The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-04-08
Corn and Cotton VS.. Gotten.

Corn and Cotton VS.. Gotten.
For some time past l have been
thinking that would write an article
setting forth the profits accrling to
the cotton planter who raises his own
corn.
You may demonstrate to any class OF
men that by pursuing certain course
of conduct, the good of the country
will be subserved thereby, still they
will not pursue it, unless it cOnduces
to their individual interest. You
might address the cotton planters Of
these Southern States month after
month, for the next fifty years, on the
patriotism of planting more corn and
less cotton, and not induce them for
that reason, to raise an additional
amount, sufficient to pay for the ink
and paper consumed in the publica-
ton of YOUR addresses. Their an
swer will ever be: IL cannot afford
to sacrifice my individual interest for
the little good it will do the country"
If by concert of action You could Sc
cure a pledge from all, to plant one
half their land in corn and the bal
ance in cotton, doubtless much good
would be accomplished. But appre-
bend that it is next to impossible to
bring about this concert of action.
In the winter of 1861, SO many per-
sons suffered throughout this section
of country, and doubtless other por-
tions also, that there was a general
ventilation on this subject, and APP
p.rently a universal determination to
plant enough land in the future, to
insure supply of corn. What was
the result? Twill give you an illus
trative anecdote. in reply.
Italy, as you know, is awine-grow-
inc country, and it is customary for
every one there to drink wine. The
peopIe I'M certain neighborhood
agreed among themselves, that they
would furnish the parish priest with
his wine. For convenience, an empty
barrel was placed at the door of the
Cathedral. and every man was to
bring his contribution with him the
next Sabbath morning, and empty it
in the barrel. One man, Mr.. Sneak
Thrifty, reasoned with himself after
this wise 81 have no more wine than
I want TO consume or cell, and as all
| the others will carry wine, little wa
far will not be dctected-soF I'll fill my
two bottles with water He did SO,
carried them to the Cathedral, and III
sertino the necks of the bottles into
the bung of the barrel, as did the 9TH
ers. empticd them, and went into the
house. Now Sneak Thrifty felt as il
he had played a very cute trick. AT
ter service the priest went to sample
his wine. and to his establishment, and
that also of his congregation, discov.
er,d that the barrel contained nothing
hut water. All had reasoned as SaeaE
Thrifty. The result was, the priest
os their confessor. condemned them
to nav four barrels, by way of pen
nance. for their duplicity. Now fol
the application. o.-
I'm the spring of 1861, all cOncurred
IN the opinion that it was the best pol.
lev TO plant more land in corn and
loss in cotton, and nearly every ONT
thouobt that corn would be plentiful
| in the fall. But before the time fol
planting arrived, most had decided
that every one would plant largely o.
corn and would of necessity plant less
cotton: and there would, therefore, be
q short &C ton and large corn crop
Corn. in consequence, would be cheap
and lotion high. They pitched theii
crops accordingly. Thus it will ever
be. Mr.. Editor, unless you convince
men that it is to their individual IN
tcrest to raise provisions, whether
others do so or not.
No one will deny that the produce
of one or one hundred acres of land
cultivated in cotton, will sell for more
than the same number in corn. We
| will give the figures; but before doing
so, let US settle a few preliminary
points:
One bale OF cotton to three acres OF
land. is a good crop for the plantation
in this country-in fact it is above The
average. Weighed as picked in the
fields, it will require 1900 lbs. OF seed
cotton to make one bale of lint. Any
three acres of land that will yield one
bale Of cotton, will yield IS bushels OF
corn-twelvc bushels to the acre.
VaIueing corn at 81 80 per bushel Ga
low average price,) and cotton at &c
cents per pound net, the figures will
stand thus:
8 acres ofland, a bale, 1901 bs., ~ cts. sIoO o.
| S in corn, 80 bu. Il 20, 5000
I 3 $50 lbs. fodder. SIS, 4.S7--5S 81
sac
Suppose we take these figures and
apply them to practice. Every Oh
serving farmer knows, that for each
additional acre of land planted in cot
ton. two must be deducted from that
number i'm corn. In other words, il
farmer is able to cultivate 20 acres
to the hand-l0 i'm corn and 10 in cot.
lcn-he will not be able to cultivate
more than Is acres in cotton alone
| l3H would DO nearer correct.
% hands. Is acres each In cotton, 30Oacres,
bale cotton to 3acres, l0O bales, ac.sl0,0u o
! % hands, III acres in cotton, 10
acres, l bale to acres, 661s
| bales, - cts.......:,...... .....-.,;so'ooo u
10 acres in corn, 100 acres, IL
bushels per acre, 2iO0 bushels,
w
! 1000 lbs fodder to 100
bushels corn, 900
lbs, Slao...........-- op VV-o,$V W
sl0.j 66 q
When reduced to practice, You per
ceive that the planter makes a cleaI
gain of S566,66, by producing his owl
corn. lie has q pasture for his mules
and horses he can raise cow-peas OIL
his corn land without any additions
expense. The vines are valuable TO
stock, and good for manure for hi