The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-12-02


IL IS not too early for the farmer TO COM
mence to lay his plans FOR next year. Prac-
tically the close OF November closes the
year. for by that date the crops have all
been gathered and Earnered or sold in
market pece mbcr is not much Of a work
month on the average farmer-at least
in Georgia. The farmer. as well as his
Iaborers. feels like taking "A sort OF ante
Christmas rest. indeed. the holiday feeling
has entered his bones like rheumatism,
and although the Christmas fever IS not
a. painful or dangerous as the Joint fever,
4 IS apt 20 antagonize equally the inclina-
tion 10 work.
In our experience on our own farm In
southwest Georgia. the little more than
three weeks Of worktlmo in December was
found 10 be OF little value. and we can
fau iUto the practice Of having our farm
labor contracts TO expire November @-th,
excepting only hands" enough 70 guide
the rwo-horse plows which Were kept az
work whenever the ground was not too
wet II cact. we came to consider Decem'-
her as practically the month in which
the farm Cpe r1ti9us Tor crop should conf
mencc. Instead Of waiting until New Year s..
Ae know that plans have greatly chaus.d
during the past twenty years. and taat
tn that time there has been decided
Increase I'm the number OF rented farms.
ana ira the proportion OF farm work done
era "shares" or for part Of the crop" Yet
we consider the farming that is based on
paving wages as the better system under
tbe present conditions.
Looking back cvev tho year tho first re-
mark that would naturally DO made IS
th- much more satisfactory price that has
been obtained for cotton. We DO not
know exactly what has been tho Hvcraso
price. hur certainly the farmers have re-
ceivvd NOT less than 60 per cent moro per
pound than they received last year. and
81 to 81 per cent more than the average
for several years past. What IS the cnUso
OF this Improvement IN the market? We 90
nlt iay claim 10 expert knowledge, but we
believe that the great falling on iu prodUc-
ri1u as compared with last year Is the
prime ard main cause. We have made
about ...s.NJ bales less than we did last
year. Another cause that has operated 10
some extent iu advancing the price az cot
ton is the general revival Of business ana
Increased consumption. We doubt il the
financial legislation ~ congress or the
financial ezpsiieuts 90 cleveland and Carr
ls-- have haI anything 90 DO With the
partial revival ol business. The reduction
iu tLc AREA iu cotton Ga~ haas SOM, thing
- do with the decreased production and
o. this extent has helped go increase che
psice Tle main cause. however, ot the
short crop was tile widespread uufavor-
aIle conditions. This uufaVoraIlc cnnJi-
Uon has hsen most noticeable m Texas
aHl ass result taat state haas gathered
n-t lrlo more than half of the yield OF
last year
Sow. then. what 's che prospect Tor next
yeare Nui che stimulus ~ present prices
u. the staple, lud particularly if tlo mar
E-t advances along toward rHeiIg. induce
-ae planting " r .Arge area ueNt Year, hte
believe taar it wis., taat tHe Mnss ul cot
tau farmers. 81 u1t restrained ly ursu-
meu- and Tine loElr uf sound reason and
past experience. win plant "ah creation
=. cotton We already have heard SONS
farmers talk THAR way. such farmer i8
apt 20 lie a. little quiet about his plans. Ho
prefers that others shall think that Dice win
nor Increase his cotton area. but he really
intends co DO that very fring. To wishes
that every other farmer would curtal.
while he win slviy enlarge. It is SHE
sam. Ola game and win work out tho same
OLD way
I'ut we are confident that there IS
large number ~ sensible farmers who
have leaEued that tLe true policy Is 10
produce cotton az less cost Co produce
g comparatively smaller number Uf bales
20 q greatly, very rreaur reduced area.
ana at a very greatly diminished cost per
pound
Farmers aye making some progress Ga
'slum. ANA are Uot -o.nu to put can the
iat .n The free hy producing d hugo crop
ntAt year 20 "a cost of an & cents rer
g llH. with the probability OF selling 10
lar tL- same. 81 possibly less
X. J. REDDTNg.