The Opelousas courier., 1883-03-10
Crop advice to the south.

united ii the following address in the
hope of influencing the growth of food
products in the South thecomiug season:
ST. Louis, Mo-, Feb. "a, 1883.
To the Merchants, Farmers and Tenants
of the Cotton Belt;
The South is now on the eve of plant
ing another crop, and after an expert
ence of seventeen years it seems advlsa-
BILE that solne change should be made in
her manner. of farming, and we call your
careful attention to the following facts,
which are offered with the sincere hope
that The people. will give. them proper
consideration.
Your section possesses the finest farm
ing land aud the most salubrious climate
id the world, and.shonld be to-day finan-
ciaily independent; instead of having to
borrow on a crop before it is made, she
should have her corn-bins and larders
filled before commencing a 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 a cause for these troubles,
and we as cotton men, whose interest is
closely identified with yours, believe we
are in a position to note many Of the
evils hat exist, and offer, without pre-
sumipg, the following suggestions:
/. The credit system as at present in
vogue throughout the South is disas-
trous to the planters and tenants, fore
ing them TO pay e~xtravagant 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 produc-
1 ton.
2. After noting for years the effect OF
large crops OF cotton, We ind that tlie
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 10 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 in
many ways for instance, many small
farmers, and large ones also, are so hea-
vily in debt when their cotton Is ready
for sale that they are compelled to LET
it gu, even though the price is below ito
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 in selling.
The price of cotton to-day is fully ff-
teen per cent below the average of the
past five years, while on the other band
corn il 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 en- each farm, cotton would be-
come a surplus, and soon the incubus VI
debt would be lifted from your people,
and each year would record rapid strides
4 in wealth.
Decreased production OF cotton and
increased production of bread, meat and
other necessaries win bring shout a more
prosperous condition of affairs for the
South, and, instead Of sheriff's sales TO
satisfy the mortgages that the poor la
borers must now give, we would see
grinding poverty banished forever. and
plenty would pour in upon You.
W. ask that the merchants aud plant
ers of each State, by calling a conve
ton, 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 & sloss Co., Senter &
CO., Allen, West g. Co., &c, &c.
The whole of Africa is gradually com