The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-18
PLANTERS AND COTTON.
TOO MUCH OF ONE IN THE RUIN
OF THE OTHER.
Nav OF the AdVancer and His
~shent per Shent."
To tho Editors of the Appeal.

NAV OF the AdVaneer ana MS
"shent per shent."
To the Editors of the Appeal:
HELENA, ARK, March 16.-From
time 10 time in the late issues OF your
worthy paper / have read many and
various theories and speculations as to
the better or best mode to pursue in
regard to the amount OF land that
should be cultivated in cotton in order
that the cotton farmer or planter may
realize Temunerative prices for his
product and get out Of and keep out
OF debt. | can't conceive but one way
for II to be done, as those who are in
debt to the merchant or cotton factor
for advances cannot quit planting cot
ton, as, if they do, deeds In trust and
all liens would be foreclosed by the
creditor. Consequently, the once cot
ton-grower would be left in bank
ruptcy. Now for the remedy. Let all
those who follow the cultivation OF
the soil for livelihood in the cotton
belt, who may reasonably be out OF
debt, CEASE entirely to grow cotton
and devote their time and attention 10
the culture aud growing OF grasses,
grain and cereals, and the breeding
and improving aud increase Of stock
OF every kind whatsoever, and sell
same at Temunerative prices to the
man who has no alternative but
TO plant cotton in order that
he, too, may get a better
price for his cotton and be
released from the yoke OF the adj
vancer. Then when the farmer or
planter Is out OF debt borrow no more
money, for the cotton producer in the
South ever since the surrender has not
been able to borrow money with safety
TO himself, nor will he be, on account
OF the decentralization OF the labor, its
inefficiency, its proneness TO break up
contracts and to play the truant and
the wanderer. And one great material
cause OF the present status is that from
the time he begins TO turn the soil for
another crop he retrospects and sees
the prices obtained for cotton in the
last few years; therefore begins with
his energy paralyzed, with no incentive
to toll and sweat, for he knows the
result, judging from the past, that
scanty clothing and bare living stare
him in the face at every exertion.
And cannot say the planter is not
culpable to some extent for this, for
just in proportion as low prices
obtain for cotton, Just in that
proportion will he, as a general
thing, bear down and Cypress the
laborer in wages, and the higher prices
will he charge for all supplies and
favorB extended, in order that he may
in the end meet his own liabilities and
II possible steer clear Of debt the fol-
lowing year. He who is out OF debt
and plants cotton the present year
will be sicker than when he let 20 the
present crop; for, II unfortunately, a
larger crop should be grown this year
than last-and in all probability there
will be-he will be much sicker
opine than when he sold the last; and
II self-castigation would recall aud
remedy the past, he would most GER
tainly clay on Macduff." So every
man who is not compelled to plant
cotton to be released from his credi-
tors the present year had best throw
up the sponge now filed with un-
wholesome carnage to OVERLOOKING
from financial bruises, and let every
yestige Of cotton mania ooze there
from In order that his pillow may be
softer and his sleep more beatifc in
the future. Such q course will have a
tendency to induce immigration into
the cotton.belt section and more
readily induce them to pur-
chase our lands at higher
prices, as, II set in grasses
and they behold our gamers laden
with the various cereals, and our
hocks and herds returning home at
the cleaning, their music more sonor-
GUS and welcome than to those who, in
the olden time, fed their focks and
listened to the lowing OF their herds
upon the plains Of Judea-sucb, l
say, would be more in accord with
their education and tastes, aud some
thing they could easily and kno wingly
engage at with view to success and
prosperity; while, on the other hand,
the immigrant will soon turn with
loathing and disgust from country
that is nothing but one continued cot.
ton patch. A cotton field with full
matured crop is lovely-yea, beauti-
ful-to behold, but when it is your
all, and gathered, sold and ended, and
you apply the credits TO your purse,
the result will be worse than Dead
Sea fruit when placed to the lips.
Whereas, If our crops are interspersed
and diversified with the essentials that
perfect the election OF a complete
farmer, aud which constitute the sue.
cess Of country in an agricultural
sense, prosperity then would be as.
sured, and we could reasonably in.
dulge the hope that we soon would
have thrifty immigration and better
prices for our lands. nc.
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