Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-04-18
The farm and fiteside.
FREE LABOR AND COTTON.

A friend reminded US, a few days ago, that
a certain Northern statesman, now dead, de-
clared that free labor would produce cotton
at two cents per pound We do not remem-
Der the declaration but really, the prophecy
seems in course of ful6llment. Cotton has been
going down from sixty cents, Immediately at
ter the war, until it is now standing at eight
cents, with the prospect of six cents IN 1878.
How free labor is accomplishing the fact, is
not now under consideration but admitting
that it is a fact, the question arises as to what
our cotton planters will do about it.
Can they make cotton at two cents per
pound? Can they make it at six cents?
Experience has proved with most of them,
that they cannot make it at ten cents per
pound. If thousands have sunk their estates
planting cotton at eight, ten and twelve cents
per pound, it will be interesting to enquire
how many will survive the experiment OF SIX,
four and two cents.
There is no present prospect of future high
prices for cotton, while there are abundant
evidences of ruling low prices for many years
in the future.
Who would have believed in the South,
that the last crop would foot up 100000
bales with free labor? The truth is, that while
the demand has notincreased, the supply has.
The cotton area has been greatly enlarged by
the use of improved seed and the fertilizing
force system. Added to this, the population
of the great cotton belt is rapidly increasing,
and although the large cotton plantations are
disappearing, thousands of small enes have
been opened to more than supply their places.
Lands, too, that heretofore would not produce
cotton, are now brought into service by COM
mercial fertilizers, which can be obtained up
on the pledge of cotton.
This plan Of bartering guano for lint cotton,
has placed it within the power of thousands
of small planters to produce cotton, whose
lands were otherwise too thin for that pur-
pose. And we are not prepared to condemn
it, for the reason that such farmers, If thrifty
and enterprising, may be considerable gamers
by the trade. Iftbey gain no more, they may
gain the seed of the cotton, which are valua-
die, often paying all other expense. But the
main question remains, as to what our farmers
will do, seeing that cotton is still going down
with the prospect of settling upon six, four or
two cents per pound? Can you make it at
either of these figures?
When wise man sees an evil be will en-.
deavor to avoid it. We know you will say
"what then shall We plant, to make money?
If we all plant corn, oats, peas and potatoes,
there will be no market for them" Strange,
you do not apply the same to cotton. You
all plant cotton, and ofcourse, just as you say
about corn and oats, there is no market.
You .ciN plant cotton though your own fig
ures show that you have lost on it every year
instead of gaining. Your cotton seed has val
liable oil, but you make no use of it; they
also contain valuable fatting food for stock,
but while the rest of the world buy and use
it, you know nothing oft.
Well then, your corn can be turned into
bacon, which most of you buy, and your oats
into bacon, beef, mutton and poultry, all val
liable in the market and upon your own ta'
BILE.
Ifyou find that you cannot make money,
the next best thing is to raise everything pos
sble at home, so that you will not be obliged
to have money. But you have debts to pay,
you say: That is unfortunate; but are you
paying them with cotton at six and eight
cents3
Don't you think few thousand pounds of
good bacon, few fat beeves, few fat sheep
and yard full of egg laying poultry, would
pay the debt sooner?
A little cotton might 60 along with them,
but the diversity would not only pay your
debt sooner, but put you in much better
humor, because you would find that your new
system was easier, less laborious, and more
pleasant.
And suppose you should add to the above
good garden, cultivated with intelligence,
and one or two good COWS to furnish you with
milk and butter-these would enable you to
sell more of your beef, bacon, mutton and
poultry, because you would not need so much
meat.
And finally, suppose you should wake up
from your lethargy, clean up the yards around
your house, plant out few flowers about the
door, just to make things look little more
civilized, and turn that rich old back lot into
fruit orchard, with few choice grapes for
the table.
Don't you think this course would improve
your circumstances 1t is our opinion that
your creditors would wish to lend you some
more money, and your neighbors would begin
to look upon you as one whose example it
would pay to follow. Suppose you try it?
If you stay where you are, you are ruined !;
you fall helpless victim to cotton. You can
but fail if you change. After awhile you will
be too poor or too old to turn over a new leaf;
why not turn it over now, while you have
strength and means ?-South Co., Agricultu.
rist.