The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-02-04
CottOn--The Crop Of 1870 I'm Georgia
Great Scarcity OF Labor.

Macon Ga. Correspondence n. Y. Times.
think that it is nearly certain tha
the area of the cotton crop of1S7O viii
not be larger than that of 1869, and i
is very probable that it will not bt
as large, first, from the inability OF the
planters to secure the requisite labor
and, second, because the provision
crop will occupy more land this thar
il did last year. lido not think it any
exageration when | compute the de-
crease i'm the available laboring force
for field work at one-ighth of the force
employed in 1869. This is so Oh plan
tations which have been regularly
worked siuce the war by their pres
ent proprietors, and OH new places
which the owners are now preparing
TO cultivate. | fear it will be impOs.
sible to secure the requisite force. A
friend Of mine who has recently ac-
quired very good plantation in one
of the best counties i'm Southwestern
Georgia, and who went there las!
week for the purpose of making ar
rangements to cultivate it this year,
has Just returned, being obliged TO
abandon the project from his iRabili-
~ TO engage hands, and has rented
his place to receive as sole considera-
ton the repair of the fences and the
care of the premises. Although be-
licve that the extent of land to be
planted i'm cotton this year will be
smaller than it was last year, think
that if Providence sends propitious
seasons the crop i'm the aggregate will
not DC less, because believe that faith
in improved preparation of the soil,
the use of labor-saving machinery,
more careful culture of the crop, and
liberal employment of good fertil-
izers has spread very widely during
the year, and will bring abundant
fruit this fall. Where there was one
man last year who used two-hOrSe and
subsoil plows, or bought the CONNER
cial manures, there are five men who
will do so this year. A year ago,
there were very few-not dozen
men i'm the whole State-who could
he made to believe that by any sys-
tenn of culture two and three bales of
cotton could be raised Oh an acre of
land. Now il is demonstrated that it
can be done, and while it is not expec-
tedthat every body who tries can raise
that amount it is expected that much
larger average yield can be attained
than that of former years, and that the
only way TO attain it is by better cul-
tivation and heavy manuring. There
fore, am led TO believe that fewer
number of acres will be made to pro-
duce a crop equal to if not greater
than that of 1869. Bat il is idle to
look for crops of 100000 of bales,
like that of 1850. The laborers are
not here to raise il, and, il they were,
there is certainly not the force TO
gather and house il. Nor do the cot
ton producers desire to see such an
aggregate crop, and for the obvious
reason that were such one produced
the price would fall proportionally.
At the present rates for labor and
of the various articles of prime neces-
sity to the husbandman, he cannot af-
ford TO grow cotton for less than from
Is to 20 cents per ponnd. When the
price falls much below that he must
:.bandon the use of artificial natures,
which now cost from $50 to Sl20 per
ton, and in proportion as their use is
abandoned the amount of the crop
will be diminished; for il is certain
that, except OH the rich alluvial lands,
cotton raising without the stimulat-
ing manures would be a very unrc-
muncrative operation.
.