The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-09
COTTON ACREAGE FOR 1895.

Latham ana Alexander of New York
have sent out report Of the meeting
of the Memphis Cotton Exchange, Dec.
90, 1895, which : Of great interest 10
the agricultural South We reproduce
1t here in full:
The cotton crop Of 1891 % aggreeat-
ed the enormous total Of 9,@l.-5
bales. and greatly exceeded the require
ments Of the worlds manufacturers.
The marketing Of this enormous crop
depressed prices to such an extent that
values were the lowest known IN the
past fifty years.
The commercial value Of the total
crop was 1921 ,037 $50, and only exceed
ed the short crop Of 1892 sl2,242,-
0lS. although the production was J.
300 $50 bales greater. This enormous
crop, with It's propoTtionately low price
Melted The producer less money than
will the present crop with a smaller
acreage and a production Of nearly one
third less in bales.
1t hayiag been practically demon
strated b. the results of the present
season that a small crop Of cotton ae-
tuallv brings to the producer more
money than an extremely large crop,
and that the Southern cotton prOduc-
ers having grown their supplies at
home, thereby making cotton the sur
plus. or money crop, are generally in
they
have been in years, ii is unquestionably
to the interest of farmers not to pro-
duce a crop greater than the require
ments of manufacturers. The growing
of large crop Of cotton entails proper
nonately greater expense than a small
crop. The cultlvating, picking, GIN
ming, freight, etc, in marketing the adj
ditional bales Is an immense Item, es-
pecially 50 when prices are deprecated
by the fact that the crop is large one.
Experience Of the past has demonstrate
ed that IN a large crop year, with de-
pieciated prices OF cotton, rental and
realty values also depreciate, whereas,
with small crop and better prices,
rental and realty values improve pro
portionately. The high range of prices
which have prevailed this season as
compared to last season has been, we
fear, the means Of stimulating on the
part of planters a desire to increase the
acreage of cotton for the coming year,
and consumers are now holding off IN
laying in supply Of the staple under
a belief that an increase in the acreage
will depreciate present prices ana ena-
! bic them to get what they need at low
er values.
Another matter for farmers to bear
III mind, Is that at the present time
when there is remote possibility Of
a war, If such should occur, the newt
able result thereof would be to depre-
ciate the value Of cotton and appreciate
the value of all food crops therefore
be it
Resolred, That the Memphis Cotton
Exchange urgently recommends to the
producers that the production of home
supplies be made the first consideration
in planting operations for the coming
year, and the acreage of cotton be not
increased over that Of last year.
Resolced, That we approve and en-
dorse the American Cotton Growers
Association for bringing about he re
duction III the acreage OF the crop now
being marketed, and we respectfully
urge the Hon. Hector d. Lane, the
President and his CONDUCTORS, the Pres
| idents Of the various cotton States o.
said Association, to continue IN the
good work, and to tgke up the matter
at the earliest practicable moment and
urge 1t again upon the attention OF the
cotton producers CT the South.
Resolved, That the various Cotton
Exchanges throughout the South be
and a:e hereby requested to cooperate
with this Exchange in this matter, an6
tina. the Southern newspapers are also
requested to publish these resolutions.