The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-10-11
The Gotten Crop.

that state of maturity that t h e
amount to be gathered cannot be
affected, except by the damage that
may be done by continuous rains,
which will discolor the lint and pre-
vent it's CHASING as high in the mark
ct as it would, should the weather
continue clear. The aggregate OF
the crop can now be safely estimated,
as nothing, SO far as the gross amount
made is concerned, hangs any longer
on contingencies. The caterpillar
may do his best, but the crop is fixed
and cannot be reduced by any dam
age from the worm.
The question now arises, what will
be the aggregate of the cotton crop
of 1912? We believe that we give
outside figures when we say that it
may possible reach two and quar-
ter millions of bales. The crop OF
1901 is known to have reached the
enormous figure of 5,352,317,, bales,
against 3,145,946 for the cotton year
OF '69-70. These figures are exact
and can be relied on, for we have
taken them from the annual circular
of the Commercial and Financial
Chronicle, The crop of the cotton
year just closed is the largest that
has ever been made, with the single
exception of the crop of 1890,
and developes the fact that free labor
with negroes, has made a cotton crop
second, only, to the largest crop ever
made in the Unitod States. This
singular fact causes us to inquire il
there is necessity for an increase OF
labor in order to successfully cult
vate the great staple of the South.
Do we need foreign immigration in
order 70 make cotton 2 We think not;
the enormous crop of last year is an
answer to any assertion to the con-
trary. We favor immigration and
would be glad to see our country
filed with white laboring men and
women.
Skilled labor, educated mechanics
and small farmers would soon bring
a change in our system of farming;
a change infinitely to our advantage,
and one that would soon make the
entire South most prosperous peo-
pie. We now have fewer of the ele-
gancies and comforts of life than any
people on earth. We have beauti-
full country, a favored climate, and,
during the days of slavery, we made
a great deal of money, only to invest
it in slaves, with which to make cot
ton. Less attention was paid to the
elegance of residences, permanent
improvements, etc., than ought to
have been. Since the war, we have
resumed our old habits, SO far as try
ing to make cotton is concerned. We
plant for four n illions of bales, and
try to make it, to. the neglect of eve
rything else, when one million Of
bales would give us more money to
spend, and no man Of family would
be too poor to indulge in the luxury
of fine houses and splendid ''turn
outs" Cottonl Cotton! All cotton,
is the crop; and not one planter in
ten can afford to keep pair of hor-
SEES or mules, with which to enable
his family to attend church, and why?
Simply because he does not raise his
own corn and small grain, and, there
fore, he cannot afford to feed an ex-
ira team.
It is time that this suicidal policy
was changed, and we hope that the
present short crop, which we do not
believe can go over two and quar-
ter millions of bales, will teach our
planting friends that the policy, by
means of Which to grow rich, and to
enjoy lie as they live, is to plant
small crops of cotton and heavy crops
of grain. Let us raise corn at home,
let. us raise our own stock, and let
our cotton money be clear profit. II
such a policy is pursued, our cities
will thrive and build up, our money
will be kept at home, and not go to
the markets of the. West, and our
planters will grow rich.
Our reasons for believing that there
will be a small crop this year are
based upon the fact that the early
rains in January and February pre-
vented the farmers from preparing
their lands properly; that the crop
was planted three weeks later than
usual; that the excessive rains after
the crops were planted and up, pre-
vented the cultivation necessary to
enable the crop to grow off; that af.