, and her conquests in the 

 domains of industry will be a series of brilliant triumphs. 



Foundries and factories will come to her unsought; her cities 

 will broaden to meet the demands of an increasing commerce, and 

 her marts of trade will teem with merchants from every land." 



"We are rapidly approaching the era of a universal density of 

 population. To the people of the United States it has hitherto 

 seemed a remote problem. The revelations of the last census show 

 that within the present century we shall be confronted with the prob- 

 lem of a sufficient home food supply, instead of sending an enormous 

 surplus to the old world. Thus far we have paid no attention to the 

 economic value of food nor its digestibility in our efforts to gratify 

 the appetite. In fact, fifty years ago such values were unknown to 

 the scientific world. Now we realize the amazing waste resulting 

 from the selection of food on the basis of tastes instead of the 

 amount of nourishment contained. As seven-eighths of the food 



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