Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1869-10-09

what sphere at present we are not advised
GATHERING THE CRoP.-Whilst there are
some who believe there may be a larger
cotton crop actually made this year than
there was last, even these do not believ'
that it will be gathered. 1t would seem
strange to those not we'll informed rs to
the condition of things in the South,
that there should be any difficulty about
gathering a crop. especially in which thu
laborer who works it is 40 largely inter.
"sted-a one third interest at least-and
which now brings SO fine a price Yet il,
is tue the farmer will have great Difficult
~ in securing labor to pick it ont. No
that there ia a scarcity Of hands for gath
ering what has already been made, but
those engaged in %cultivating the crop
cannot be induced to make any extra af-
fort to secure it, while the waits and
strays who have been floating around
loose during the year, refuse to pick cot
ton except at most exorbitant wages
Why this is so, it g not necessary for
US to explain to our readers. who are AL
ready fully informed as to the fact. They
have seer a repetition OF it 80 often, that
a remedy for the future is the question
that now interests them. Aud if they
Intend to protect themselves against a
perpetually recurring repetition, it is
high time they we're about it. In conse
quence of the growing scarcity, the
greater demand and the higher price Of
labor, employers will begin earlie' to
contract than heretofore. This will not
add to the chances OF gathering the crop.
everybody knows who has witnessed
the effect If the contracting system !"
upon the freedm"n, nor will it lessen the
prices demanded.
What. then, is the remedy of the plan
ter? He has the choice Of either cuItiv-
atibg less land or Of paying higher Wa
ges. II the former course be adopted
with y &c. eral scquiesence. prices Tor
cotton may be maintained, perhaps. and
fine profits realized. If the same breadtI,
Of land be planted and higher wages
paid, and % large a crop made. there
may he contingent profits, but it is i'm.
possible. to say how much, if a failure to
the crop follow, as it threatens
season.
The fact is. reviewing the matter in
any light, it is plain our farmers mus,
look to a foreign supply to keep up the
requisite amount Of. field labor. .When
cottos1is worth twenty five cents per
pound it is idle 10 urge upon them tina,
the Inconvenience aud vexatiOns xttrn
dant upon gatheri ,g q large cotton crop
be in a great part obvisted by d..
q larger area Of land to grain, the
gathering Of which i. comparatively no
labor ut oil. The argument that such u
policy would tend to keep up the pric.
Of cotton. would save millions Of dollars
otherwise appropriated to corn and meat.
and w"nld materially lessen the cost of
gathering. falls to the ground befnre thu
fact that every pound If cotton
may be worth twenty Eve cents. There.
is another view Of this question 10 which
we conceive sufficient Importance is no,
attached There are hands now making
Ms high as 81 per day by picking cottp"
On the river Say they can clear % so
q day for three months, does not ever,
Doe Gee that this is q premium to them t.
loaf around during the cropping season,
up odd j"bs, sith the expectation
Df making it up when the picking season
comes On Who N estimate the mum.
Der Of able-bodied hands that will he thus
kept out Of the Geld during the working
reason 2 SAsevsPort SosaAUeaern.