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

Too much advice is sometimes worse
than none at all, and at this season Of
the ycar, the cotton planter has probably
moro friendly suggestions dnned 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 arc constantly adyo-
eating th9 netcssity OF making mis- Gotten
crop only q secondary adiarct TO tho
raising of his daily supplies question
of price will, in the long run, have great
er weight with him in the determination
OF what amount of acreage ho shall place
under cotton. For the past three years
the 6 great staple has gradually been de-
Ginning, and the average result t., 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 oil, have perfect sur
felt OF goods on hand. All this has been
changed, mil owners enter upon new
era this year,. for this surplus OF the man
ufactured article has NIL been cleared off,
the demand Is good, prices are advancing
this is not entirely lost sight of by the
"tiller" Of the soil, and even if his Iudg-
ment sh aid 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-
terEline, whether after all, even an in
creased supply or his "snowy flakes" will
not be just as well taken care Of during
the coming year, as hay Lsen vouchsafed
to him in the past.
Tho vital point at issus to the planter
Is not then, as to the next clap being
four, i've or six millions, but whether his
financial positions win warrant hirJ in
cultivating more land or not. It is rtill
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 teal standard article, out of which
more yarn can De spun, the larger con-
sumption, both North and South, will
give an increased demand, which produc-
tion will fad great difficulty in Keeping
pace with, now that an equal distribution
of goods has taken place. The real &C.
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 a. like proportion, and the money
obtained for his labor will 60 as far, as If
the crop had been only q small one, Tor
he would then have had to pay an ad-
vance price for. his corn, moiasses, etc.
The whole question then resolves itself
into this-thnt tho Independent farmer
esn nlansswith safety Just tas much Us he
t5etter .iudgpispt! Win sinsahabigs tesch
him to devote some of his land to the
raising Of wheat, oats, etc. Every year,
viii undoubtedly place the planter In q
stronger position than ever he has been
in, and, while prices will invariably influ
ence some, the necessity OF raising arti-
cles of food Others, IL will be found that
preparations for the coming season will
be on larger scale than ever before, for
farmers who areS driven from sheer ileces-
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"