The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1870-06-03
A, FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE>3, 1876
che aeyarietta Sunrnal.
MARIETTA, GEORGIA.
Friday Morn. June 3, 1870.
SHALL THE FARMER BUY PRovIS-
IONS2

At the request of several parties We
are led to offer few words of advice t.
the agricultural community of the South
The large cotton crop of this year, and
the remunerative .prices obtained, may
have the effect of bringing the planters
closer to their ante bellum habits, and
again induce an exclusive cultivation as
one staple. The tendency is in that di-
rection, Notwithstanding the lessons of
the past. However strong may have
been the arguments for an exclusive sta
pie production under slavery, they have
no greater force. Slave products are
always cheap, and if in former days the
planter found it to his individual inter-
est to purchase the grain and provisions
of the West, he will scarcely abstain
from it now, unless under strong sense
of public duty, or from an unwillingncss
to place entire dependence in plant so
delicate and subject to so many vicissi-
tudes as cotton. Notwithstanding the
extremely high price which our leading
staple has returned since the war, a
much larger area has been put under
grain. The success of those planters
who had diversified their industry has
stimulated others in the same direction.
Comparatively little attention, howev-
er, has been paid to the production Of
meat food. The devastation of the war
sadly depleted the supply of live stock
of every description, and the deficiency
has not been made up since so that to-
day we find meats relatively dearer even
than cotton itself. Pork, which sold, in
1860, for SIS and SIC per bbl., now
commands about $30.50a31, and will so
much higher. Lard which formely
brought 10ai1 cents per pound, now
sells at 10 cents. Beef has advanced
more than one hundred per cent Many
of our planters arc inclined to view these
high prices as the result of a combination
of speculative influences, and hope to see
speedy reduction at any time. In this
they are sadly mistaken. There may be
an effective local combination occasion
ally, but the general increased value of
meat food is due to the samecause as
the advance on cotton; that is, the de-
mand outstripping the supply. The re-
turns of the Agricultural Bureau show
that the number of beevcs, swine and
sheep is enormously reduced below the
proper ratio to the population. Cereals
have been selling at enhanced values,
which has discouraged stock raising
until the meat question has become enc
of serious import, not onl y to the South,
but the whole country. The American
people are particularly fond of animal
food, and while population has gone on
increasing, the production of meat has
been almost stationary. 1t will take
several years TO reduce their relative cost
even should every means be resorted to
in order to increase the supply.
Under these circumstances it behooves
the Southern planters to at once apply
themselves to the work of stock raising.
There is every advantage with them,
former suppoSition to the contrary not
withstanding.
The experience of the late war de-
monsiratcd that as fine bacon can be put
up in the Southern States as any that
comes from the West. The progress of
science has removed all climatic difficult
ties in the way on an extensive SCALE
The refrigerating process has prolonged
the packing season through the entire
year. In warehouse where the tenn
perature is at a very small cost reduces
to any desired point, packing may be as
thoroughly done beneath the equator, as
in tho frozen regions of Alaska. But
short time since it was deemed necessary
to drive the beef cattle of Texas up to
Chicago, in order that they might be
safely packed. To-day the finest beef
is being put up on the very borders of
Mexico. In fact we deem the time is
not far distant when Missouri, Indiana
and Illinois will find formidable pork
packing competitors in Louisiana and
Texas.
The upper portion of our own State
and Western Texas must soon produce
hogs in abundance but it is not our de-
sign to encourage hog raising IN partIcu-
lar localities. We desire to see it almost
universal over the Cotton States. A
pound of good bacon will cost the planter
this summer twenty cents. 1t will take
exactly one pound of his best cotton in
exchange. There are few who will not
agree with us that the former can be
more easily and chcaply raised than the
latter. 1.-THE Cotton crop should be in
creased, prices will fall in proportion;
but we may depend upon it that the cost
of provisions will be long in finding the
old level. Let our country friends keep
in mind that couple of litters of pigs
costs them all the cotton that a good
hand can produce on the best Of
lands.
The man who would keep his head
oool ahouldnsf mt a stove nine IN H.