St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-12-17
PROFIT IN COTTON GROW.

=
PROFIT IN COTTON GROW.
ING.
The pgice that cotton demands =.
day makes that crop renumerative
to the Southern farmer. It IL
doubtful il it has been 80 for . part
at least Of the two past years. A
great many calculations have been
made Of the cost Of raising cotton,
but these vary so much that 1t Is
difficult 10 form any accurate idea
ON this subject. The report Of cot
ton prepared for the last census
gave the cost Of production rs be-
tween 6 and II cents q pound, and
fixed the average at ellghtly below
8 cents, say 7.6 cents-that being
the price which the staple ought tn
command in order to prevent q
loss to the farmer. 1t is not prob
able that there has been much
change since then. Under the
prices. therefore, Of the pact two
years, some Of the farmers, who
conduct their places on . large
scale and Ut the same time econom.
ically, may have made money; the
majority did not and some undoubt.
eddy came out behind. We have al
ready commented upon the effect
this has had upon values and the gen.
eral business Of the South, as eviden.
ced by the reduction in assessments
in several Of the States and q decid-
ed check 10 the increase in others.
The price Of cotton to-day makes
it remunerative, and this improve
ment has made itself generally felt
in all lines Of business. Let us
hope that it will not have the effect
that some Of the Southern papers
anticipate Of bringing about an ex.
cessive acreage next season, anoth-
eF big crop and consequent low and
Improbable prices. The fear is ex-
pressed that the Southern iapmer,
having done well with his cotton
this year, may be tempted toincrease
the acreage next season, hoping to |
do still better, not taking into con-
sideration the fact that all his |
may do likewise.
The fact that cotton was being |
over-prodced has been Recognized
for some time past. The press
preached long sermons on the SUBJ
iect, but It vas only when the farm
ers began to feel the evil effect Of
his "all-cotton" policy, when oil
The profits Of cultivation disappear
ID, that they reduced their acreage
q the staple. 1t has benefited
hem in two ways; first. it has en-.
'bled them to greatly increase their
'ther and particularly their food
'rops, saving themselves consider
'ble outlay for the latter and bring
ng in much better retuRnss and
econdly, the cotton crop cost less
o produce, but at the same time
Vill bring nearly the same amount
IS previous excessive crops have
one.
This experience onght to convince
hem Of what is the best policy to
ursue. 1t will be . great mistake
D return to the ''all-cotton" sys-
en-, even il the staple remains at
he present prices. which, Of course,
will not do il the acreage and cropl /
re greater. That system will as
nre . return to the depression
'hich has prevailed in the agricul-
lral circles Of the South for the
ast few years. 8
The farmers will be putting In q
leir crops in . few months. Let
> hope that when this is done we
i'll hear that they fully understand
re situation, have proiited by their I
asst experience and intend to d.
ersifv their crops, keep the cotton
creage down and thus secure bet- d
Z returns, both for that and all !,
her products. -1imes-Dem0crat
Judge David Davis, speaking OF .
e local paper, said: each year 0
e local paper gives from $500 to g
900 in free lines from the COM u
unity in which It Is located. No u
her sgency can, nor will Do this~ ~
. -sditoFyM Proportion to his 8 !;
ans, does more for his town than .,
: other ten men, and In al fair
% with man. he ought to be sup =,