The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-05-22
Practical Hint. for Farm.r..
We extract as follows from tn

W VAHoos llOIlOWo lu6
speech. OF Hon. J. r. Dodge:
The cotton States have been especi-
ally persistent in disregarding tho
teachings of statistics and defying the
laws OF political economy. Every in
telligent publicist knows that certain
amount of money, say present ave-
rage of $500. 900, 900, may be derived
from cotton. If the average quantity
is increased the !rice diminishes, aud
rice rcrSu.
II fnotuations are frequent the spe.
calator or manufacturer, aud not the
producer. derives au advantage. If
you choose to produce s, 900, 600 bales,
you obtain 10 cents per pound and
lose money; if you grow but 8, 600, 900
bales, you get 70 cents per pound, aud
obtain profit. Now, it is better for
the world. and, in q series of years,
better for the grover, TO produce
regularly enough to supply The current
wants Of the trade ut o medium and
remnnerativc price, or as near regu-
lar supply as possible, for the vicissi-
tudes Of the season will inevitably
cause injurious hnctnations. despite
the highest efforts of human wisdom
aud foresight. AS the uses Of cotton
increase, and markets are extended
throughout the world, its manufacture
will be enlarged, and its culture should
obtain corresponding enlargement.
10 overstep the boundary of current
demand and glut the market, mny be
pleasing to the speculator and to the
manufacturer, so far as he combines
speculation with weaving. bnt it is
death 10 the grower.
There Is mnch false reasoning on
this matter. a planter may trnly
Affirm that he obtains $50 per acre for
his cotton, aud but S25 for his corn,
aud he thercupon and therefore de-
clares that he will plant no more corn.
Let all act upon this suggestion. aud
instead of SO for tho mere Of cotton
and that Of corn. the total return of
the two acres of cotton will be but
S30. A surplus Ot corn may be put
into meat, and wool, and whiskey, or
used to exc out scarcity of some
kind OF forage for animals; bnt sur
plus of cotton must wait for tho slow
grinding of the mills Of the fabrlcating
gods, usually uutil disgust at low
prices rodnces production correspond
lngly.
Thus. while cotton is aud long will
be the leading product aud the most
profitable field crop ut fair prices, it's
prominence III the list has kept, and is
now keeping these States in compura-
tive poverty. which is unnecessary as
1t is inconyenient aud injurious. It
does not produce money enough to
give wealth to a population OF nine
millions. The other crops, instead Of
barely cqra!ing in tho aggregate the
receipts from this, should represent ut
least 81 Tor every one Of cotton. The
census record of productions in these
States is but S55S 600. 600; the record
should be made to read 81, 5UU. O00. 900.
With three-fonrths of tho people of
ten Stntos employed in agriculture, the
vaine of agricultural products exceeds
but little that of The States Of New
York AID Pennsylvania, where only
one-fourth are SO employed. The ave
RACES for each person employed in
agriculture in those States are respect
lively. as deduced from tho census, SG77
and S7U7. while those Of Georgia and
Mississippi nre $3.50 and S2S3 For
the ten States the average is S267; for
thS AouA POPulOuo A1stlutC tOtutGS S,OOO.
Even the States producing cheap corn
showa larger retarn, the average for
one mans labor in the five States be-
tween the Ohio River and the hikes
being $49S. while the six sterile East
ern States produce S400 for each
farmer. 1t may be the census is less
complete in the cotton States, but it is
undeniable that agricultural industry
makes smaller aggregate retnrn there
than in auy other section. Nor is the
reason wanting; it is duo to the pro.
mincpce OF cotton, the return for which
is substantially fixed quau.ity, and
tho neglect Of other resources.
Let us glance Mt the topography aad
capabilities of this section The area
occupied by cotton, allowing 10 per
cent. addition to usual estimates, is
less than one.fortielh Of the surface of
these States; it is but one thirteenth
OF the proportion actually occupied as
farms. Forty six per cent. Of the ecu
sua crop was grown i'll ST Counties,
which are oil that produc. rs mnch rs
ten thousand bales each; aud ~ per
cent. grew III 2l5 Counties, maxim.
not le3s than five bales each The total
acreage in cotton is scarcely moro than
One-hixtcenth Of the Surflcr Of Texas.
What is to BE- done with the other tif.
en.sixteenths? y very large propor.
tiun OF the area Of these Suites i,
| lluauaptpd to cotton either hy reason