Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-03-19
The over production of cotton, to the al.

The over production of cotton, to the al.
most entire neglect of cereal crops, and con-
seouently the animal products dependent
thereon we have long felt convinced,has con.
sli,uted the principal obstacle to the success
of many of our planters. 1t may be worked
out on paper that it is better to plant cotton
and buy bread, pork, mules and horses, with
its products; but it is a notorious TACT that
our planters who act on different principle
and pursue exactly the opposite course, have
become the wealthiest, most independent
and comfortable class OF the community.
The truth is, the wealth of the country is to.
dav in the hands Of just such men, and we
invite any one who doubts it to look around
among his neighbors, and he will find a
practical attestaliop Of its truth. 1t is the
two and three bag planters that own nearly
the entire country: lend money annually to
the producers of ten bags, and come in as
the chief distributes of the estates OF the
latter when they die. This is not only true,
but it is The legitimate result OF sound prln-
cples judiciousy y applied.
Could the planter have guarantee Of ten
cents annually for his cotton, and that the
price of flour would keep at six dollars per
barrel, corn at forty cents busheI, and pork
at four cents, aud that all these necessarics
shall continue to he supplied at his own
door, the figure work Of the theorist might
be regarded as a safe rule for his guidance.
But nothing is more uncertain than the hap
piness of these commodities, is one OF the
sure causes of the uncertainty. With cotton
at five and six cents, and the necessares OF
life at the common prices which we have
had to pay for them for some years past, we
can see no other fate for the man who con.
fines his attention to cotton, but inevitable
ruin.
In the long run, the planter who himself pro.
duces what is necessary for the support and
comfort of his family, and at the same time
exercises proper economy in his exPend',
lures, is bound to become prosperous and
independent The whole history of the past
fully establishes this fact.
1t is our intention mere y to glance at The
subject in this article, and we have conse,
quently omitted many points that might be
brought in to establish the position we are
seeking to impress upon the mind Of the
planter. The difference between the effect
produced on our land by the production OF
cotton and those of the grain crops, constl.
tutes an important item which should not be
left out of the account in an investigation OF
this subject.
The last year present a practical illustra-
ton of the sounduess Of the views we have
presented A large majority of our planters
planted large grain crops and paid less atte'''
ton 10 cotton, and the result has been most
favorable. Our people were never in more
comfortable circumstances than they are and
have been during the present winter Their
cotton has brought remune'ative prices,
while every thing around them rejoiccs in
comfort and plenty. The experiment has
proved successful one, and we hope it may
be continued until it shall become the settled
policy Of our reople.-Savannah Repub'I'
can.