The Opelousas courier., 1883-03-17
Crop advice to the South.

The cotton factors of St. Louis have
united in the following address in the
hope OF influencing the growth of food
products in the South the coming season
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Feb. "a, 1883.
10 the Merchants, Farmers and Tenants
of the Cotton Belt:
The South is now on the eve of plaut-
ing another crop; and after an expert
ence OF seventeen years it seems advisa-
bic that some change should be made in
her manner of farming, and we call your
careful attention TO tile following facts,
which are offered with fhc, sincere hope
that the. peopleawill give them proper
consideration.
Your section possesses the finest farm
ing land and the most salubrious climate
in the world, and should be to day finan-
ciallyindepcndent; instead of having to
borrow on cropsbefore it is made, she
should have her corn n-bins and larlers
filed before commencing crop.
Compare your situation with the farm
ers of the North and: West. They by
systematic labor are growing richer
every year, while you with patient toll
and close economy are neither so thriv-
ing nor prosperous as you should be.
There is Il cause for these troubles,
and VIC as cotton men, whose interest is
closely identified with yours, believe We
are in position to note many of the
evils that exist, and offer, without pre-.
suming, the following suggestions:
4 |. The credit system as at present in
vogue throughout the South is disas-
trous to the planters and tenants, fore
ing them to pay extrnyagaut prices for
supplies, and causing their crops to be
forced into market with such rapidity
and in such quantities as to break prices
almost invariably below cost Of preduc-
tion.
2. After noting for years tho effect Of
large crops OF cotton, we find that the
over. production of this staple is the key
note to the situation, and we strongly
advise all parties interested in the pros
perity of the South to discourage the
planting of large acreage this year and
devote their labors first to the raising of
grain, cattle and hogs, and give the bal
ance of their time to the culture of cot
ton.
This policy will bring good results III
many ways; for instance, many small
farmers, and large ones also, are SO hea
yily i'm debt when their cotton ls ready
for sale that they are compelled to let
it go, even though the price is below its
intrinsic worth; while if they had sup
plies at home, produced, and not bought
on credit, they could afford to hold their
cotton until they felt justified iii selling
The price of cotton to-day ia fully fif-
teen per cent below the average of the
past five years, while on the either hand
corn is thirty three per cent and provis-
ions fifty per cent above the average.
Thus are you losers both ways.
With the production of enough pro-
visions on each farm, cotton would he.
come surplus, and soen the iucnbus ri
debt would be lifted from your people,
and eael, year would record rapid strides
in wealth.
Decreased production Of eutten and
increased production of bread, meat and
other necessaries will bring abnatia more
prosperous condition of affairs for the
Sonth, and, instead of sheriff's sales to
satisfy the mortgages that the poor In
borers must now give, We would see
grinding poverty banisiled forever. and
plenty wonld pour 10 upon yon.
We ask that the merchants and plant,
ers Of each State, by calling . conveu-
tiou, or In some practicable manner, agi
tate this question until THE influence is
felt throughout the entire cotton belt.
Signed BY The following cotton fac
tors: Gilkeson g. Sloss TO-, SeBter e.
Co, Allen, West & Go. &c.
! Mr.. N. Sebwab, citizen Of P0inte
Coupee Parish, is in our midst, soliait-
ing orders for the Rosehank Nurseries,
of Nashville, Tenn.
Were it necessary to offer any recon-
snendations for this Nursery, that fact
of being represented by Mr.. Scllwab
would BE sufficient III itself, but this
institution, 20 we'll known to our eiti-
yeus. neods no endorsement. Suffice it
to say that the fruit trees sold BY the
Rosebank Nurseries are the choicest.
Sample pearhes gathered from theil.
peach trees raised ID Louisiana have
been tile admiration of those who saw
them. We commend MIR. Sehwab. who
nav bs found ut R. Nj. Litteh's drug
store on Main St., to the good offices OF
our readers, and advise them 20 give
him their orders at once for delivery
next fall. Mr.. Scliwab is reliable IN
every respect. t.