The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1888-04-14

in the yield Of cotton per acre all over
the South since 1880. although there
has been an increase in acreage. at
tempts to explain tho facts by saying
that, as the falling off is greatest in
those portions of the country where
cotton is cultivated almost exclusively
by negro labor. tho decrease is due to
negro stupidity and negro lazincss
rather than to other causca This is
an easy and natural explanation. and
no doubt sufficient 10 account for q
portion of the loss. but it is absurd to
put it forward as the sole reason for
the important decrease which has
taken place. When it is remcm-
bercd that the vast bulk of cotton cul.
tivafisn is almost exclusively in the
hands Of negroes and that cotton
plantations, cultivated exclusively by
white labor are tho exceptions and
rarely mot with. the fact that the de-
creased yield is more apparent in the
..black belt ceases to have any great
significance Intelligent and scien-
tifc farming will. of course. have Of
feet in the cotton fold as we'll as else
where, but this species of farming is
exactly what has never prevailed In
the cultivation of cotton. Old and
wcll-known paths have been followed.
and the rules of successful cotton
growing have passed from father to
son, year after year, with few or any
modern scientific innovations, and the
planters general dependence has been
in favorable seasons and the natural
richness of the soil.
Fertilizers and all foods for the soil,
so necessary in tho cultivation Of
poorer and less fertile regions. have
mover been in general use in The cot
ton fields. and constant draft on the
life blood of the soil has been made
for years without returning any thing
to It capable of replenishing or renew
ing its vigor This exhausting system
has grown moro marked Of late years
since the value of cotton-seed was dis
covered, and now it can be faithfully
said that when the cotton picker has
gathered his crop. he has exacted to the
utmost limit all that his soil will
yicld. and has returned abb
solutcly ! nothing to it The
great richness and productiveness
of tho Southern cotton plantations
have enabled them to withstand the
ruinous effects of this system far q
long time, and hence their destructive
tondenciea have been slow in making
Themselves felt, but that the limit OF
natures endurance has seen reached
is shown tV the Cotton World referred
to above. The average yield of cotton
has incrcaSed since 1880, but the in-
crease has come from new ground.
while the lid fields have shown a
gradual and eteady falling off There
is world Oh serious warning to the
cultivation Of cotton in these figures.
and it is plain that the point
has been n ached when radical
change must be made and proper
remedies applied Old. we'll beaten
paths which lead only to desolasion
and stcrlity must be abandoned and
newer. and moro heallhfll methods
adopted. 1t is useless to point out
tho good of diversity of crops. for
the average cotton planter will never
listen to such proposition. but he
may perhaps be persuaded to use
common sense and prudence, and
abandon a system of soil-robbing
when he finds that he is in danger Of
LOSING his all bv hia i,uurovidouca