The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-03-21
Advice to the South.

The cotton factors Of St. Louis have
united in the following circular in the
hope Of influencing the growth Of food
products in tho South the coming
season:
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
cnce Of seventeen years it seems adgisa-
bic that some change should he made
in her manner Of farming, and we call
your careful attention to the following
facts, which are offered with the sin
cere hope that the people will give them
proper consideration.
Your section possesses the finest farm
ing lands and the most salubrious eli
mate in the world, and should be to-day
financially independent; instead ofhay-
ing to borrow on Il crop before it is
made, should have her corn.bins and
larders filed before commencing crop.
Compare your situation with the
! farmers Of the North and West. They
BY systematic labor are growing richer
each year, while you with patient toll
and close economy are neither so thri-
wing nor prosperous as you should be.
There is Il cause for these troubles,
and we, 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:
!. The credit system, rs at present in
vogue throughout the South, is disas.
trous To the planters and tenants, fore
ing them to pay extravagant prices for
supplies, and causing their crops to be
forced into market with such rapidty
and in such quantities as to break prices
almost variably below cost of produc-
ton.
2. After noting for years the 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
pcrity Of the South to discourage the
planting Of Il large acreage this year,
and TO devote their labors first to the
raising Of grain. cattle and hogs, and
give the balance Of their time to the
culture Of cotton.
This policy will bring good results in
many ways; for instance, many small
farmers, and large ones, also, are 50
heavily in debt when their cotton is
ready for sale that they are compelled
to let it go, even though the price is be-
low its intrinsic worth while, if they
had supplies at home, produced, and
not bought On credit, they could afford
to hold their cotton until they felt jus
tilted in selling
The price of cotton to-day is fully Is
per cent. below the average Of the past
five years, while, on the other hand,
corn IS 33 per cent. and provisions 50
per cent. above the average
With the production Of enough pro-
visions on each farm. cotton would be-
come Il surplus, and soon the incubus of
debt would be lifted from your people,
and each year would record rapid
strides in wealth.
Decreased production of cotton, and
increased production of bread, meat,
and other neccssarics, will bring about
II more prosperous condition Of affairs
for the South, aud instead of sheriff
sales to satisfy the mortgages that the
poor Iaborcrs must now give, we would
see grinding poverty banished forever
and plenty would pour in upon you.
We ask that the merchants and plant.
ers of each State, by calling n convcn.
ton, or in some practicable manner, az
ilate this question until the influence is
felt throughout the entire cotton belt.
Signed by twenty Of the leading
Wholesale commission merchants and
firms Of st. Louis