Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-03-21
farmers 9eeartme1t,
Cotton or Grain z

Shall cotton or grain be our main crop
this year, is question of no little mo-
ment at this time.
In our impoverished condition, the fu.
ture more than ordinarily uncertain, and
free labora problem of doubtful solution,
it is natural that every body should de.
sire to plant all the cotton possible, which
will pay at least $3.50 per bale, and if
the season be favorable, enable the plan
ter to buy his provisions &C., and lay by
something for contingencies.
Many are going to make cotton their
sole crop-planting only little corn or
other grain. Everybody is going to
plant some cotton, and those whonever
saw o cotton stalk are now buying seed,
and calculating with paper and pencil the
great returns they are going to make.
Cotton presents the readiest means of
making money, and therefore, all are hat
in hand to mis- Majesty-now, more than
ever, King. But there is an old economi-
cal adagc-"d don't put all your eggs in
one basket"-which might be advanta-
ssously remembered by the cotton.wor-
Shippers. If the season should be unfa.
vorable, if the worm, the grasshopper, or
any Of the other enemies of the "great
staple" should make the crop q failure,
and bring all the peneilled estimates Of
profits to nought-nay, make the result,
after paying the freedmen and supporting
them, loss instead Of a gain, where is
the money to come from to buy provis-
ions. &c? Or suppose that the crops of
the North West should fail, or be INSULT.
cient, and prices advance considerably
sbove the present high standard, even
supposing that we do make the cotton we
expect, and get $3.50 per bale for it, if
we cannot buy provisions or are obliged
to pay an immense price for them, where
is our pro6t2
Last year all the labor that was availa-
bic was employed in growing corn and
wheat, and yet it is an admitted fact that
the supply Of breadstuffs in the country
now, is insufficient, and that this is one OF
the causes of the present high prices of
grain. The supply of labor is now ma
terially reduced below what it was last
year, both in quantity and quality, and if
it be almost exclusively employed in the
production of cotton, to the neglect Of
breadstuffs, we may depend Oh it that
when driven to Northern mark ct to buy
all We want, and thrown on the tender
mercies of railroad companies to bring
us what we buy, we will find that the
magnificent p,ofits of our cotton, if we
realize them, will pass out Of pockets
into those of "our friends of the great
North West" of whom we heard sucl,
fattering tales during the war, and into
the insatiate maws of the railroads, to
whom the direst popular necessity, is the
most favorable opportunity.
The temptation. to plant cotton is very
strong. 1t will certainly pay largely il
We make crop; but that if depends on
two other IFS, namely: if the season be
favorable, and if the freedmen conclude
to work" 1t would be wise, therefore,
to guard against contingencies, and lei
each agricultarist, whether he be the large
planter with his thousands of acres, or
the humble farmer, plant enough of grain
at least for his own use, and then he may
WOO the smiles of King Cotton as much
as he pleases.
aMake all the money we can this year,
and sell out" is the cry of petulance and
impatience, and has no wisdom in it, for
it amounts to the same thing as killing
the goose that ,sys the golden egg:
Plant cotton, but remember that roast
ing ears are not to be despised that
few bushels of wheat at home. without
sending to Cincinnati to get them, and
then sending to the depot day after day
to see if they have arrived, are great
contribution 10 comfort; and that little
rye for a grazing patch, and other purpo-
ses, may be cultivated with advantage, il
used in moderation.-So. Banner.