The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-20
AN INTERESTING LETTER.
About Constitutional Convention,
Four Cents Cotton. Fertilizers.
Hog and HOmiuy

Mr.. Editor: Much concern is now being
manifested ahouL the Constitutional COnVen-
Itupn--forgpiln ur neglecting 100 much the
agricultural intercstS--the very lie ami sup
port OF u Country. as to the propriety "i THIS
Convention, lime will tell, hut one thlns Ger
tain, II will incur expenses that must De met
hy taxation, which will he more and more
bmrdcnsome on every professional pursuit In
prop prtion 10 the prosperity or tllurc Oh the
firm.
the people, needed IL, and as Governor Evans
argued in his campaign speech at Abbevile,
mo matter what IL costs. we believe IL ana
It's demands or COSTS vii be met 1t all hazards
If cotton sells for ic. No doubt an effort will
he made TO drop more plnms In cousins bas'
ket.
this county when the people needed wise
planning and homemade thinking that time
confrOntS us now. Cotton, The money crop, II
now below par, and under the present system
of farming. it will continue so. until necessity
brings about Il change. IL seems To he Inc
growing power OF all professional pursuits
and most especially should II govern all calcu-
iallonS and obligations OF The agricultural
Class; otherwi-e IT will be mere matter OF
time when there will be a financial wreck.
In fact some claim the "woli is nearing the
door" now. CoJon sold for less than II cost 10
raise II, and not enough of "hog ana nomlny
at home The latter is the secret OF the
whole mystery.
Our leaders have often promised relief but
90 relief: other promises are like pie crust
easily broken and OF no avail. More sell
counsel Is needed and not so much reliance
upon Others that are not identihed with our
interest.
No one can deny. everything considered,
nut that this is a great Country, climate, tein-
perale soil, productive of most everything 10
eat and wear, and yet our meat aud grain
houses are in the west, aud last, but not least,
our fertilizer or compost pens IN CharleSlon
or elsewhere rather than 1T home. THIS might
have been Unsuitable when cotton was king,
but circumstances alter cases, aud now we
must think-plan and eXecute-"lire at nome
and board at the same place The other day
was handed a pamphI let sent out by the
WAndo GuanO Company Cha rleSton, with
this label or hradline--"D0eS IL pay to use
guano under &c cotton? The answer was
iurthcoming--lt depends altogether upon The
cost OF IT. Some testimonies, all the way
from Georgia, were given TO prove that u does
pay to use guano ut SD per Ton unuer oc COZ
ion. One planter gives his experience on q
pet patch which is not good criterion Tor
general farming.
Another anomalous farmer, and doubtless
theoretical one, claims that the same amount
In cotton Is paid for u ton OF guano now as
was paid for 1t when cotton was l5c per pound.
Then 1t took 5O pounds OF cotton TO pay lor
200 pounds guano, rating IL at 40 per lon.
When ,tlnn was l0c and gunno S0O per Ton, II
took 50 pounds cotton to pay for 200 pounds
yuuno and so on down TO the present, when
cotton Is sc pound and guano al 80 per ton.
1t still takes 80 pounds cotton to pay for 2Oo
pounds guanO. Now at first this seems plau-
Sibie, when we remember the old adage that
figures don't Iie" but time for reelection and
We are convinced that they can be made TO
deceive. For instance, some two years ago
cotton was sold for SC per pound and guano
for SIC per ton. 4 hale Of cotton, (45O pounds)
then brought SS6, which Overpai1 for ton OF
gliano by $40 Now II is qui' e different. n
bnle of best cotton, $50 puunds) at &c per
pound brings S22D and guano al SD per ton
Nm the Wardo Co npauy offer theirs, would
leave balance unpaid of $3.50. difference
then and now OF $3.50 against the pl2nter.
II 6,,. bnf Of r "a WAnu0p
and reason farmer. and don't promise or pay
more for fertilizer than you can afford. or
from which there Is no value received, ana
there certainly j. none at present prices.
The guanO companies claim To be Offering
their goods at or about cost. This we VIII
not question, but one thing certain, they will
have to lower their prices or keep their goods.
Many farmers are preparing u make crop
without them while others VOW they Will not
use the bought fertilizer unless IL Is sold Tor
considerable less money. The cotton
crop was sold at a sacrifice, giving about one
fourth Of II for guanO, and now 10 plant an.
other under the same circumstances Is not
business.
Some are endcavoring to sell under guar
antced prices. This is calculated 10 deceive,
for enough sold and then the price is fixed
and fixed high enough to be sure. ~ne
down in proportion To the price OF cotton or
the farmer Will be forced 10 let IL alone.
Nevertheless raise all necessary supplies AT
home, then plant all the cation you can, max
ing every edge cut, turnng up something and
not waiting Tor something TO turn up: taking
care Of the cents and The dollars will take
care Of themselves, and we will soon be
prosperous people. NJ. b. Z.