24 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
would be one of the best things the Department has ever done for the 
South, because it will bring about a complete change in the agriculture 
in the South. 
Mr. Burixson. If you will permit me, I think I can answer Mr. 
Adams to his complete satisfaction. For a period of six years the 
most influential newspaper in our State—a paper that is most widely 
read—has been most earnestly advocating diversification, and it has 
made comparatively little progress in that direction. Texas is essen- 
tially a one-crop State, and it has been from the very beginning of 
its occupation by Americans. That crop is cotton, and it is going to 
be the most difficult matter to induce the farmer to abandon the cul- 
ture of cotton, notwithstanding the small profits that will arise on 
account of the boll weevil. 
I will say, in connection with the statement with reference to the 
exhaustion of the soil, that Texas is a peculiar State, as far as soil is 
concerned. I know farms in Texas that have cultivated cotton con- 
tinuously for forty years, and the last year before the manifestation 
of the boll weevil they made one bale of cotton per acre—the aver- 
age amount of cotton produced when the farm was in a virgin state. 
Mr. Apams. Without manure? 
Mr. Burteson. Without manure. Such a thing as fertilization as 
an incident to general farming in Texas is unknown; and, owing to 
the fertility of the soil, I do not believe it ever will be generally 
practiced in Texas. 
Mr. Gattoway. I would like to emphasize this matter of demon- 
stration work. This year we had three or four demonstration farms 
in Texas, and they were conducted at very little expénse to the Depart- 
ment because in most instances the citizens of the respective Hlaens 
themselves guaranteed the funds that were necessary; but the only 
guaranty that was required was that in case of a yield below the aver- 
age crop the farmer who undertook the demonstration work under a 
plan of management that was submitted by the Department would be 
reimbursed. We had one such place at Terrell, Tex. The farmer 
there put in 100 acres of cotton, and the entire question at issue was 
one of properly fertilizing the soil. A dozen citizens of Terrell raised 
sufficient funds to guarantee him an average crop, but he raised and 
sold $700 more than an average crop; and asa result of that work there 
will be there this year 15 or 20 men right around him who will take 
up the same line of work, and who have already ordered several car- 
loads of fertilizer to make the plan complete in its detail as it was out- 
lined in its first year. 
That is the general line of demonstration work that has been éarried 
on—of course, ina very small way. In other cases we hare brought in 
the question of diversification—alfalfa and other crops, such as Kaffir 
corn—and endeavored to secure results which would appeal to those 
in the immediate vicinity; and in all such instances it is much easier 
to secure results—much quicker than sending out by publications 
preaching and lecturing, and things of that nature. Itisan actual eve. 
opener, so to speak, and it bas effect. In most cases‘it would prove 
more economical to make the demonstration work than to spread it 
out many years and bring about results in other ways. 
The Caarrman. You remember that last year we passed a bill mak- 
ing an appropriation of $500,000 for the purpose of stamping out the 
foot-and-mouth disease. How would it do to make an appropriation 
this year, giving the Secretary such a lump sum of money for the pur- 
