The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-04-19
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD
j COTTON PLANTING.
Some Sound ivice From Northern
Source.
Neip YorS: Cotton Record.

| Too much advice is sometimes worse
than none at all, and at this season Of
the year, the cotton planter has probably
more friendly suggestions dinned into his
ear than he can well digest. Apart from
all questions Of agricultural lore, as to
whether he should plant this tract in
corn, or reduce his patch of cotton-for
he has undoubtedly become as good a
judge to these important elements, as the
many theorists who are constantly advo-
eating the necessity of making his cotton
crop only secondary adjunct to the
raising of his daily supplies-the question
of price will, in the long run, have great
er weight with him in the determination
of what amount Of acreage he shall place
under cotton. For the past three years
the great staple has gradually been de-
clining, and ..he average result to the
planter has invariably been lessened each
year. The evil was first started by the
hue and cry raised by the manufacturers,
at being obliged to buy on falling mar
ket, and with it all, chave q perfect sur
felt of goods on hand. All this has been
changed, ,mill-owners enter upon a new
era this year, for this surplus of the man
ufactured article has all been cleared off,
the demand is good, prices are advancing
and the raw nA terial is low. Of course,
this is not entirely lost sight of by the
"tiller" of the soil, and even if his judg-
ment should dictate to him the prudence
of sowing less cotton this year, in view
of its steadily decreasing value, the ia
vorable prospects for the outlet of goods
will naturally make him pause and de-
termine, whether after all, even an in
creased supply of his Snowy flakes" will
not be just as well taken care of, during
the coming year, as has been vouchsafed
to him in the past. o.,
.1seThe vital point at issue to the planter
is not then, as to the next crop being
four, five or six millions, but whether his
financial position; will warrant him in
cultivating more land or not. 1t is still
IN open question, if our crops do in
crease from year to year, whether values
will recede very materially, for the grow
ing favor of American cotton abroad, as
the real standard article, out of which
more yarn can be spun, the larger con-
sumption, both North and South, will
give an increased demand, which produc-
ton will find great difficulty in Keeping
pace with, now that an equal distribution
of goods has taken place. The real Sc
cret lies in whether the planter is out of
debt, for if the aggregate crops are large
all over the country prices of necessaries
fall in like proportion, and the money
obtained for his labor will 60 as far, as if
the crop had been only a small one, for
he would then have had to pay an ad-
vance price for his corn, molasses, ETC.
| The whole question then resolves itself
into this-that the independent farmer
can plant2with safety just as much as he
has The capacity Of cultivating, and his
better judgment will invariably teach
him to devote some of his land to the
raising of wheat, oats, etc. Every year
| will undoubtedly place the planter in q
stronger position than ever he has been
in, and, while prices will invariably infu
ence some, the necessity of raising arti-
cles of food others, it will be found that
preparations for the coming season will
be on larger scale than ever before, for
farmers who are driven from sheer neces-
sity to pay their arrears will vie with
| those who are perfectly able and willing
to undertake an increased acreage, ire
spective of their neighbor's crops"