The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-02-06
TIE PRIOE OEFERTILIzERs.


Views ofa Fairfield Agriculturist on tho
Recent Action OF the Phosphate Com
panies.
TO the Farmers Of Fairfield: Five
years ago, In an agricultural address
before tho Darlington Agricultural
Society, said that since the cmancipa-
ton proclamation af Abraham Lincoln
nogreatcr curse had been cntailcd upon
tho agricultural interests Of the South
than the discovery Of the phosphate
beds Of Charleston. A reporter of the
Nes0s and Courier, having reference
to this portion Of my speech, said that
it was customary and was exceedingly
impracticablc." Was he correct, or
have results verified my prediction?
Is it not fact that the introduction of
these phosphatcs has immensely cur
tailed the efforts to make domestic
manurcs, and greatly diminished the
supply of them? Has not the cotton
belt been extended one hundred miles
north, and are not the very large crops
now being grown attributable solely
to the introduction Of phosphates? 70
argue the truth Of the first two of
these propositions would be to afiront
the intelligence of our farmers: they
are-even disregarding tho truth of
history-axiomatic, whilst whoever
pretend, to attribute our large crops
OF cotton to the superior advantages
Of free labor, and to more scientific
efforts of our farmers, convicts him self
of narrow-mindedncss and bigotry.
But, say capitalists and manufacturers,
the more that is made and the greater
tho reduction III price, the more large
ly docs your staple enter into the COM
lncrce and the consumption Of the
world: therefore, large crops are best,
and hence it advantages the farmers
to purchase our manurcs, for here are
admissions, in fact, assertions, that to
them alone is to be attributed the in
creIncntin cotton crops. Admidst these
many conflicts Of opinion and theories
of individuals, and difficult problems
In political economy, upon which
columns might be written, l will only
pause long enough to make tho COM
mon place plantation remark that call
signs fail in dry weather." This,
practically rendered, means that VIC
are living i'll abnormal times, and have
no right to expect that natural results
Will follow, or that speedy solution
of our agricultural and other difficult
tics onsue, or that usual remedies will
apply. We do know that cotton is
now below the cost Of production, and
If We lose onc-fourth Of a cent in pro-
ducing one pound, we aro of course
out twenty-five cents on one hundred
pounds sor$l12.50 OIL one hundred bales.
This, it seems to me, should deter US
from paying old rates, and make us
much more chary Of the increased
oxo rbitant demands recently
exactcd at tho meeting in Augusta.
The very large increment in tho
cotton yield, the result of the applica-
ton of phosphatcs, has solely benefit
ted the seller and impoverished the
buyer-benefitted the seller, because
the entire excess of crop has been ap-
propriatcd TO the liquidation Of remu-
nerativc phosphate bills; and impoy-
erished the buyer, because it has
exhausted his lands and canscd reac-
ton in tho price of cotton, which has
now put it below cost. But, say some.
our lands have been improved By" its
use. This may be SO; shall doubt
no mans statement, for I am aware
that in some sections and under some
circumstances good results have been
attained by using it as generator for
manure, but this put upon record,
and defy successful contradiction
more lands have been injured by its
>plication than have bcone. benefited
by it's use. Now, fit is really ma.
nure, then the reverse Of this PROPOSE
tlon should prevail, for any one max
ing the same charges against COMPOST
would DO deemed an idiot. That nav.
ing results have at some times and
under special circumstances followed
its use cannot be denied, nor does this
admission initiate against any posi-
ton heretofore taken, for I haye
argued generally, not specially; and
yet numerous instances can bo adj
duced to prove that no visible benefit
resulted from its apnlicot;on h,t th.t