The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-08-13
The Bread and Meat of the South.


their factors. What was true before the
war, is not very far from the truth at this
time; and it will doubtless be found that the
planters who have ruined themselves and
their factors, during the last five years, are
those who have given up their whole time to
cotton, and have trusted to luck for bacon
and corn. The cotton planters have been in
too great haste to grow rich. Forgetting
that the high prices, which encouraged one
planter to pitch large crop Of the staple,
were producing like effect upon the mind
Of nine-tenths of the planters in the South,
every man went to work as if he alone could
expect to make full crop. The newspaper
press wrote, and argued in vain. Every
planter was willing that his neighbors should
make corn, but he himself was resolved to
proJt hv their prudence, and give all his
time and care to cotton. The liberal use OF
fertilizers, and the extension OF the area in
cultivation, increased the yield OF the feecy
staple beyond all expectation. Slowly and
steadily the quotations declined. The plan
ters who expected to receive 25 and 30
certs, were glad to sell at 1s or 20, and the
price of corn and bacon rose as the price OF
cotton fell. Had the planters directed their
first care to making bread and meat they
could have held the bulk of their cotton, or
its sale would not have been ruinous loss.
But they would not be advised, and 1t ls TO
be feared that the planters in 1870 have been
yery little wiser than they were two and
three years ago.
There is new element of danger to the
cotton-planter. While the increase in the
gross crop will naturally force down prices,
there is fruitful source OF disaster in the
European war. That war may last for many
| months, or even years No man can tell
when and where the dogs OF war will be
leashed. ALI that Is certain is, depression
OF the price of the staple, and an increase in
the price of breadstuffs, which must continue
until the war ends The knife is double
edged. Cotton falls, while corn rises. And
tits not absolutely certain that England will
be able to keep out Of the arena. The
English desire to be neutral, but they may be
dragged into war, whether they like it or no.
And the long continuance OF the war, with
England as bel!igerent, would go far to
ruin the South.
We urge these considerations upon the at
| tention of tue planters, not to alarm them,
but to impress upon them the absolute ne
cessity Of doing all that they can to supply
themselves and their people with the staple
articles of food. Cotton has fallen twenty
Der cent. in the last two weeks, and few
months more Of war will make it difficult, il
not impossible, for hundreds of cotton-grow-
ers to supply their own wants and those OF
their families. These facts are set forth,
plainly and earnestly, in the resolutions
adopted by the Agricultural Society on
Thursday night. To one Of the resolutions
then adopted We call the serious attention OF
the people. 1t is this:
".Resolved, That this association of farmers
| Respectfully dVSlSe duU lSCViuiuCul tlot InO
the members Of this society should use every
means to SOW extensive winter crops of wheat,
oats, rye, barley, &C., and that, Individually
and collectively, steps be taken to induce
farmers throughout the State to adopt this
course"
South Carolina and every Southern State,
can be independent of the West if they 80
desire. They can make, without difficulty,
as much meat and bread as they require;
and they can make, besides, enough cotton
to yield handsome return, II the course Of
tie market is favorable. They will in this
way insure themselves against their greatest
danger. Whatever happen, they will not be
head over ears in debt for provisions, they
will have food enough without buying it,
they will be able to hold their cotton until it
suits them to put it on the market. This
safety and security, this limitation OF loss
and probability of gain, all our farmers can
iobtain if they will now, at last, cease to risk
their whole means in the cultivation of
|. cotton.