The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-02-25

Ri1 1NfTth-I III lHS piSoIhl oyolCilI
Of farming, but the
subject can not be agitated too much
if it is calculated to be productive Of
good. That there must be a change
from the present methods before there
can be any permanent prosperity
among the farmers is self evident. The
following from the Greenville Reflector
is timely and we commend it to the
careful consideration of the farmers of
this section:
All are agreed that there is some
thing radically wrong with our agr-
cultural interests. There are various
opinions as to the cause, and needed
remedies. 1t is an indisputable fact
that our farmers as a class are getting
poorer and poorer every year. This
cannot be attributed to Incidence on
their part. They are laboring as as
siduously as they did when they were
in better circumstances than they are
now. They are harvesting in bulk as
large crops as usual. They cannot be
accused of very extravagant living.
There are at least, we believe, two
fundamental causes for this depression
among this noble class of our citizens
One is the present system of farming.
The other the unequal chance they
have in fixing the price of their pro-
ducts. The latter probably results in
part at least from the former. How
ever this may be we shall confine our
selves for the present to the discussion
of the first named cause.
1t cannot be denied that our sys-
TEN OF farming has greatly changed in
the past twenty or thirty years, and
even much shorter time than this.
The tendency at present is to make
only moneyed crops, that is crops for
sale only. Cotton and tobacco are
now the principal crops by far that
are made. The only value they can
be to the producer is the money they
Will bring We make these almost to
the exclusion of all other crops. The
farmer may and does plant small
amount of corn, wheat, oats, potatoes,
etc, but even this small quantity is
neglected in cultivation for his cotton
and tobacco. We have almost ceased
entirely to raise our own meat, horses,
COWS, etc. All of these together with
bread must be bought with our cotton
and tobacco money. If the price of
these was as good as when we made
and raised these other things we could
not have as much money, for large
part of it must be paid for the neces-
saries Of life. When we take into con-
sideraton the fact that the price of
cotton and tobacco has continued to
decline until they have gotten below
the cost of production, we can readily
see that it is only a matter of time
when our whole farming population
must be bankrupt. We may expect
that when any one or two crops is
made to the exclusion of others that
the price of these will be low.
There seems at present general
belief even among farmers themselves,
that this is one if not the main cause
of low prices.
An effort is being made just now to
reduce the acreage of cotton during
the present year at least IS or 20 per
cent. We believe it ought if possible
to be much larger decrease. Some
advocate, and with great deal OF
reason, that it would be far better for
the farmer if he would not plant a
seed during the year of 1892. OF
course whatever reduction is made
ought to be general. Meetings have
been held looking to this end, and il
there IS a united action it will be sure
of success. The great mass meetings
of cotton planters at Memphis ad
vised a reduction of 20 per cent. The
Commissioners of agriculture of six
cotton States endorsed this. The Ag-
ricultural Society Of North Carolina
passed resolutions calling upon our
farmers to reduce the acreage 20 per
cent. Last week the Alliance OF Wake
county passed resolutions asking de-
crease of IS per cent. and invited the
cooperation of the merchants to car
rv this out. This was wise step, and
we believe the farmers of every county
ought to have similar meetings, and
we trust that in each county the mer-
| chants and all others interested will
lend their influence to accomplish the
| purpose of all Of these resolutions. We
especially call upon the farmers Of
Pitt county to call a meeting and take
action at once upon this subject which
50 closely affects their interest. You
are satisfied that you can no1afford tc
do as you are doing now. Almos,
any change would be better for you
Try this year at any rate to raise
your own meat and bread, and grains
in fact every necessity you can and
only make cotton and tobacco as pure
/ " money crop. You can certalnl!
not make your condition any worse
! There is every promise that you vii
realize Just as much money for these
crops as you do now and not have the
necessity Of spending it for the actua
necessaries of life. You may not be
able to fix solely the price OF you'