The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-29
COST OF THE COTTON CROPS.
A BASIS OF 7.OOO.OOO BALES THE
PLANTERS ONLY HOPE.

Anything Above This Means n De-
crease in Price and the WIping Out
of ProGts-A Small Crop Gives the
Planter Time to raise His Supplies
at Home and Thus Add TO His
Profits by Cutting Down His Ex-
PendifuFes.
Atlanta, Ga. Jan. 2s.-R. 7. Nesbitt
state commissioner Of agriculture. will is
sue an important letter TO the farmers
in a few days. urging a careful and syste-
matte reduction Of the cotton acreage for
this year. as the only means by which the
cotton crop can be made to yield a profit
to the producer. The south should plant
on a 1000 O0O-bale basis, he says, which will
insure 10 cents a pound for the crop.
The question of the probable cotton ac-
reage for the coming year is" says the
commissioner, attracting worldwide at
tention, and as this subject of primary
importance to each and every farmer in
Georgia, as we'll as the entire south, we
present a few facts for the careful con-
sideration Of those who are contemplating
the attractive but deceptive prospect of
a big cotton crop and remunerative prices.
We have already endeavored to expose the
that our agricultural interests for 1896 be
built on a stronger foundation.
1.-The Cotton Growers Protective Asso-
citation is doing a good work in attracting
attention to our fatal errors in the past
and to exposing the costly folly of large
cotton crop. To induce action on this
subject among farmers is important, but
1t can only be reached when each indi-
vidual farmer is convinced that year in
and year out it is to his best advantage
TO raise his supplies at home and make
MS cotton purely a surplus crop, and
for this reason we should bring every ar
gument to bear which will help him to this
decision. Once his mind is thoroughly
made up we will see the cotton crop kept
within profitable bounds, and while the
income from this source will be main
tanned, the other crops will be cultivated
ana gathered and represent an additional
clear profit.
The south can raise cotton cheaper
IMAM any other country, and therefore no
rival can successfully enter the field if
we manage our great staple crop on sound
business principles. An American crop
which forces the price below 10 cents is
certainly too large We should plant
as nearly as possible to a 1900, goo bales
basis, which would insure fair margin
an increased use of fertilizers and other
expenses we produce 5000. 900 or 10000 900
bales every bale will, according to all
precedent, be sold at loss of at least
i, Sor perhaps 3 cents pound.
A 100000 bale crop at 10 cents will
bring $3.50, 700; 100000 bale crop will
bring Il the highest only cents d pound,
or $4,000 900 loss of $685. 600 600. not count
ing the additional cost of producing the
larger crop.
If it costs s cents pound to raise the
100000 bale CROP which is about the
average cost of production, that repre-
sents a cost of $3.50. 100000 This crop, If
sold at 10 cents, will net the farmers
$O.O00OO0 over and above the cost of
production, with plenty of provisions for
another year Nine million bales at a
cost of cents per pound for production
Will represent $3.50 900 900, and If sold for
cents will only bring S3l5, 100000, loss of
S45, 100000 to the producers. Adding the
pront on the lesser crop to the loss on
of a reduced acreage and a smaller CROP"