The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-27
PLANTING THE CROP.
From the New York Bulletin.l

Although planting cannot be regarded as
having yet fairly commenced In the Southern
States, owing 10 the backwardness oil the
season, the preparations for 1t have 30 FAR
progressed as to Indicate It's prooaole nature
and extent. So far the facls warrant lne con-
cusiou that there will be considerable In
crease In the breadth of land. The present
and the last seasons were prosperous 1or
planters, and notwithstanding The drawbacks
of partial failures Of the crop 10 various local..
ties. yet the profits were large and satisfactory,
sufficiently 30 10 demonstrate beyond all Ques-
ton, that cotton IL still The most advantageous
aud profitable product OF Southern Industry.
This fact Is producing the natural result OF in-
creasinp the culture of the staple, and II the
weather should present even ordinary induce
menls fcr plan.!ng. there can be no DOUBT lhat
the area placed under cultivation will largely
exceed any former year.
As an illustration OF this tendency, 1t may
be stated that the Southern papers commerce
their annual campaign for extensive cotton
and large corn planning with more than usual
yiyor and Vehemence. They ignore the TACT
that an acre of cotton Is worth more than an
acre OF corn, and predict general bankruptcy
unless the South raises more corn and less
COLON. Some Journals even insist that the
only hone of the South is 10 limit her prodnc-
lion. thus adopting the now almost exploded
tallacy OF the trades unione, that the bes. way
| TO increase wealth Is to limit production. In
reality, Southern prosperity Is oest promoted
by large crops and low prices. Dear cotton
| limits consumption, enhances the prices ot
textiles aud all kinds OF exchangeable COM
modIIi.s. and operates as direct bounty on
| foreign competition. The Southern planters
| instinclively comprehend their true interests
In this matter, and are not likely 10 forego the
cultivation where IL may be praclica0le 10 any
considerable extent.
Another evidence OF an enlarged breadth OF
cotton culture Is afforded by The very marked
activity of the trade In fertilizers. Accounts
from the cotton States concur IN repfssen.ns na
| that The Qnanllly OF fertilizers taken tois year
| is considerably n excess Of last year, Wnen, IL
NAV be remembered, the amount was regard
| ed % nnprecedented. The various nrms In
| this city engaged liz the trade are very busy
filling orders, and it is known That the traae Is
equally acLlve In other distributing centres.
| Tie carving capacities Of the Southern rail-
road COMPANIES are beginning to be taxed 10
| the utmost to move the consgnments OF ter'
| tilizers 10 the interior.
| This Increased use OF fertilizers may De re-
| car6rsd as a new and marked ieatare OF col
ton planting. Experience shows that no IN
| veslment pays better. Fertilizers carry Tue
] crop through vlcissitudes OF weaiher lnat
| would be otherwise fatal 10 it. IL permits
later planting and earlier picking, and mus
saves nearly Two weeks time at the first ana
| last of the season, when the weather is llaole
| 10 the most extreme and dangerous Viclssl-
tudes. Besides these advantages, amount,
ing almost TO an exemption against the usual
chances OF the weather, 1t Is found tnat the
increased yield more than pays the COST OF tne
fertilizers. They can be generally relied on
10 afford sure and payiug crop under circum'
stances where, without them, corn crop
would be the only alternative. In view OF
these facts 1t Ia no wonder that the trade In
fertilizers should be active beyond all prece-
dent. Planters are finding out that they can
not afford to dispense With their use.