The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-07-04
M:yhe Rarttt+
Fertilizers, the Credit system, and High
Prices.

Prices.
Mr.. William Holman, of Cumber-
land county, Va, writing to the AMER
ICAN FARMER, makes some very impor-
tant suggestions to farmers.
Professor Vile, in his admirable work
on Chemical Manures," observes very
truthfully that all successful farming
depends upon heavy manuring.
The great fault with our Southern .
farmers is, that they cultivate too much
surface and too much poor land. They
spend too much money in labor and not
enough in manures Our old fogies are
constantly going back upon the past,
contending that in the olden times they
made good crops without fertilizers,
and that we should do so now. They
ignore the fact that the most unaccount-
able changes have taken place, and
that it is much more difficult to farm it
successfully now than it was fifty years
ago. Take wheat for instance. If the
same system were attempted now that
prevailed then, most of our lands would
scarcely yield seed. But whilst these
important changes have taken place,
kind Providence has notleft US without
q remedy to meet them. The concen-
trated or chemical manures have been
providently placed within our reach,
and it is both our duty and interest to
use them.
These fertilizers have become nee
essty, and there is but little successful
farming without them. Immense guam
titles of these fertilizers are now being
used, but in consequence of the extern
sive authorizations practiced in their
manufacture, and the high prices pre-
vailing, thus far but little profit has
been realized from their use. There
is no denying the fact that the. prices
of these fertilizers are much too high,
but this evil is not due to the seller or
manufacturer alone 1t is chargeable
in a great degree to the farmers them
selves. They will buy on credit, and
the credit system necessitates immense
cost and heavy losses in the shape of
bad debts, which must be anticipated
by wide margin of profits. 1t may
be safely estimated that credit bust
ness involves a loss of at least 25 per
cent upon the gross amount of sales.
This immense loss, which falls mainly
upon the farmer, might all be saved by
the general adoption of a cash system.
But it is contended that cash system
is altogether impracticable, because the
farmer cannot raise the cash. One Of
the most prominent frailties of our fall
len natures is to be constantly magni-
flying prospective difficulties. Doubt
less too-sudden change from a credit
to cash system would cause consider
able interruption in the general current
of trade, and many would be unable to
procure their usual supplies for while,
but the difficulties would be much less
than is generally anticipated A little
pinching necessity occasionally is very
necessary in schooling the character,
and forcing US into habits of self-denial
and economy 1t has the further effect
of sharpening the wits, and stimulating
the energies in most wonderful man.
ner If credit were generally denied
the farmer, little pinching necessity
would soon prompt him to raise the
ways and means necessary, and the
natural flow of trade would soon set in
again. Cooperation is the great rene
dy for these evils, but the cooperative
system is impracticable except upon
CASH basis. Cooperation not only
lripr h,,t hrooJyc
monopolies, and unfair and unjust COM
binations of other interests. Many
farmers who cannot raise the cash nee
essary for their guano purchase, can
make arrangements equal to cash. Let
them arrange with their commission
merchants to accept their drafts on
time. There is scarcely respectable
farmer in the country who cannot effect
such an arrangement if he would make
the proper efforts. Let the farmer
pledge his crops, and let it be distinctly
provided that when he draws upon his
commission merchant on time, he is to
put his crops in the hands of the mer-
chant on time to meet his draft at ma
turity, so that he will not be compelled
to advance the money. But in carry
ing out this arrangement good faith and
punctuality are indispensable on the
part of the farmer. The acceptance of
the commission merchant can be used
as cash, for the very moment it falls
due it is paid.
If the farmer is compelled to buy on
time, it is much better that he should
get his accommodation at the hands of
his commission merchant than anybody
else, because, in the first place, he makes
his commissions for selling the farmers
crops, and when they are sold he has
the. proceeds in his own hands with
which to meet the farmers drafts
This arrangement enables the farmer
to get some benefit from our banking
institutions, which is generally denied
him: Credit as conducted in the cities
is good thing, but it is ruinous in the
country, and it is particularly hazard
GUS at this time, when so much demon
alization exists among the masses, and
the homestead and other exemptions
Er< G., ~ =