A BALANCED AGRICULTURE 
This on 1,245,000 acres which would have been 
almost enough for two early applications for each 
acre of cotton in the state. With what results? One 
of the best cotton crops in her history, 342 pounds 
of lint per acre. Yet with this good state average 
there were farmers who made % bale to acre and 
some even less; there were some who made 114 bales 
to acre. 
By following such practices on our own farms, 
we are making more cotton per acre and of the 
best quality that we have ever made. On our entire 
acreage in 1939 we averaged 637 pounds of lint per 
acre. A 380-acre unit averaged 810 pounds per acre; 
and one 140-acre unit averaged 911 pounds of lint 
per acre. Many farmers throughout the belt are 
making similar yields. We feel that we are just 
beginning to learn how to make cotton. We will not 
be satisfied until we make a much higher average. 
But regardless of how well we may handle the 
acres that we plant in cotton, that is not enough. 
The acreage that can be planted in cotton is so 
limited that we must look to other money crops. 
Those who have tobacco acreage allotments must 
also select these aci’es and handle with extra care 
and intelligence. (See our Tobacco Bulletin.) And 
even with these combined acres taken care of, many 
of us will still have two-thirds of our cleared acres 
to give our thought to. What shall we do with these? 
Let us give consideration to and select some of the 
valuable supplementary crops, such as oats, wheat, 
barley, soy beans, lespedeza, clovers and alfalfa in 
some sections. We have found that careful and 
intelligent handling of these crops is as important 
as with cotton and tobacco. The soil, the drainage, 
the organic content, the previous crop, the variety, 
the fertilization and culture likewise affects the yield 
and value. 
Many of us try now to follow a three-year rota¬ 
tion, namely: first year, cotton; second year, corn 
interplanted with peas or beans; third year, oats, 
wheat, rye or barley followed by a hay or seed crop 
of cow peas or soy beans. This is a sane soil build¬ 
ing rotation. Our yields are good. Many of us are 
making 30 to 50 bushels of com to acre, 50 to 80 
bushels of oats, 20 to 30 bushels of wheat and from 
one to two tons of good hay to acre. 
Soybeans and silage corn provide ample cheap feed 
for livestock and utilization of idle acres. 
We find a ready market for our wheat, usually 
at a profit, but some farmers find themselves with 
big surpluses of oats, barley, rye, corn and hay that 
cannot be sold at a profit. To what must they turn 
in order to market these crops? Livestock—chickens, 
hogs, dairy and beef cattle. 
History shows us that population throughout the 
ages has been determined by food supply. Livestock 
in the South has likewise been determined by food 
supply, hence the South with her surplus of feed 
will now naturally increase the number of livestock. 
This has been her greatest need—a balance between 
money crops, feed crops and livestock. 
Our agricultural leaders have preached diversifica¬ 
tion and now we are forced to diversify. They have 
preached a live-at-home program. They have taught 
our boys through the pig and calf clubs, the value of 
well-bred stock and proper feeding; what contribu¬ 
tion the hen can make; the value of breed and blood 
testing; the humble milk cow and the part she 
should play in our health and living. Furthermore, 
how these can be raised economically and fed with 
home-grown feeds. Some of these boys are now men; 
some have attended our agricultural colleges. The 
South is depending on these boys to lead her into 
a well-balanced agriculture, with work and income 
distributed throughout the twelve months instead 
of all going out for nine months and coming in for 
only three months. 
We have the climate; the rainfall; the soil; well- 
bred, adapted varieties; well-bred livestock; the 
intelligence; the opportunity to develop this well- 
balanced program. If we do not succeed we will 
not be living up to our opportunities. If we do 
succeed not only we, ourselves, and the whole 
South, but our posterity will reap the benefit. For 
the program will not just maintain but build up 
the fertility of our soils. 
E. Mclver Williamson, of com fame, used to say, 
“There’s only one crop that poor soils will grow 
successfully, and that is poor people.” Surely the 
inference may be drawn that better soils will pro¬ 
duce better people. Hence, in working toward a 
more intelligent and successful program for our 
farmers, who knows but that we may reap a harvest 
of better men and women in a better South. 
Profitable cotton crops can be grown in spite of low prices 
through the use of scientific methods, adapted varieties of 
pure-bred seed, weevil control, proper cultivation and fertilization. 
