The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-01-28
A gric III t ur al.
From the Columbus (Ga.) Enquirer.
Facts and Figures for Cotton Planters.

The great mistake at the close of the war our
planters made, was the neglect of corn and all
| breadstuf crops, making cotton the first and corn
the last consideration. That great mistake is
the cause of our present trouble-I may say our
bankruptcy. The next (that is the present crop)
was in degree changed. The planter from
necessity was forced to pay attention to his pres
sing wants. and planted more corn, but he still In
fancy saw high prices for cotton and again made
cotton the first consideration, and though the
seasons were propitious, yet it is doubtful if
| enough OF corn is made to serve the country
til another crop. But few have any to spare and
many will not have enough for their own use
No agricultural people can thrive until they
learn tie lesson that they cannot do SO, aud buy
the provisions they could make at home. Some
of those who read this, may be old enough to
! carry their recollcctions back to 1925. That is
the year (if recollect aright) when cotton sold
for over 80 cents per pound The next year it
fell in price and sold for and s cents, and re-
manned at those prices for five or six years The
prices of 1925 brought the fruits consequent
upon high prices, initiation of values, and the
following years of low prices brought their trials
and suterings. Many planters of wealth were
sold out by the sheriff and constable, and those
who struggled through and weathered the storm,
passed through many years of trouble to over
come the errors committed in that one year of
high prices. They did work through by the
closest economy and good management. They
raised their own mules and horses, their own meat
and corn abundantly The writer well recollects
the first drove of mules and hogs that ever came
into this section Of Middle Georgia. They at
tracted as much interest as a circus does in our
day. They brought their mules and hogs to
poor market planters raised enough them
selves. The mules were finally sold out, three for
500, or S335 each, and the pork at p cents
per pound.
We must realize the fact that we must pass
through the same ordeal History is repeating
itself, and to come through safe we must raise
our own corn, hogs, mules and all other things
we can, making it our first consideration, thus
save the money, and not attempt to make the
money by raising cotton to pay for them We
must also realize the fact that cannot get the
profit out ofthe cotton to pay for these things,
for the cost of making the cotton (under our
present system and labor) consumes the money
obtained for it. When the planter raises enough
corn, meat, &C., to supply himself family and
laborers, he has made the first great step to in
dependence and success, and when he does this
and raises his own mules and horses, he will find
his remaining wants are small, and his smallest
cotton crop (Which from being snlaller will yield
a-ssreatcr price and will supply all reasonable de-
fciencies not supplied from the plantation Dis
possess his mind of an idea generally entertained
that the lower cotton is the more he must make,
and that cotton is the only thing that will bring
money Let him reflect that the more cotton
he raises the lower the price, and that the more
of the neccssaries Of life he raises the less money
he needs. If a planter could raise all ~he needs
on his farm, money would be of no use to him
but to hoard it, it being surplus over his wants
and increases his capital Let the planter pur-
sue this course (the only one that will bring him
out no matter what his neighbors do. Let him
not indulge the dclusion that others may pursue
this course and that he will benefit by their
policy and make cotton for high prices, but let
him think how little insignificant drop he
constitutes in the great cotton planting of the
world; he will not gain, but steadily lose by such
policy. Don't be determined because the
remedy may appear slow; recollcct slow is usually
followered by the word sure. You have COM
in the right track. No matter how slow that
course may now appear, 1t will sooner bear Its
fruits than appears at first view.
Abandon the thought that large plantation,
with many hands, is essential to success; it is
more likely to result in failure 1t is hard for
the planter who has worked before the one
hundred hands, to alter his views Of the neces-
sity of keeping up the same scale. To secure
success he must limit the laborers to the neces-
sary number to cultivate his best and highly
manured lands
Again, let no planter expect to derive an in
conc from his farm and live away from it. No
business will succeed unless the owner (whose
interest is invovcd) is present to supervise, and
give it his earnest, intelligent, economical and
watchful care. If you want business done en-
ploy an agent, if you want it we'll done do it
Yourself, is an old and true saying, and to no
business does it apply more forcibly than to farm
ing where the laborcr works under the eye OF
the employer. Direct your attention to improved
plows and all labor saving agricultural -imple-
ments; learn the character Of your soils, and de-
termine its manure and best treatment. Cor
rect the mistakes and adopt the remedies | have
pointed in this and previous communications
and you will succeed; you will be prepared for
the lower prices we shall have no doubt to sub
nit to in the future-you can, with your superior
quality of cotton and cheaper transportation
cupy the position ofthe great cotton producing
country.
But reflect that sndden wealth docs not flow
from agricultural pursuits in any country, hut
the road to wealth is safe and sure and it is the
pursuit of independence. Husbandry is the ap-
pointed occupation of God. "Nlan shall earn his
bread by the sweat of his brow" is His direct
commandment. We cannot so safely secure it
in any other way. Leave the busy and stormy
life of the cities to the specuator, he who desires
The golden stream to be quick and violent"
Let him alone to pursue his restless course; he
spreads all sail, risks all storm, moves in chan-
nels full of hidden dangers-success may crown
his efforts but the course is full of dangers and