Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-13
Threc-Ccnt Cotton.
(New Orleans Plcayune.)


The viclsburg Post recently printed
letter from J. b. Wilson, a Mississippi
farmer. which made the following state
ment:
I'm 1894 / made 300 bales OF cotton
with six mules: in 1895 / made 2T bales
with eight mules, and in 1896 l made 251
bales of cotton with eight mules. l
worked 300 acres in cotton each year. In
this section 1894 was an ideal year for
raising cotton; 1895 was very wet year;
1886 was a very dry year. Not single
days work was done in the field with
any other mules during the three years
than as above mentioned During the
three years 1 have had no trouble In
raising short cotton at cents per
pound"
Nothing is said Of the quality Of the
land. or Of the number OF hands en-
ployed. or OF the wages paid, or Of any
other particulars concerning the growing
OF the several crops mentioned; but It
Is taken for granted that these were all
Of an average common in cOttOn-planting
I'm Mississippi. If that be so, then IL was
his excellent management which enabled
this planter 10 realize such good results.
Probably ne raised on his land the corn
and much of the other necessities for
men and beasts consumed in the work.
Then everything I'm the solving OF the
problem OF Scent cotton turns on the
management of such business.
" one man, under ordinary circum-
stances, can raise scent cotton In MIS-
slsslppi then any other man, under the
same conditions. who will use the same
good management, can do likewise. IL
has not yet been realized that farming
I'm this country has got to be reduced 80
careful and systematic methods just as
Is required OF any other business. There
was a time when farming was carried on
bv main strength and awkwardness; or,
at best, according 10 routine.
The time is coming when all gropers
and blunderers will make failures and
be forced out OF the business, and farm
ing will become a carefully-considered
and scientific industry, when success VIII
not be measured by the number Of acres
a man can cultivate. but by the products
which he can gather from single acre.
II there are already to be found
farmers who can grow cotton at cost
OF cents a pound, they have an enor-
nous advantage over those who cannot
make Il for less than 5. This Is TO be
the turning point in American farming
The Americans have got TO compete with
the farmers OF every other country. Their
advantage has heretofore been in the
cheapness and the virgin fertility OF their
lands as compared with those In Europe.
But to-day Australia, New Zealand, ana
the temperate regions Of South America
and Africa are being settled up and de-
veloped by Europeans. Their lands are
cheap and fertile, and their countries are
new and inviting development, and their
farmers enjoy many OF the advantages
which were, not so many years ago, ex-
clusively found in the United States.
The competition Of those people has got
10 be met By the American farmers. ana
this can only be done by the employment
of the most careful management in their
business. IL our people can make S-cent
cotton. they have solved the problem OF
competition with any other country. They
have yet to solve 1t ia the matter OF
wheat-growiDg. These are matters that
/ require the utmost consideration ana
= study. The Picayune invites from Mr..
7 Wilson. OF from any other grower OF cot
ton, the details as TO the cost of grow
ing II. and the methods by which the
best results are TO be obtained.