Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-11-13
"A Word to Planters.

The present price of cotton will not remu-
nerate the planter for the cost of its produc-
tion. There is little or no hope that there
will be such an advance in the price for he
next two years as will warrant the Southern
planter In continuing its cultivation. 1t is
worse than folly to look for repeal OF the
present odious and oppressive tax. Even If
it were repealed, the price Of the staple. to-
day, with the tax off, would not more than
pay the actual cost Of its production, leaving
the planter no profit on the capital invested,
and no remuneration for the time, labor and
trouble bestowed in managing his plantation.
It is evident that the Southern planter must
make up his mind either to abandon his lands
and emgrate, or he must change the charac-
ter of his productions. We say abandon his
lands, because, for many years to come, cot
ton lands will be of little Or no value, and if
the planters, in any considerable numbers,
should cnigratc the large body O. lands thus
thrown in the market would dcpress the price
so low as to make it impossible to realize
anything from their sales.
But the great body of the Southern plan
ters cannot emigrate. The ties of blood, Of
family, of country, and the no less mighty
and controlling tic of poverty, will retain
them in their present homes. The Southern
planters, as class, are 100 poor to remove to
other lands, and, therefore, they must cast
about for such change in their productions
as will give the best promise OF future support
aud prosperity. 2<tqa
We take it for granted that very few Of our
planters believe that they can, with the
present labor and at the ruling rates for cot
ton, continue ils cultivation on very large
scale. This being conceded, we beg them TO
remember that this complete change in the
character of our agricultural productions must
be in some measure prepared for in advance.
II planters wait until the next spring, or even
until the first of the year, before they COM
mence to make arrangements to diversity
their productions they, will lose the benefit OF
whole years. time il seeding" three OF the
most important and useful of the cereals,
which, in our judgment, must, to great e1-
tent, supply the place Of cotton In the new
system. We refer to wheat, oats and rye.
We know that many OF our most expert
enced and successful planters are of opinion
that wheat cannot be successfully raised IN
the great cotton belt of the State. This
opinion is founded entirely on isolated in
Stances of failure which have come under
their observation ard experience. This is
! GREAT mistake. We do not believe that there
| is any better wheat land in the whole country
than the large and extensive belt travcrsing
tie State from cast 10 west, through lis geo
graphical centre and formerly known as the
black belt. We know that heretofore wheat
has NO. been successfully cultivated on these
lands to any great extent. But the fault, We
insist, was not in the land or the Climate but
ibs 4s a sffss s beBaIap HHa iii
" tue poorest lands, such as would not pro
iuce cotton, vas selected for wheat. In most
instances there was no previous preparation,
such as was given to cotton, tie grain beng
sowed OIL the rough and neglected o' fields.
and ruicl; and imperitctly ploughed IN with
a turning plough. Such crops generally
failed. The Only wonder is that failures were
not even more frequent. Even cotton treated
in this way would not have paid for lis culil-
vation.
We insist that the cotton planters of Geor'
cia should set abo:;t at once the preparation
of at least one fourth of their best land for
wheat. Clean the Land nicely and plough ii
deep. Seed sufficient quantity per acre, aud
harrow it well in. This will insure heavier
crops. But the great point is to begin noir
In few days it will be Ton late, especially F'I
vhcat. Rye and oats will do very well sowed
later, but will make much. heavier crops il
put in carly.
The planter who s.nbborn!y refuses to see
The downf,:! oil coiton-Iaising, and hiindly
persists in tic continuation Of its culture, i;
owing 10 tie Winds. and III good time wil
certainly reap the whirlwial; That class. we
know. will moi put "tler houses in rrder'
by a timely and u1icious change Of product:
They mu.i lave another year, bitter expert,
cncc with ppo- mules. aud starving stock and
hursry stomach5, and low-pTiccd cotton. But
thp.c who would avoid . repetition, next year
of the anxiety, and care and modification
and failure Of The present season will cschcw
co,ton.-Chroniclc n Sentinel.