The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-02-13
KEEP DOWN COTTON ACREAGE.

Tho K,nJ OF A,ivco Faunors Don't Want Just
Now--HoJ and tiominy tho Only Safety.
Augusta Chronicle.
Tho railroads arc handling unusually
largo shipments Of mules, sOmo Of tho
fcrtiliHcr works havo sold their entire
products and 80 great has been tho
demand for certain agricultural implo-
mcnts that dealers hnvC been unable
to got supplies from the manufacturers.
These arc some Of the statements
THAT reach us through Il trustworthy
source, and they arc statements that
arc not altogether occasion for con-
Eratulatlon. 1t Is gratifying to know
that our farmers arc in condition to
| mako these purchases, but whom they
are takcn considered with thcir posi-
bic bearing on tho next cotton crop
thoy furnish food for serious reflection.
IL Is truo no doubt that the close ccono-
my which tho farmers of the South
have practlccd for several years has
resulted in reducing their agricultural
equipment to low standard. Having
realized some money from their cotton
crop last year thoy arc spending it in
providing bcttor equipment for the
ensuing yoar. This is well. But VIC
must again urge upon thom not to
devote this now equipment to- raising
another big cotton crop. Thcre is
wo fccl tho Importance Of iteration and
roitoration.
1t cannot TO zoo strongly impressed
upon cotton producers, says tho Su-
vannah Morning Nows, that they now
have tho statistical position of cotton
more nearly in thoir own hands than
has boon tho case for ~ great many
years, ard that il tho market is smash
cd next season by an enormous crop
it will be thoir own fault. They have
bocn working for years to reduce tho
surplus carried ovor from one yoar to
the next and to got tho supply within
tho demand. 1t took hard work to
bring about the present situation. But
it will not tako very hard work to
upset tho whole arrangement and
knock tho prico back to iivo cont basis.
Commissioners Of Agriculture Nesbitt
makes acarcful and clear calculation to
show how there would be money
| IN I,0OO,OOO crop this season, and
how there would not be money in u
iO,0OO,OOO crop. His reasoning s to
tho point. 1t now remains to 500 what
the farmers will do about it.
There seems to bo somo uncertainty
among farmers how much cotton to
plant. Incy dO not know what would
constitute Ovcrproduction or in what
manner they can bo sure OF reducing
the acreage. We have suggested this
rule, and We think it Is ono that will
work out satisfactorily. Lot cvcry
| farmer pitch his provision crop first.
We do not refer to the time Of planting,
but lot him first calculate how many
acres he will have to devote to corn, oats
peas, hay, potatoes, sugar cane, and
other food crops to provide evcry need
Of the farm In the way OF provisions
for man and beast. Let him arrange
to fully meet this demand, and then
plant what land he has loft over in
cotton. II It tukcs all his land to raise
all tho hog and hominy he needs, 40
be it. Lot him raise hog and hominy
! nnd let cotton alone. If on tho other
hand after providing all necessary land
for food crops no has u large acreage
left for cotton, all right, let him plant
1t. He can afford it, If cotton is made
tho secondary instead Of tho primary
crop; If tho farmer first provides for
raising all the food crops he neods and
devotcs the balance Of his land to cot
ton there will be q sufficient reduction
in tho aggregate acreage to hold down
tho crop to money making proportions.
Our farmers have the matter in their
own hands.