The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-09
DIyERsIFICATIoN OF CROPS.

In a recent editorial the Wilmington Star
makes number of comments on the cultva-
ton of cotton which are equally applicable
to the cultivation Of tobacco in this State.
1t is estimated that the cotton crops of the
South in the course Of the last twenty-five
years have aggregated in value $1,000 900 900,
or an annual average of $500 900, 900. Of these
hundreds of millions of dollars brought into
the Southern States by the annual sales of
cotton. by far the largest proportion have
been expended in the remuneration Of labor
and payment for feEtilizers and supplies of all
kinds. The greater part of the profit remain
ing has passed. not into the pockets OF the
planter, but into the possession of the buyer
who handled the cotton and the manufacturer
who purchased it in his turn and woye 1t into
various fabrics. The planter has been practi-
cally left in the lurch.
As a remedy for this condition Of affairs the
Star suggests that cotton shall become a
secondary instead of as at present the primary
consideration in the economy Of the farm.
when the farm is made self-sustaining indie
pendent of the cotton crop" remarks the
money crop in the full sense Of tho word-a
money crop in reality as we'll as in name.
When diversified farming shall nave been
adopted as the rule instead Of the exception.
and the cotton planter can draw his supplies
from his own grsnaries, his own smO ke- houses
and his own pastures when ne will breed his
own borses and mules instead Of buying them
from kentucky and Tennessee as he has been
doing for years aud is still doing when from
his pastures and barn-yards he draws his sup
plies Of manure TO take the place of CONNER
cial fertilizers which he now buys at high
price then the money that his cotton brings
may stay in his pocket and he his. and then,
too by the diversified system iuteligently
pursued by the cultivation OF the grasses and
grains that supply the material for fertilizers
he may so enrich his land that his acres vii!
produce double, or more, the amount that
they did before thus making less acreage
necessary for the same result and correspond
ingly reducing thu amount of labor required
IN plowiug the land aud cutlvating the crop.
il is possible to double the present crop on
TIE same acreage. or raise the same crop on
bali the acreage leaving the other half for
the grains. grasses, fruits vegetables. ETC.
rh- has been 90 frequently and 50 success
fully demonstrated by progressive farmers
that 1t ia no longer question within the do
Ma Of doubt"
If the time shall arrive when AS the result Of
the improved system Of "a m ng 81 ,g-sred by
the Star the Southern cotton planter hall have
h.s whole cotton crop 20 represent his margin
OF profit on his annual operations then an
craw ave been reached when the prosperity
o { Southern States " Il e uneX4mr.e ed IN
Tn, story OF this country, ,o' IL would IN an
an ,ddt.on # $50 100 00J n "a u t. accu.
mn ntel capital instead of t.m ,rm be4-
vded up and practically dlss.pated as al
TIE pre- en-. dine
Already the South Is taking steps 10 retain
the profit which now passes iuto tie hanis OF
tho Mort I'm cotton manufacturer IN 1850.
/ ~ 900 bales were consumed ia the southern
cotton factories. In 1890 5O0OJO bale, VIZ.
,ntO manufactured prOiucts-three
times as much as was used ten years before.
Inc Star only slate. the truth when IL de-
clares that The progress of the past decade IS
mer.y suggestive Of what the progress of the
next decade snd the next after that will be.
Nnen. in addition to the pla ner and COZ ser
goods W tn TIE manufacture of which she has
been content so far she VIII have embark 2
IA the manuia ture Of tie finer and more
costly goods and thus cover tie whole field |
WI eye she on covered part. W en TINS IS
done and the South gets a.. tie profits there
is Ia cotton. in It's raw AMI finished forms.
then 1t will indeed be d money crop and one
which in it,e may maze the South rich"