The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-13
About Cotton Acreage.

Let no man be deceived by all this tomiool-
ery in reference to reducing the cotton acre
age.
II YOU planted no cotton at ALL the markers
of the world would not be seriously Affected
If Abbeville county refused to plant a pale'
the cotton buyers and mill men woula never
know it, unless they saw statement 10 lhat
effect in the newspapers.
IF every planter in South Carolina refused
to plant a seed and not one bale was made
within the borders Of the com monwealth, the
mill men and cotton buyers in New YORK
and LIVERPOOL would still not discover the ab-
sence of South Carolina cotton.
If the great State of Georgia should join
South Carolina in the foolish idea of reducing
the acreage IN cotton, and not plant stalk o.
cotton in 1895, the great cotton centres would
never miss the cotton that is usually pro
duced in these States.
The whole State of South Carolina produces
some GOOOOO bales Then suppose the great
State Of Georgia produces one-third more
say, 600 bales. All that would scarcely re-
duce the crop fifteen per cent.
One extended drouth in July over the cot
ton belt would affect the crops more than all
this.
OF course sensible people, who do their own
thinking and pay their own debts are NOT 60
ing to be governed by the resolutions which
an irresponsible mob may pass. but there
may be really patriotic citizens who may ac-
cept the suggestions about reducing the acre
age, without giving the matter much thought.
All such people will be hurt
The Press and Banner does not presume to
advise anybody. We only speak OF matters
as they occur 70 US.
The acreage and the price OF cotton is a
question which every farmer should answer
for himself He may depend upon the world
being able to take care of ITSELF The main
question with him should be, how he can best
take care of himself and family.
If he can make money by producing cotton
at four or five cents, then II is his duty TO
plant all the cotton that he can He ought TO
enrich the SOIL and make as much per acre as
he possibly can. The more the better.
Is he can save money by planting upland
corn, while waiting for the weather 10 gel
warm enough to plant cotton, then he ought
to add all the corn he can plant. If he wants
something TO do after he has planted his cot
ton, and while he Is waiting for it TO be ready
for the plow or the hoe, then he ought to
plant more corn, more potatoes, or more oi
something else. II he wants to work after
>"laying by" his cotton he might have his sor-
ghum cane ready to grind, while be is waiting
for the cotton TO open. If he wants TO ea1
meat next year, then he ought 10 provide
himself with pig or two in the spring: If he
Is short of meat he might get milk COW and
10 some extent feed himself and children on
milk and butter. Milk and butter are the
greatest of all the luxuries, but great many
"cottontots' have neither.
Let every farmer survey his own farm. Let
him calculate the best or most profitable
crops TO be put in each separate field or acre
and then let him pay no sort of attention tc
foolish resolutions which thoughtless or pre-
sumptuous citizens may adopt.
II you have cotton farm, then raise cotton
with all your might. You will likely need al
much money next fall as you needed last fall
and if you have limited supply of cotton
how are you going to get II"
If cotton should go up in price next Fal
and you had planted a small crop in obedi
ence to the dictates of an irresponsible mob
the probability is that you might use Ian
guage which is not found in the Sunday
school books. But plant for four cents ant
make your expenses TO correspond.
Do your own thinking. Plant such crops az
you can make most profitable. Don't be 6
clam and get ruined by obeying any foolish
resolutions which an irresponsible and igno
rant mob may adopt. No two farms are alike
and there is no such thing as making cas-
iron rules with any idea that they will At all