The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-03-25
FARM WORK FOR MARCH.


! The Southern Cultivator Urges Farmers to
Keep Down the Cotton Acreage.
In this month, except for unfore.
seen delays, the main body of the cot
ton crop throughout the South will be
put into the ground, and while most
farmers have decided on the number
of acres they intend to plant, it is not
too late perpaps to utter a word of
warning to those who contemplate
putting in a large area at the expense
of the more important provision crops.
We use the words more important"
advisedly, and as supporting this asser.
ton, we point to the general condition
of the farmers to-day, as compared
with what it was at this time last year
and the year before. Then they were
hampered in their preparation for an.
other crop by lack of sufficient sup
plies for man and beast; TO-DAY the
barns and storehouses groan under the
accumulation of food of all kinds.
Though the profits on the past years
operations may not have reached a
high figure, farmers, as rule, are now
resting secure, while in all other occu'
pations and professions there is q fever
ish anxiety and apprehension. Having
taken no chances they have fortified
themselves against market fluctuations
and thus their investment is more GER
tain than if placed in stock companies
and syndicates. No one will deny
that this is a good and favorable
change and yet there is disposition
in some quarters, by reducing the
provision crop and enlarging OF cot
ton, to cut off the only means which
will maintain us in our position of
assured security. The disposition to
purchase mules and guano is usually
an indication of an increased cotton
acreage. To those men who have al
ready invested in additional stock and
fertilizers for the purpose Of planting
largely in cotton, we would urge the
following reasons why they should
pause and reconsider their plans; In
the first place, if each farmer assists in
keeping down the cotton acreage be to
that extent inceases the chances of
profit for all. On the other hand
if there is general and large
increase in cotton production, the
individual farmers who restrict
their acreage TO reasonable bonds
stand less chance of loss, should the
price fall below the cost of production,
which it almost inevitably will, than
those who plant heavily in the hope
that by some means Providence will
bless their lack of business sagacity
and save them from the consequeLc C es
of their folly.
Another cogent reason for limited
cotton crop, and full, even super
abundant provision supply, is the un-
settled condition of national affairs
the world over. Should the present
disturbed relations between European
governments result in conflict, no one
canipredict the extent to which, either
as TO time or geographical boundary,
hostilities might reach, still less could
we estimate the disastrous effects to
our immediate agricultural interests.
The mere rumor of war between Ger
many and England caused the provis-
ion markets in Chicago to advance
several points, with a corresponding
depression in cotton prices at other
places.
The following figures taken from
the report of the Department of Agri
culture, give comparative estimate
of the corn crop of the South for three
years: 1893, 435, IA, 766 bushels; 1894,
4s3, 431, 1862 bushels; 1895, COZ, 665, OH
bushels. The estimated grain crop of
the South for 1895 including corn,
oats, and wheat will make grand to-
tai of over 700, 900, 900 bushels.
As result of this large provision
crop, and the better prices for cotton
following the reduced area for 1895,
everything has taken on brighter
aspect, and the farmers all over the
country are in better condition than
for years. Experience and common
sense both urge the obvious conclu
sion, but will farmers profit by the
opportunity which their vantage
ground gives them2 Will they raise
their bread and meat and cotton at a
profit, or will they simply plant cotton
in order that others may realize the
benefit2 The coming month must an
swer these questions. May the decis.
ion be such that the farmers will come
out on the winning side, when the re.
suits are summed up at the close of
1895.