The Van Buren press., 1895-03-09
FARMER AND PLANTER
CHEAP COTTON.


IN Present Result DenoraliEing TO the
Southern Farmer. Bat Nay Provo benen-
cent n the End.
While the cotton crop will average
Is per cent. better than last year, u
does not show the high rate OF yield
usual up to the year 1901 The entire
southern crop will not 60 much above
$3.50, 900 bales. l base my estimate
upon the percentage of gain shown in
one county, and the crop being Q good
average one. / conclude it will be
fair average for the entire cotton belt
The price is lower than We have ever
sold cotton, and the effect is demoraliz-
ing and depressing. The average net
price will not exceed four cents, sum
less than cost Of production under the
most economical management That
1t may be produced at small
profit, even at four cents, Is
possible, but systems must be rev.
olutionized before this result will
have been obtained. The primitive
methods necessary to negro labor will
not answer in periods of close competi-
tion. While this abundant and cheap
class of labor can be utilized to sue
cessful driving out of all competition,
we have made of it cumbersome
stumbling block. Had the price OF
cotton been five cents per pound just
at the close of the civil war, the south
would have gone to work differently,
end would to-day be in first-class finan-
cial condition. 1t is nonsense to blame
the negro; he has merely followed
where we have led, and is in nowise
responsible for our failure. The
southern planter il. lnotoriously ex-
travagant, and has lived beyond his
lncome-the lesson has been learned
by the negro, and to-day both are bank
rupt and in debt. The negro is now
demoralized and restless, anxious to
seek new fields, and the Liberian gov
ernment, offering some slight induce
ments, is now creating quite senti-
ment among this class favoring emil
grafton to that republic. Doubtless
general exodus would occur were the
means of transportation sufficient to
accommodate all who desire to go.
Our people are Indifferent, and no
longer care to prevent their departure.
Cotton production does not pay to-day.
and the skies of the future seem no
brighter. The large plantations are
no longer profitable, and are doomed.
1t is well that this should be SO. Own
ers are now willing to subdivide and
sell in lots to suit, which will do much
to make the lands more valuable and
to fill the country with thrifty class
of home owners. 1t is well to remark
just here that our delta land is more
capable of supporting dense popula-
tion than any other in the country. A
few acres properly managed will sup
port a large family. The climate is
delightful, the winters mild, the sum-
mers never excessively warm. The
land is wonderfully productive, and
requires no fertilizing beyond that
furnished by nature, under a wise sys-
TEN of cultivation. Here the grape
and fig are at home. Our people them
selves do not realize what fine coun-
try they possess. But am off my sub
ject again. At four cents net for cot
ton, those who rent land at four dol
lars and five dollars per acre will be
unable to pay rent and expenses, while
1t is possible to have made double the
value Of cotton grown on this land had
it been devoted to other crops,
corn, potatoes or hay. AS we
have always boasted that we
could down" European competition
by producing cotton at less cost than
they, we now have the chance to prove
it, and that's the rub. Pm afraid we
have been caught boasting. am sat
isfied that very few can produce cotton
for less than four cents. The writer
has done so this year. and can do so
again, but prefers a crop that will give
q greater profit. have tract of land
consisting of four acres, which pro-
duced eighty bushels of corn per acre
the present year, and another field OF
ten acres that produces fifty bushels.
All of this land is affected injuriously
by sipe water when the Mississippi
river water is very high. This year
there was no high water. These lands
can be tile drained, l have no doubt,
and shall try the experiment soon.
Will, at end of the crop, give my years
work and profit for benefit OF those in
terested.-Cor. Practical Farmer