Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-11-17
FARMER AND PLANTER.
NO PROFIT IN COTTON.
present Prices an Argument In Favor Of
More niverslned Farming.

Present Prices an Argument In Favor of
More diversified Farming.
III the farmers Of the south would
only quit wasting so much time on try
Ing to get rich by making cotton, put
more and better attention to raising
corn, peas, potatoes and other grain
crops, and raise their meat at home,
the cry of hard times would soon cease.
The farmer would be able TO put more
money in his pocket wear better
clothes, and wear brighter smile on
his face. But so long as we neglect
our grain crops and have to send to the
north and west for corn, flour and
bacon, and pay for it out OF cotton at
six cents per pound, we must expect to
remain poor and dependent on Others
for help. 1t should not be so If we
would all look Mt the matter right and
strive to live at home by proper ccono-
my we would in n few years surmount
the difficulty and change the old song
of hard times to peace, plenty and pros
perity. 1t seems that any man of com
mon sense ought to know thatif we did
not prosper when we could get 121I to
is cents for cotton there is no possibili-
ty of doing SO now while we only get
from to 6 cents for cotton. Unless we
change our mode of farming and raise
less cotton and make it surplus crop.
This we can do; even our poor renters
have q chance here to raise everything
needed at home and owe nothing
at the end of the crop season ex-
cept rent, and rent here is a
small item compared with the
supply bill usually contracted for with
the lien merchant at the beginning OF
each year 1t is these supply bills that
plays havoc with the farmer; it is these
bills that forces us to sell cotton at any
price the merchant Sc fit to Offer for
it, right here is where the low prices Of
cotton hurts the worst If we make
our cotton surplus crop then the low
price will not be so heavily felt. Then
let-us cease for awhile to grumble with
our government officials about hard
times and unwisc legislation, and TURF
about and lay wiser plans forourselves
and all pull together in one reformed
movement, and better times with moro
money in pocket will be the result o
our efforts.
We have the soil, climate and seasons
here suitable and well adapted to al
most every kind of crops; corn, oats
peas of every variety grow to perfec
ton; sugar or sorgham cane, MELONS
and potatoes do well here. We cal
make our supplies at home and whel
we do this, what more do we need o
what should we care for the low prc
of cotton. But If we raise our supple
at home, raise less cotton and make i
surplus crop, we can command bette
prices and a small crop bring us NOR
money than it brings us now.
We have good many men frettin
and grumbling about hard times AM
trying to fix the fault on some one els
generally the government-and ar
never willing to acknowledge thci
own faults and bad managements PEI
NIT me to say TO such men that the
must begin to reform themselves-rt
form should begin always at home
follow the precepts of those whom yo
see and know to be more thrifty an
: prosperous than yourself, and you wi
; soon see that the government has ha
nothing to do with orr present d'
pendent condition, and it will neve
grant us any free money. If we get
| we will have to work for it the sam
as we have always done, and wei
earned treasures are more enjoyabl
than gifts. Home and Farm.