Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-15

precision in the market deters them from
repeating the experiment this year. A
New York commercial journal now be-
| fore me, hazards the assertion that ethe
supply of cotton has never yet been equal
to the ordinary demand, and that sit is
estimated that the natural increase of
consumption amounts to 1000, 900 bales
a year, +" but it prudently admits that s'the
steady production of the Staple to this
extent would bring down the price. Of
course it would, and it would bring down
the price below the cost of production.
Such suggestions as these as to the in
crease of consumption are thrown out
with the view of stimulating the growth
of cotton, but it will have
little effect upon the planter 80
long as prices continue at about the cost
of production. A year ago cotton was
selling in New York at twenty-five cents
per pound, which afforded the planter
handsome profit, and the result was that
almost everybody in the cotton belt put
in every acre that could be cultivated.
And look at the result; crop that will
turn out considerably over 10000
bales, and the staple hardly commands
fifteen cents in New York, and the
planters realise from ten to twelve cents
per pound for their labor. This is a re-
ducdon of forty per cent, as compared
with last year. Of course the planters
are disappointed, and naturally do not
feel like repeating the experiment this |
year. But do not find other crops TAX
ing the place of cotton TO the extent it |
seems to be desirable. In the run from
Savannah to this place, noticed comps |
ratively few fields of wheat, but the little |
| cid see looked remarkably well. Nor |
did notice much preparation for plant |
ing corn, even in the upper districts,
where the lands are better adapted to the |
growing of that grain. 1t appears very |
difficult, almost impossible to get the peo-
pie out of the old idea that they must /
grow cotton, because their lands are pc /
culiarIy adapted to its production, and
buy their provisions and breadstuffs.
They seem slow to learn that mixed hus-
bandry is the policy they should adopt
above all others. A citizen of Augusta,
who formerly resided in one of the upper
districts of South Carolina, got on
the train between Charleston and
and from him l learned |
that his district produced everything dur
ing the war that was needed for home
and in the greatest abund-
ance. The other portions of the State did
the same thing, and the people Jared well
so far as the substantials of life were con-
cerned. But the close of the war found
a great scarcity of cotton in the world, |
and the staple was commanding almost
fabulous prices. This brought return of
the insane idea, for / can call it by no
other term as expressive, that the planter
must devote his broad acres to cotton
alone, and the consequence was that dis
failures followed, the wrecks of
which are to be met with all over the
State. 1t is clear that too many men are
engaged in growing cotton alone, not only
in South Carolina, but throughout the
cotton belt. To make cotton profitable,
the planters must produce more of what
they consume and less of the staple, and
then it will command good prices.
FRUIT GROWING
/ have been greatly disappointed in
finding that very little attention has been
paid to the growing of fruit along the
coast and all the way up the South Caro-
lima Railroad to Aiken. 1t is rare thing
to see as many as dozen peach trees on
any plantation along the line of roads |
from Savannah to Aiken. wonder that
more attention had not been paid to this
branch of husbsndry in order to supply |
fruit for family use. The growing of
fruit, and especially the small fruits,
might be made profitable, since they come
IN seasOn several weeks earlier than at |
he North. 1t is a wonder that Northern |
men did not go into this business, in
stead of trying to raise cotton. |,
THE VEGETABLE MARKET.
Market gardening is q feature around
Charleston. Thousanda of acres of land
are proftably devoted to this business.
The early vegetables are now coming into !
market freely, and large shipments are
through the market this morning showed
hat it was well supplied not only with /
but with excellent beef.
Prices of vegetables were high. For in
stance, peas were held at from seventy
i've cents to one dollar per peck, and ,
lther vegetables in proportion. Toms-
oes from Havana were selling at TWEEN
y-ive cents per plate, containing six or
light of ordinary size. Strawberries, of ,
which there were but few in market,
ere held at seventy cents per basket
# perhaps little over quart. was
urpnsed to find that tropical fruits, such
s oranges, bananas, etc., We're held as
Ugh in Charleston as in Nashville.
-..-. SEWANRE,