The Lafayette gazette., 1894-05-26
FARMER AND PLANTER.
COTTON A MASTER.

|
ting Out of HonSaage.
Cotton has been for years emphatie-
ally our "money cropt ttiat is, it not
only bri6gsr in most epf the cash. but
absorbs every dollar OF that, and often
the little gleaneds1rom other resources
of the farm. 1t has become a rapa-
cious and unrelenting master, but can
be made a most subservient and .
profitable slave. =
1t has been conclusiyely shown that
outside of the cotton grown and con-
sumed in other countries, that is, in
Asia. Africa, South America and Mex
leo. the United States furnishes IS per
cent. of the cotton. of co mmerce. In
other words, the world is dcpendeR8
on the southern faEnsers Ter thxka.
fourths of the e6tton wfffc4f1 II -
used, and--whichy can,-not be pro-
duced elsewhere. From this simple
statement it will be seen what a power
we hold among the nations of the
world, and what a lever to lift ourselves
and our section into prosperity. But
without home supplies Of food and
forage we lose the immense advantage
which this monopoly gives u.s. Album
i'ant home-raised provisions must be
the fulcrum on which our lever rests.
When our cotton crop is made we can
neither eat it nor wear it until it goes
into other hands But it our necessities
in these points are such that we are,
obliged to part with it, we are com
peeled to take whatever price the dealer
offers. Hence the crOwding of the cot
ton crop to the markets as soon as it is
gathered, though the price be below
the cost of production,and the new
year finds us with only the paper re-
ceipts to show for our twelve months
labor.
If n man has plenty OF home sup
plies, he can afford to wait. The world
is obliged to have his cotton. During
the civil war, the enforced suspension
OF cotton production caused the price
to reach the fabulous figure of 50. s5 per
pound.
knowing these facts, if the farmers
generally are fortified with ample pro-.
visions for family and stock, they can
quietly await rcmunera tive price for
their cotton. It will not do for a man
here and there to adopt this policy; it
must be universal, and when our barns
and cribs and snolkehouses are full,
we can afford to look calmly on while
the dealer endeavors to secure our cot
ton at less than it cost us to produce it.
Is not this the situation in Il nutshell?
Does it not comprehend reduction of
the acreage, lessening of the cost Of
production, the prosperity Of Our agri-
culture, the very existence of our state
and section as a healthy part of the
body polite? What more powerful
appeal can be made to the interests,
the common sense, the patriotism of
our southern farmers? And the DC
cision rests with them. Unlike the
agriculturists of many other nations,
there is no power which can dictate
their course; they must decide whether
they will still further risk the bondag ge
of Il large cotton crop, and possible,
nay, proba BILE, debt, or less cotton, am
pie provisions and certain indepen-
dcnce
These thoughts are suggested and
emphasized by the fact that the final
decision must now bc reached as to
what portion of our crops shall be
planted in cotton. In deciding this
question, let us remember that it is not
the number of bales, but the profit on
those bales which most nearly concerns
our welfare. Let us also keep in mind
that with the same labor can, by
judicious selection of land and manur-
ing, nearly double the yield, while
all other expenses, except pick
the same. Remember, too. that
the better the land. the more ma
nure it will bear. Hence it follows
that we can, in measure, substitute
fertiliza ton for labor. We can manure
good land with less risk. and by en-
ploying. as far as possible, improved
and labor-saving implements, render
ourselves, in part at least, independent
of that most- uncertain factor in the
farm problem. Again let it be repeat
ed. don't waste labor and manure on
land. Where there is so much to choose
from we can concentrate both on the
best spots, and leave the rest either to
be reclaimed by judicious treatment or
by kindly morner naturc.-Southern
Cultivator.
THE SOUTHERN DAIRY.