The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-04-08
HOW MUCH COTTON To
PLANT.

The impression is general that the
liberal price paid for cotton is Undue
ing planters to put in very large
crop for the next season. They effecl
of very extensively enlarging the pro
duction of cotton should be reflected
upon calmly, but earnestly, before
risking everything on that one article
Every planter knows that demand
and supply govern prices. 1t was be-
cause demand sprang up beyond the
position of the market to supply it at
that time, that cotton advanced So
suddenly to high figures early in the
present season. Since large supply
of Manchester goods were spun ard
thrown on the market assuaging the
first urgent call for them, We see that
cotton has ceased to have that eager
ness and buoyancy about it that wss
first manifested. Next year all the
markets will be well supplied. The
sharp desire for goods that came this
year, after n period OF dullness and in
activity, will no longer exist The
market will be in its regular normal
condition if affairs go well in the ira
ding countries, and prices will have
settled steadiness very different to
the eager biddings of cotton last fall.
If upon regular, settled, steady mar
ket an unusually large cotton crop is
precipitated; if instead Of customers
seeking for cotton. cotton is seeking
for customers, what will be the eonse-
quenceg We need not describe what
our readers know very well. There is
another point: The position of Europe
is very uncertain for peace. The pos
sib:lity that war may break out any
week is constantly in the minds of
European manufacturers aud mer-
chants when making up their minds
about future investments. This can
be seen in Liverpool circulars respect
ing the cotton market, and in other
business documents. At present war
is one of the elements of the future
which must be taken as a possibility
in all business forecasting. France,
Germany, Russia, with Turkey break
ing up like wreck on the rocks, and
inviting greed and ambition to help
themselves, what may occur any wrek
who can tell? Let a grower take all
his force for cotton planting, no as to
leave himself poorly off for corn, hog
and hay-let him have all those things
to buy in the city next planting sea-
son-and where will be be if "a,break
in cotton" should occur through war
or any of the other events and disas-
ters that paralyze trade, lower prices,
decrease consumption, and lessen de-
mand? Imagine the position of the
cotton grower that has grown nothing
but cotton, and cotton drug in the
market because of q poor, puny de-
mand, together with a huge, over
wbelming supply. Picture the mort
gage, the penury, the ruin, that would
ensue. Grow everything the farm,
the house and the stock requires
That done, and all made safe in any
event, then ''go into cotton" with all
yeur heart, if you will; raise every
fiber you can cause to grow, and do
the ,best you can for yourself. If
cotton preserve good price, you are
"all right" for your crop pays well,
and what it brings does not 90 to pay
fer meat and corn and hay; it goes in.
to your pocket, and you are indepen-
dent of the bills that deluge your
neighhor who ventured all upon cot
ton. If the demand for cotton should
be poor and prices unremunerative,
then what happiness in lOpking
around upon wife and little ones to
know that all is safe, and no comfort
or necessary need he dispensed with.
We earnestly call attention to this sub
ject. N0body can be injured, howev-
er high the price Of cotton may be,
by growing the essential. of living Oh
the farm; out wretchedness, debt, ruin
all may I've involved in growing only
cotton and no glutting the market
and being at the mercy of every Ca
lamitY. One truth should stand out
in letters of FIRE before every southern
farmer: "Who will not grow their
OWL provisions will have to sell out
to those that will. ."-MempAis ARpeal.