Louisiana capitolian., 1880-09-21
COMMON SENSE"

ScIlHIOc CVIVVIjuIS ~ UNS WV" WI
pleasure to read for years. We have
often seen the same ideas and argu-
mcnt used in agricultural papers, but
We have yet to see the same present
cd in 50 pungcnt and striking Ian
guage. Tho subject matter is not
only common sense" but tho lan-
g,ngo is common sense simple in
construction that u child cannot fail
to comprehend it. Each and every
one Of our farmer friends should read
| il carefully and thoughttnlly. We
feel that the suggestions, so timely,
will he of benefit to them:
"rhc falling Off IN the present cot
ton crop teaches n lesson Tint should
not be forgotten. The spring was
fine, the soil admirable, tho pitch
good aud the stand perfect. The
sun gave stoady heat, min came
timely and suitably and the growth
was rapid and lnxnriant. 1t was not
local; bright skies iloatct over every
field. Corn mnturcd early and Tor
tho acreage tho crop is excellent in
quality and quantity. Cotton came
on beautifully until July. Then the
season changed rain, wind and storm
rackcd the weed daily. The middle
crop was ruined and lost. Tho boil
worm commenced its ravagcs on the
bottom crop and still holds on. Its
devastation has been immense. An-
gust brought some fair weather, and
~ top crop put forth aud promised
. well. Hope revived. Tho cotton
army worm was present and dreaded
but not expected to do injury before
the 18th or 10Th Of September. The
first found him hard ut work and de-
: structivc beyond all precedent. Bad
weather destroyed tho middle and
worms have destroyed the top crop,
40 that The bottom crop, damaged as
, | it has been by boil worms, is all That
. is left, and il it can possibly turn ou'
Il the one. bali Of the first of July cX-
!, pcctation there should bca great dcu
Y of gratitude and not one word Of com.
e plaint from the producers.
"All prognos|ics about II c"ttol
crop are idlc-hazards follow it from
planting to selling. No other pr"duc
Involves SO much risk, requires 81
y. much labor, suffers so much in mar
kcting and makes SO poor u return
/" The best planters will admit that i
y, hardly pays tho cost Of production
The result is, debts are multiplying
and mortgages constantly increasing
u lis it not plain to the least oI'scrvan
u that cotton instead OF cnriching is i'm
y poyc,ishing this people? Some o
I" our largest planters have bought a|
> their corn and made none this year
t. The cotton they will gather will hard
" ly pay for The corn they have usc,
There is 10 effort to raise meet of an
y kind. For bare subsistence, in th
~ midst of wide forests and good range
~, wc must look over storm tossed all'
y worm eaten cotton fields to Wcstcr
!, corn cribs and meat houses. An
y, that's the way tho money goes. Tll
'c men who grow hog and hominy rul
il the purse. They are rich and indie
pendent, the vcritablc lords of cree;
ton. The prosperity Of the cotto
c, belt depends upon Il more equal ut'
n, izatiOn of it's resources. Cotton mus
O. be surplus and not IN cxclusiv
1T crop. Barns must be filled out Of OF
a. own fields, meat houses stocked irol
lg our own forests, and our backs mus
'd be clothed from our own tactOIic
60 We must become producers as we
We rs consumers; exporters as well &
importers, and sellers us well rs bu,
crs. II is not only possible but abs,
49, lutcly necessary to do SO. Coffee all
w tea are the only luxnrics chat nee
come from abroad, and their guilty;
ton seems to be only u question
-, time, and yet we arc cnriching lista'
capitalists for converting our ra
~, r. material into fabrics for use and c1
w joymcnt. They fix the price upo
% our product and fix the price wilt
we repurcllasc it. The profits go ol
". way and the losses go one way. Bl