Increase of Farms
Those who take interest in agricultural conditions in Norh Carolina will be gratified on reading the following from the latest issue of the University News Letter:
“Vole XIL, no 2, of the News Letter carried a study on farm gains and losses by states, 1920-25, in which it was shown that North Carolina was surpassed by only two states in the number of new farms brought under cultivation during this period and that in 1925, only one state in the Union, Texas, had more farms under cultivation. North Carolina’s total was 283,495, which is 23,000 more farms that our nearest rival possesses, aside from Texas.
“If growth in number of farms is any indication, North Carolina is far better than is any of our neighboring states. The increase in farms in Virigina was only about half the increase in North Carolina. The other states bordering on North Carolina suffered losses in farms. In South Carolina all the counties except five have fewer farms than they had in 1920, the net decrease for the state being 19,297. Georgia suffered the heaviest loss of any state, with 60,000 fewer farms in 1925 than in 1920. Tennessee also suffered a slight decrease in farms. In percent of counties showing increases in farms, North Carolina ranks near the top among the states of the Union, which means that the entire State is sharing whatever prosperity exists on the farms of the state.
“The study brings out some rather interesting facts with regard to changed conditions that have taken place since 1920. During the decade from 1910 to 1920 the counties showing the largest increases in the number of arms were the 20 or so combination cotton and tobacco counties centering around Wilson, Wayne and Johnston, resulting from high prices for cotton and tobacco during the War period. During the last five years this same group of counties made the poorest showing in farm increases of any large are in the state.
“The western half of the state, whose counties with few exceptions lost farms between 1910 and 1920, shows up slightly better than the eastern half in farm increases for the period since 1920.
Arguing from the fact that agriculture is the basis of all human effort, the increase of farms in North Carolina augurs well for the future prosperity of our state, and is good publicity to use in offering inducement to prospectors. The increase gives evidence that North Carolina, which is one of the oldest states in the Union has been thoroughly tested, through favorable and adverse conditions, and has been found profitable territory in which to farm.
A significant fact is found in the statement that the section embracing 20 or more combination cotton and tobacco counties around Wilson showed the large increase in farms during the years between 1910 and 1920, on account of the high prices of cotton and tobacco. Since 1920, however, this combination cotton and tobacco group has made the poorest showing in farm increases of any large are in the state. This, no doubt, can be attributed to the cultivation of tobacco and cotton, the two money crops, to the neglect of food and feed crops.
Much of the increase in farms is attributed, rightly no doubt, to the building of good roads. The Manufacturers’ Record says:
“Wherever good highways are constructed, prosperity and progress follow as surely as day follows night. Wherever intolerably bad roads exist, whether consisting of bottomless mud holes or equally bottomless sand piles, there stagnation takes place along with gradual deterioration of the moral and educational condition of the people, and there poverty exists in direct contrast with the prosperity to be found where modern highways are built.”
North Carolina is noted as having far better highways than most of the states in the Union. Hence, it is natural to conclude that good roads are beneficial to farming interests.
From the Fayetteville Observer, as reprinted on the editorial page of The Goldsboro News, Sunday morning, Jan. 24, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn93064755/1926-01-24/ed-1/seq-4/
