The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-01-17
The Next Cotton CrOp.

falr pnce-Say IL cents per pound for
middling; At this price the margin of
profit to the average cotton producer can
hardly be called Il liberal one, and it
should be considered that this price is
based upon recent undoubtcd evidence
OF a short crop. 1t should be further re-
mcnlOered that the farmers sold most of
their crop ~ much lower figures. Now,
VIII the farmers make the usual mistake
Oh charging the area in anticipation of
present prices for the next crop? This
is the question that should be answered
by every farmer for himself. 1t is quite
certain illat no binding, cooperative
agreement 10 reduce the area-llO such
thing as Il fiat-can be enforced, even
ii aD agreement could be reached Every
FARMER must act for himself as he, and
ROT another. IS responsible for the result
Every individual should determine unon
SUCH actiOn-rogartlloSS OF what others
may do-aS will result to his own adj
vantage. 70 this end each farmer NAV
safely assume that every other farmer
VIII enlarge his area, and govern himself
accordingly. lie may assume this. be.
cause farmers have always done so under
the stimulus OF high prices as the plant
ing season draws near. Now, what would
sensible, reasonable farmer do, if he
We're assured that the area this year
will be greater than that Of last year
or even so Sreat-llnoWing from expert
ence that we can hardly expect SO I'M
propitious crop year rs was that of
1852? Don't he know that the total
al al to fhn nf1
and possibly beyond? What would then
be the market price-fiye-tiva and
half-six cents? We don't know, but
not much, if any, higher. Then the
question occurs. what will the sensible
farmer do? Let us see: At 8 ID cents
the profit on production is probably not
more than or . cents per pOund-taking
the average cost. 1t is little enough.
Now, il past experience and common
sense assure us that the farmers viii get
about Is or Z cents for the next crop, what
is the usc-in the name of common
reaSon-Of pl;mting an acre Of land which
cannot be made to yield cotton at such Il
cost per pound as Will give Il profit on
the basis OF a, market price Of 6 or
cents? Is it for the fun OF the thing?
Is il a real pleasure IA cult
waiting poor, unfertiIized threc-acreS-to-
cost Is or Z cents per pound, and fetch
the same in market? Yes; there is
pleasure in it-but not to the producer
The pleasure, and the profit, is for the
Speculation, The WaTchOuseman, the cotton
broker, the transportation companies, the
thousands Of workers Of all grades, who
make their living, and some OF whom
amass fortunes, in handling cotton all the
way from the hands Of the producer to
the mills ut Lawrence, Lowell and Mdu-
chester, and back again-it may be-to
the very men who produced it at-a loss!
The remedy is-tO reduce the cost OF
production The question, then, is how
10 DO Il? The answer. III detail, would
be Il manual on farming; it would involve
a course OF study aud training. But
happily, every farmer knows, or should
know. that rs a general rule. and in The
long run, the greater the yield OF a crop,
ncr acre, the less will be the cost per
pound. per bushel, per ton. 1t applies 10
all crops and t. AL farms and to AL
countries. This is the basal iGCa-the
essential OF high farming '-''iDtcnsiye
farming" 1t is the salvation OF agricui-
ure.
1. The farmer must make his crops OF
all kinds at less cost.
>. 70 do this he mast make more to
the acre.
,. 70 accomplish this lie must prepare
fertilizer well and plant only the hest
acres.
!. This will make him safe, whatever
others may &c.
>. If all, or majority, adopt this plan,
the area will necessarily be greatly re-
duccl. the aggregate production viii inc
much smaller and the price Will be high
er: and ali will enjoy the profits.
These five points are the gospel OF IN
tansiye farming which is but another
name for common sense, business farm