The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-04-22
The Extent of the Next Cotton Crop

.E;aaseial Chronicle as to the extent OF
the crop that will likely be planted
I this year, and presents very forcible
reasons for thinking that the esti'
mates of that paper are too large.
The Financial Chronicle thinks that it
is not ct all improbable that twenty
five per cent. less cotton will be plan
ted this Spring, in some sections, than
was plaDted last Spring, and that it
is not unlikely that fifty per cent. less
will be paid for fertilizers; but that
this falling off will be counterbalan-
,ced by the Increased acreage in the
Southwestern States !, and that ta-
king the whole cotton producing Sec
.tion, the falling off wilfnot be moro
than ten or fifteen per cent. The
Chronicle and Sentinel, on the contrary,
holds that the same causes which will
lead to decreased production in the
States East of the Mississippi, will
apply to the States West of it, and
that the high rates of interest, and
the low price of the staple, have
brought about such a dearth of money
and credit as must curtail planting
operations generally. The quantity
of fertilizere so far sold in the South
ern cities will not exceed thirty-fve
per cent. Of what was sold last year
up to this time; and for the whole
year will not exceed fifty per cont.
In the city Of New Orleans especially,
which receives most of the Western
crop. the mercantile interests are SO
much embarrassed as to preclude
merchants and factors from making
advances TO the same extent as last
year. The banks will not discount
commercial paper, and hence athc
merchants and factors are prevented
from extending accommodations to
the planter, as largely as formerly.
even though desirous of so doing.
The Chronicle and Sentinel therefore
concludes that the acreage in cotton
will be reduced twenty-five per cent,
md the yield wall be proportionately
less: It says:
with q aaecreased afea of land. in
cotton and 4 falidg Of sixty-fvo per
cent, in the 'ddantity of. fertilizers
used, the most favorable seasons can
not make the yield Of the coming
cotton crop as large as that of 1873
We have the highest respect for the
opinions of so respectable an author
ity as the Financial Chronicle, but the
article before US shows a want of in
formation as to tho embarrassed Pc
cuniary condition of the cotton pro-
'ducing sections of the South. How
ever desirous planters may be to
plant largely of cotton, their inability
to command the necessary capital
will prevent them. A reduced acre
age will be enforced from sheer ne
eessity. We heartily concur with
tho advice. contained in certain por-
tions of the article under review as
to good management on tho part of
tho planter, who should raise the
Subsistence crops required for homo
use, together with corn enough for a
full supply of pork. The South
should raise an economical and not a
debt crop. The consequences of
planters overburdening themselves
with obligations for the sake Of rails
ing cotton arc poverty and distress.
The true policy for every planter"to
pursue is to raise subsistence crops
for home consumption, and to be
economical and frugal in the manage
ment of his affairs.
When we make provisions, the first
and paramount consideration of plant
ing economy, q new era of prosperity
will dawn upon the South: Cotton
will then command such prices as to
make its production highly rcmuner-
alive. The ruinous experience Of
planters since the war demonstrates
the folly of raising all cotton and
paying high rates Of interest for sup
plies that could be raised on the plan
tation with very little diversion of
labor from the staple product. The
The sad experience of the past should
teach US wisdom for the future"