The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-09-29
Gathering the Crop.

Whilst there are some who believe there may be
larger cotton crop actually made this year than there
was last even these do not believe that it will be
gathered 1t would seem strange to those not vel
informed as to the condition Of things in the South
that there should be any difficulty about gathering
crop, especially in which the aborer who works it is
so largely nterested-a one-third interest at least
and which is now bringing so fine price. Yet it is
true the farmer will have great difficulty in securing
labor sufficient pick it Not that there is any
scarcity of hands for gathering what has already been
made, but those engaged in cultivating the crop
not be induced to make any extra effort it,
while the strays and waits who have been floating
around loose during the year, refuse to pick cotton
except at most e1orbitant wages Why this is SO, il
is not necessary for to explain to readers who
are aredy fully informed as to the fact. They have
seen repetition of it often that remedy for the
future is the question that interests them And
If they intend to protect themselves against perpetu
ally recurring repetition, it is high time they were
about it. In consequence of the growing scarcity,
the greater demand and the higher price of labor en-
poyers will begin earlier to contract than heretofore.
This will not add to the chances of gathering the CROP
the contracting season upon the freedmen nor
will it lessen the prices demanded. What, then, is
the remedy of the planter? He has the choice Of
either cultivating less land of paying higher wages
If the former course be adopted with general scqu
escence prices for cotton may be maintained perhaps
and fine profits realised IF the breadth of land
be planted and higher wages paid, and as large crop
made, there may be contingent profits but it is impos
sibe to say how MUCH if failure to gather the crop
follow, as it threatens this season.
The fact is, reviewing the matter in any light, it is
plain our farmers must look to a foreign supply to
keep up the requisite amount of field labor. When
cotton is worth twenty-five per pound it is idle
to urge upon them that the Inconvenience and
tons attendant upon gathering large cotton crop
might be in great part obviated by devoting larger
area of land to grain, the gathering of which is
parativey labor at all. The argument that such
policy would tend to keep up the price of cotton,
would millions of dollars otherwise appropriated
to and meat and would materially lessen the la
Dor of gathering falls to the ground before the potent
fact that every pound of cotton may be worth twenty
five cents. There is another view of this question to
which conceive sufficient importance is attached
There are hands now making high 81 per day by
picking cotton the river. Say they clear 81 80
day for three months, does not every see that
Ibis is a premium to them to loaf around during the
cropping season, picking up odd jobs, with the ex-
oectation of making it up when the picking season
comes ons Who can estimate the number of able
bodied hands that will thus be kept out of the field
Turing the working season.