The Van Buren press., 1895-02-02
FARMER AND PLANTER
PRODUCTION AND PRICE.
The Direct Cause Of the Prevailing 10"
Price of COtton.s

The Direct Cause Of the Prevailing Low
Price Of Cotton.i
The direct cause of the low price OF
cotton is over production, or Tine nat
ural adjustment Of the price to the sup
ply. That this condition will eventu-
ally correct itself, if allowed to con-
tinue, is q natural law OF polltical
economy, but, while the correction or
adjustment is being wrought, anotner
natural law will also be at work-the
law of the survival of the fittest Inc
weaker will be crushed out and the
stronger made more strong the poor
be made poorer, the rich richer. FROM
him that Hath not shall be taken away'
even that which he hath" The ap.
preaching disaster should be modi1ed
II not prevented.
The cotton planters Of the south are
divided into two classes: First, Those
who raise cotton as a surplus or money
crop and at the same time produce
their own supplies. Second, Those
who raise cotton and from the pro-
ceeds Of it's sale purchase their sup
plies.
Those of the first-class, who are not
in debt, are in better condition than
they imagine themselves. They should
further diversity and rotate their
crops, practice green manuring and
raise live stock. The reasons for this
are many and evident.
The majority of the other class are
truly in deplorable condition. They
have been running on credits adj
vanced by merchants who require
that so much acreage be devoted to
the production Of cotton, and cotton
alone is required in payment for sup
plies. As the merchant now sees it, it
would be all the more to his interests
should the farmer devote his entire
time and energies to the production
of cotton. The farmer is forced to
sacrifice all other crops to the produc-
tion of the one staple. He is always
one year behind with his debts, and
generally more than one.
The most plausible method of relief
that suggests itself is that the farmer
(until he is out OF debt, at least agrees
to furnish the merchant in payment
for his supplies advanced, not cot.
ton, but SO many pounds OF pork,
bacon, beef, mutton, wool, hay,
SO many bushels OF corn, oats, potatoes,
rye, peas, peanuts; SO many gallons of
sirup, vinegar, wine; SO many chickens,
eggs, turkeys, ducks, guineas, etc.
This would compel both diversity and
rotation of crops and provide abundant
ly for the home table. The fertility of
the soil would be increased instead of
decreased as under the present system.
And in this connection it might be re-
marked that the Importance of and
profits from increased soil fertility are
not fully appreciated. 1t has been the
history of all agricultural countries
that the virgin soil after continued
cultivation is SO reduced in fertility
that there is period of agricultural
depression, which is eventually fol-
lowed by the rebuilding of the soil
fertility. The majority of the cotton
lands are now so reduced that the lost
fertility must be restored if profit is ex-
pected. The process is slow, but the
results lasting.
To illustrate the profits resulting
from the cultivation of fertile soil, sup
pose A. cultivates, at the cost of 81. so
per acre, three acres of cotton, pro-
ducing 500 pounds Of lint, worth six
cents per pound, and B. cultivates, at
the cost of $3.50 per acre, one acre OF
cotton, producing 500 pounds OF lint
worth six cents. The cotton in both
cases is worth $50 on the market, but
A. clears only $3.50 per acre, while b.
clears S22,. so per acre.-Prof. C. L. New.
man, Arkansas Experiment Station,