Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-02-06
NUMBER II.
From the Sol Of the South.
How TO alse the Price Of Cotton.

How 10 raise the Price OF Cotton.
Mr.. EDToR: It strikes mo that you must be-
we'll pleased with the result of your labos when
YOU rcd the newspapers, and see the accounts of
fine cotton crops from every section of our coun-
try, and the scarcity and high price ofprovisions>
As the object of your paper is to teach the plan
tcrs of the South how to raise large crops ofcot-
ton and get and ) cents for it; to raise small
crops>of corn and poor hogs, if any at all, and
: pay one dollar per bushc for the former and 10
and II cents for bacon, say YOU must be we'll
pleased to find that your suggestions are so gen.
orally adopted.
But laying all jokes aside, do YOU not some
times think that your undertaking is hopeless
one-that of encouraging and advising the plan
ters to raise an abundant supply of provisions and
stock of all kinds, as much cotton Is they can
after this is dono, and improve their plantations
so as to preserve and increase their fertility, and
keep them in 4 high state of cultivation? The
cotton growing States can make, in an ordinary
year, not only IS much cotton as can be saved
in good time, s;y by Christmas, but alsoa boun-
tifu supply of pork, cotton, oats peas, and pota-
toes, and might adj wheat. Is it done?
An answer is readily procured by taking Col
umbus as a criterion for the past year, and in
quiring how many hogsheads of bacon have been
brought here, how many bushels of corn from
the west and how many of wheat Bacon has been
sold rs high fifteen cents, corn has brought from
eghty-fve cents to a dollar and quarter to a
dollar and a half per busbel. Nothern hay has
been sod at one dollar and seventy FIVE cents
per hundred in our streets. Why is this =
Men had just as we'll acknowledge the truth at
once, and say they plant their best lands in cot
ton, too few acres in corn and oats. and pay no at
tent;on to'the raising of hogs. The high price Of
cotton during the last season has caused many a
farmer to have scant supply Of corn for the next
year; aud not the dry weather that was expert
cnced during the past year. 1t IS true, the
drought afectd corn crops seriously, but in many
instances on adjoining plantations, where the
land was equally fertile and well worked, one man
has an abundance of corn, and another meagre
supply. What is the reason There is but one;
and that is, one planted sufficient quantity Of
land to produce corn enough if the seasons were
not very proptious, and the other planted Just G.
nough, provided the seasons were genial. ask
the planters if it is not time to change this order
of things? You will hear man at any time, who
has cotton to sell complain that the English SPIN
ner and the Northern manufacturer are attemp-
ting to purchase it for less than he thinks it is
WORTH when if you would visit the plantation you
will see poor mules, an empty smoke house and
thrcc-tourths, if not four-ffths, of his land plan
ted in cotton. He is one Of those who neglect
every thing for cotton, help swell the receipts,
and reap for their labor low price. Does he
make more clear money than the man who raised
his own supplies and makes cotton secondary
consideration Does he clear as much? 1appeal
to those who have tried both, to answer the
question.
He las to take his five and six cents cotton
money. and buy another mans ten and twelve
cents bacon and dollar corn.
Think Of It that with a soil and climate adap-
ted to raising almost every article of food for
man and beast, the ncccssaries Of life particu-
ly, our people should buy meat produced in Ten
ncssec, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana and hay
grown in New York and Maine. What Com
mcntary on Southern enterprise and agricultur-
al skill! Let every planter determine that he
will ever after feed his family and negroes on
Southern raised corn and hay-make what cot
ton he can besides this. and | will guarantee
there will be no complaint about the price of
cotton. | think all that was necessary for the
planters convention in Macon to say to them,
was,-noake your own Sxpplics, and you will
find 4 remedy for for the low price Of cotton.
ARAToR.