Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-05-29
The Question of Grain and Provisions il.
the Sogth.

|
Much has appeared in the newspapers Of the
South aud 10 good effect, iu l,i.ruuce 10 tho
prOpriety of planting u large grain and a small
cotton crop. The developmunts % the last few
weeks have increased the Interest and the urgen-
cy OF this subject We arc ca. of from the
supplies of the grain-growiug regions of the
| West, and must necessarily look TO the cotton
States for supply Of provisions for our army
and for the poor families in our midst Although
| the cotton crop has been materially reduced
| there has been, nevertheless. too much cotton
planted 1t has been suggested By d CORES
| pondent that the planters should plOw up half
at least, of their cotton already planted and
plant the land in COW poss OF any of the ordinary
varieties of field peas
There Is no necessity of planting one acre Of
! cotton, unless for the planters own cousump-
| ton II he has none on hand. The power
claimed for the South with respect to cotton is
the capacity to produce it. aud, with one years
| crop already on hand, aud the capacity remaining
IN the soil 10 produce this staple in any future
exigency of demand, it does not appear possible
that there can be any motive for planting cotton
beyond the personal needs of the planter, unless
IN his selfish and unpatTiotic spirit of gain The
following statement of the question Of grain Us
! cotton Is made by practical farmer, who draws
his conclusions from series Of close and detail
ed calculations
Every bale of cotton made causes forty
bushels of corn less TO be produced
Every ten bales requires labor that If df-
Tected into proper channels, wOuld add one sol
der to the army
The farmer who plants his whole farm in
grain, though he may sell at the highest
market price and gre nothing, does more for
his country than he that plants a third or
fourth of cotton crop and giUes all his surplus
provisions to the cause of the war
The fact Is, there is no slight occasion to tear
that, should the war continue through this year,
there will be IA serious scarcity of supplies for
subSisting our army and feeding our people
Our agricultural power is diminished not only
by the loss of some of the richest domains of
the South, but by every new ay0caton Incident
to the war.
VIII we contemplate OF these avocali0ns
the number of men making railroads and roll
ing stock, mining, manufacturing arms powder, !
equipments, clothes, etc; the many things that
must be made at home which we have been ac- !
custOmed to purchase with agricultural products;
the many families that will be thrown on our |
charities by tyranny, and the number of women !
and children that must be fed, who husbands |
fathers aud brothers have gone to fight the bat
ties of their country, the prospect Of great sui-
feTing is by no means an Impossible OF remote !
one. The man who, in the face Of such pros |
pect refuses TO contribute what he has of land |
and labor to the cause of his country and human
ity, and insists, from mean and selfish avarice |
on the production, during the existence Of the |
blockade, OF articles intended for export Is to |
this extent an enemy and pest to his country |
and IN active ally Of the Yankees. Richmond
Examiner.