The Dawn of a New Constructive Era 143 



to be provided with occupations, and whose stomachs have to be 

 filled. In fact, one of the greatest economic problems confront- 

 ing us at the present moment is, how to increase the producing 

 capacity of our soils, and extend our cultivable areas to the ut- 

 most, even to our home gardens and backyards, not only to keep 

 pace with our present-day requirements under normal conditions, World De- 

 hut to meet a most abnormal state occasioned by our participa- "^a""* More 

 tion in a world's conflict. The call for the highest standard of "" 

 efficiency in the production and conservation of food does not 

 come only to the American farmer, but the cry today comes 

 from everywhere, for the mobilization of the world's agricultural 

 resources, so that the people of different continents may not 

 suffer for lack of the necessities of life. 



For some time, however, we have been brought face to face 

 with the problem of the high cost of living, even before the pres- 

 ent international crisis became so acute, and we have heard of 

 many attempts, theoretical and otherwise, to reach an intelligent 

 solution. Might we not, with appropriateness, ask ourselves the 

 question : If agricultural conditions in the South had, all of 

 these years, been in keeping with her possibilities, in the pro- 

 duction of the daily necessities of our people, in the matter of 

 food supplies, both animal and vegetable, would conditions, as 

 we find them today, have been likely, even with the world in a 

 state of war? I am inclined to think not! 



I believe, however, that the South will, before many decades 

 have passed, be the great stock-raising section of the country, 

 more particularly the meat-producing animals, and will, after we 

 stop "playing with agriculture," be able to furnish both food for 

 our people and enough, and to spare, of the feed crops necessary The South as 

 to develop and maintain a largely increased animal population. '^^ Nation's 

 In short, it is our belief that, ultimately, the South will have to "^^ 

 come to the rescue in preventing the risk of any serious break 

 in the equilibrium of our food supply, should that ever occur; 

 and I also believe that she will be fully equal to the occasion. 



Up to the present, however, and in a general way, our 

 Southern country has not even approached the point of maximum 

 production, either in food crops, or in the number or quality of 

 our live stock, to be able to successfully compete with other 

 more advanced sections in the great metropolitan markets. And 

 even if she had, especially in her cattle production, there are 



