The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-04
NC CnIture ID Cotton ln ArgentIna.

The Culture of Cotton In Argentina.
As "a portontious cloud in inky dark
ness might descend upon the earth and
shroud ali things in gloom, so the omi-
nous shadow Of Argentina has fallen
upon the American wheat growers, says
a writer in the New York Times As the
shadow has thickened the hearts of our
farmers have become heavy with dread
and great fear has fallen upon them of
the early ruin of the leading part of their
industry. The spectre which has chilled
their souls is the wholly Improbable price
of wheat, already fallen to the limit of the
cost, quite eliminating all hope of profit,
and compelling the farmers TO ask what
Is to be done to save themselves from de-
tstruction. For IL is wholly within the
bounds Of certainty that before another
crop comes around the value of this staple
grain will be not more than IS or 80 cents
per bushel.
Hitherto the American wheat fields
have been, called the source Of the worlds
bread. Indeed, II is but a short year since
enthusiastic writers announced. with en-
inent self-assurance, that when wheat
was 81 a. bushel it had reached its low
est possible point, for the available wheat
growing area of the world had been occu-
pied, and every soul born into the world
would become an additional consumer, in
the face OF a continuous decrease Of pro
duction. So that it could not help but
happen that the price OF wheat would con
stantly advance. Until within three
years it would stand at least So a. bushel.
But, Instead of this, it is now within the
half-doliar limit, ana promising to sink
to still lower depths, as foreshadowed in
these columns less than a year ago, to
be possibly less than 50 cents a bushel,
at the ultimate market in Europe As
this soul-harrowing apparition is now
hovering over the wheat grower its ac-
cornpanying equally malefcent and de-
pressing vision starts up before the cot
ton grower and threatens him with its
portentious outstretehed. finger Of warn
ing It shakes in its hand the fiuttering
leaves Of g. little pamphlet issued by the
enumeration department. of Argentina
and stated to contain useful information
TO immigrants, workmen and capitalists
in regard to the profitable culture Of cot
ten and the vast area of richest lands
adapted bX soil and climate to this Gull
ture, of which the southern asricultur-
ist has always thought he held q firm and
unshakable monopoly.
Ard now the cotton grower may look his
brother, the wheat grower, in his sad face
and ask: Where shall we be by and by?
If the wheat grower has found no help
equivalent disaster? For if wheat has fall
len to cne-halt Of what was always sup
posed to be the lowest possible point.
where may not cotton tumble to, ana why
may Il not reach. some time in the near
future by this vast competition with vir-
gin soil; limitless supply Of the cheapest
labor--no more costly or even less SO than
the old-time slave labor, and without it's
unavoidable burden Of caring for the ire
sponsible lsborers-unlimfted capital;
farms OF enormous size like the bonanza
wheat farms that first reduced the cost of
and the best business skill ali in unison,
combined against the almost HELPLESS
southern small cotton grower?
These facts appeal to the southern
farmers and business men in the most
threatening manner. The figures here
after given show the vast extent Of the
given III this little pamphlet is to be taken
as trustworthy evidence. for the main
facts are indisputable
The profitable culture Of cotton depends
on the character Of the soil and the eli
mate, but the climate mostly Our cotton
fields are placed within the influence Of
the ocean winds, which temper the climate
and afford the needed moisture. The
whole cotton belt, from the eastern. capes
TO the shores Of the Gulf OF Mexico lies
in the very best situation with regard to
the sea for the due provision of the elimat-
ic necessities Of this crop. 20 DO the great
fields of Argentina, which even have
their sea islands. and their rich ailuvium
brought in past ages from the mountains,