The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-01-22
COFION PLANTING.

COTTON PLANTING.
We think we can safely say that
notwithstanding The fact the cotton
crop Of 1885 was the cheapest even
raised, CD aecount Of the low price Of
proylsiuiry the farmers Of this section
are in 10 better condition than the,
were this time last year, if in a.
good. They have toiled for whole
year,-w worked hard in sunshine and
IN rmn-and deprived themselves,
IN some instances, Of many OF the
comforts OF lite, hoping that when
their cotton was sold, they would
have some cash money 10 90 ON an,
other year f; but they find now that
they have made nothing above a
scanty living, and all OF their bright
hopes have vanished into thin all.
The cotton crop was short in GUAM
uty aud still shorter in price. The
result Is that maturity OF the ia. :
mers of tins country have 10 go IN
the credit. OF mortgage system an
other year, and pay big prices Tor
everything they get. Nor is this
the fault OF the merchant? If the
merchant sells goods OH y months
credit, and takes the chances of get
| thug his money at the end OF the
year, be has right to charge for the
risk he has taken III All increase Of
| profits on his goods. Merchants
would greatly prefer to do "a cash
business on small prof :. The cash
system is better for the farmer and
better for the merchant. II is well
known that nearly ali Of The failures
in commercial circles, III this couu-
try, is caused by his selling out his
goods on time and being unable to
collect in sufficient amount o
meet his own liabilities. Why is it
that the cotton farmers are not maxi
ing any money! The question IS
easily answered, 1t is SIMPLY BE-
cause its costs as much to make ii
bale of cotton in this eouuIry, where
it takes from 3 to 5 acres - make a
bale, as the cotton is worth alters ii
Is made. This every farmer knows
, Any Observ8nt farmer will admit
that bale of cotton raised III thus
country will not more than pay foI
raising it. Take Hardeman coun-
ty over. and it does not produc
exceeding one bale for every fou
acres of land cultivated IN cotton
That tale IL worth, on an ap erage
: about $40. So the farmer get
: about SO per acre for cultIvatinj
! and gathering his cotton. It is clea
, that no money can be made raising
L cotton at one bale for four acres. /
: the farmers of this country woull
| plant fewer acres in cotton, and lna
: nure their lands, and cultivate i
2 we'll, they would make as much cot
? ton as they make now and at a mucI
! less expen.e. Ii their lands couI,
c be ma e to yield Il bale to two acre
1T would paw to raise 1t, even a
It present prices. [! the acreage wa
IS reduced say one-h.If, or une-third
} they would then haye time TO de
e vote to snm, thing else, but as ici
y NOW, they nave no time TO devote t
t any crops except cotton and corn
4 Our farmers should raise some col
= ton. We have never enteltlined til
Flea that it was to the interest of til
farmers OF this country tn quit rails
ing colt on altogether 1t SHOULD
however, be made the surplus crOl
3 Everything else which is needed o
+ the farm should be rails, ed and the
d make all the cotton they can. az
y the more the better. If there ";
l. less cotton made, it would comman
. better price. A 5000, 900 bal
;. crop wilt put into the poekets-of til
k producers as much money as 100
&C 900 b.. lie crop. The only remed
, that we can see is, tor the farmer
to plant fewer tcres in cation, nlanur
anil cultivate that better and the
II raise everything else they can o
IL the farm, so rs to have fewer thing
;. t. buy. This policy would make til
Is cntton plant,r Independent in
v Few years.