New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-19
FEWER ACRES OF COTTON.
EFFORTS IN THE SOUTH FOR VARIED FARM
ING IN HOPES OF SURER RETURNS.

have Influenced the farmers to decrease the cotton
acreage stalking their chances for prosperity IN ther
ability to deal successfully with other crops 30 long
as the markets are controlled by spectators and cotton
continues be- produced in such abundance, the ar-
ers acknowledge that ii Will be long time before they
| can demand their price.
From reports recently gathered by one OF the leaohs
daes II Is learned that the acreage planted with COT
ton Is from - 20 per cent less this year nn iast
II is not generally believed that slight reduction ol
the crop will cause rise in prices for the surplus
stock of last year would, Of course, counterbaahce
slight decrpas, In production OF this year. but the
change made for the simple reason that IL Is ihPoss
bic 10 make living at present prices Inc increase
in production will be 10 sorghum corn, broome-cane
and sweet potatoes. Certain localities. as for IN
stance eastern Texas cannot dispense with cotton as
the money crop for the SOIL climate and othcr cohii-
lions are not so we'll adapted TO other productions. and
furthermore the proper facilities for shipping lack
ting that would make II worth while to attempt to raise
stock It seems to BE- the common idea that the
farmer should sufficient grain and stock for MS
own consumption instead of raising only cotton ana
buying all his provisions. When be raises his own
vegetables and farm products he will oneha the
money that he must now pay under the existing system
OF credit The merchant In self defence Is OBLIGED 10
charge an cxorbltan price FOR all goods SOFA on long
time payments for is impossible to collect more than
two thirds Of the amount.
Reports from all the southern states show a consid-
ports hav, done little toward determining the result
~ The entire crop until information received from
the southwest For the last few years Texas has pro
duced about oncfourth Of the American crop ana
there remained The possibility Of these southwestern
farmers planting enough more to nuy the effect OF any
decrease In other regions. About the last o. May re-
norris covering every district in Texas Oklahoma ana
indian Territory were published. They show an aver
ace decrease in acreage from year Of PA per cent
I'm T. I'm oklahoma and Indian Territory Of about
2, i per cent in the whole Of the Texas cotton belt
the average decrease j. 30 per cent. drouth In the
early spring caused a little delay In the season, but
larger Weld per aero is promised this Probably
the mn ximum Weld for Texas will be about 100000
bales.
II Is stated that one reason why Texas farmers do
no, realize rs much from small farm product, In
proaprton TO the crops produced farmers In other
States Is that the supply. under ordinary circum-
stances f. too great for the home consumption Ihui
the state Is thcky settled and better markets
nre offered the pcrishable products Of the small
farm the more profitable business OF Intensive farm
Ing must continue to give to the raising of larger
crops In the course OF few the small farmer
will find that lie is IN fatal competition with the
wealthy farmers, Who with large capital expensive
machinery and thousands Of If land do business
nm tc most extensive scale The handwOrk required
for the production OF garden products AMI fruits pays
only the communities In close proximity 10 great
markets or shipping points. F:Uming By hand Will
soon be "A thing Of the past here. and the farmer with
no capital save his own skill and industry Will not
have an easy time serious mistake has been made
bv the average Southwestern farmer In falling ID
raise enough for his use. giving mp all the lana
10 cotton trusting that an unusually favorable season
and n chance rise In tho market will reward him.
The average farmer does not find cotton paving ut
the present prices Even at 6 or cents a pound
there can be profit. For example, tire" acres Tor
which 20 rent Is pad. produces one bale per acre Tor
Gathering cents per 100 pounds must be paid ana
for bagcng and ties so cents. making expenditure
Of $ls 80 Then selling the c>tton for ) cents
ponnd-thc 100 pounds making II eco pound bale
gives e2j: dcdUctng expenses. there Is left only
S6 20. which does lncluda the expense of hauling
10 ein and the cost Of the seed. \ good margin 81
profit Is realhel at - cent, pound. or si2 80
bale with cotton below the price At winch IL can
be marketed actual cost of productio'l. with hlgh
rate Of ntcr,, all loans. ard with land below It's
real value, the farmer must look TO some othcr
mr., duc TO furnish living. outside the belt for small
grains resort sooner later must be had 10 Tie
forage crops or to stock part, Of the South are
pnrtlcularly adapted t. the raising of such rs
alfara lnccrnc grass ETC. that for forage pur
noses are excellent not being and contain
Ing plenty Of albuminols and hydrltes.
The farmers Of the south raise cotton. In spite OF
thc fact that il is Of the most precnrious crops
The common saying that 1t requires thirteen months In
the year TO raise cotton IS significant for more reasons
than one. A succession of crops Is not pefihtlou'
Careful and intelligent cultivation are required to
produce superior quality Of fibre and there Is ALWAYS
the boll.worm to fight and much depends upon the
drouh or the wet season. Cotton Is uncertlin both
as n crop and rs a commodity. and the market Is rs
uncertain rs the weather. Furthermore II Is not a
self sustaining product far ms the farmer Is con
cerncd The credit system, 50 pcrnicioaN to farmer
and merchant has always followed In the Wake vi
cotton production. Fifteen years ago embarrassing
began in Eastern Texas. and up Sprang the crcdit
system In the Panhandle region two crops Of wheat
almost pay for the land which II IS raised, ana IN
this and other parts of Texas the citizens threaten to
hang n man who talks Of planting couon Tile dn'-
Guilty lies in the Indebtedness Of the farmers ms class
and In the which force them TO raise TINS
plan, their only money crop, even at starvation
nanted for common supplies Before the farmer can
hope for relief there ~I,, DE- a Se S S Written 'a
the southern papers e. the effect that matter, VIII
regulate themselves when the south gets lower Ias
factories She will lead the world in the cotton man
ufactuing industry and will be prepared TO use all inc
raw An important point has been overlooked, Cotton
will probably continue to be The only fibre whose con
i ETeu % With lower rate Of interest and with hT
cheaper labor remains to be seen whether hs rSuS
,n , wod The success OF the cotton factories in the
s%S %p0% ea e'H we besides Id as sS
made fabrtcs is steadily Increasing and while
,etorw Viii soon dlsplace the hand made fabrics IN
Which the millions in Asia, hSca a.. south America and
Australia are clothed the ocg ea Will r. greater mers TO M
lshment Of factories In the localities in which cotton
grown will not necessarily be great advnntase after
Consideration. and New England has the atmospheric
ss t. H as p aSpa aSS OF %'aS SS S
Methods Of refrigeration Is perfected and the proper
machinery introduced that WIN produce the degree OF
fabcs she Will be forced into competition with New
England - ,o, ,,o ar,oo, J., , <
~ Coarse weayes OF the South than for the finer
is ~ n,rt ~ the cotton product. The oil mills fir
Nah market for the seed that before was regarded
u,s 30 and the farmer has either received small
nrcc Tor the seed delivered at the mill or has had his
too gInned for the seed, thereby saving little the
numerous trusts that have sprung up regulate the
price OF course. and the farmer has been benefited
IIa hing ha grin fCf NJ