The Hawaiian gazette., 1897-03-30

eN the Nltiu NltupuA AuSAtNaS4uS Nut
cost OF cultivation" We could furnish
more impressive statements OF the
values Of fertilizers. but we have
chosen TO use the results of these prae-
teal men.
In the purchase of prepared fertiliz-
ers Il Is imperative that each State
shall protect the planters against the
I sale of bogus material II is also, In
/ the instances Of farmers who are rent
! erS. required that legislative provision
. be made, IN the form OF an ''Agricul-
tural Holdings Act" TO secure to those
/ renters the full value OF any vested
improvements" they put into the own
/ er's land.
With improved methods OF cultiva-
ton and a judicious use Of fertilizers
| the best variety must be selected for
each locality and soil, Experiments
made AT Calhoun. North Louisiana,
showed that when thirty-two varieties
were planted side by side, and under
the same conditions. one variety gave
$50 pounds OF lint. and one other 129
hounds. the other thirty varieties rang
ing in WELD between these amounts.
We have spoken OF the measures by
which the area can be reduced and
the volume of production maintained.
We stand firmly against a reduction
Of the American supply of cotton. even
before 4 strong opposite opinion. If
we controlled the production of wool.
or even the balance of cotton. il would
be smother matter. But wool of which
total this country grows about one
tenth. is expanding; the older cotton
growing coEutrieS are maintaining or
increasing their supplies; and even
Russia, 4 government report informs
us, has begun 10 grow cotton. and ''in
the space Of ten years has become able
70 grow dne-third Of Whist she con-
sumes. and as = result has reduced
her imports from the United States
so per cent" These data may be used
by others 70 show the futility OF the
South maintaining its volume of cot
ton. But reduce the production. and
the direct advantage, if there be any,
goes 10 the foreigner. and year by
year he Will produce a rger per cent. (
Of the total supply. Even at a present |
temporary loss the South must hold
its ground. Shall we. who produce
nearly three-fourths of the worlds
cotton, make the first move backward
Cotton is the great product Of the
South. and the industry must not be
wreSted from us But il is only in
lessening the cost OF production that
the volume of supply can be maintain
ed. We can. alter our methods to pro-
duee at less than the old countries
Certain OF those are now feeling the
pressure. A recent advice from Eu
rope says: THE Turkestan cotton
growers have petitiOned for higher
duties on the American cotton, be-
cause they. cannot produce at such low
prices as the Southern States" A
United States government report tells
US that the sheep farmers OF the North
west have improved the breeds of
sheep so much that the WELD OF wool
has been doubled In 1850 the aver
age clip was PSI pounds: in 1870. 367
pounds. and in 1890. 5.O4 pounds.
Here is our example: one sheep, eat
ing the same food. and yielding what
was formerly the wool Of two,
5-DIvERsTFICATIoN OF CROPS.
Natural conditions. especially eli
mate. determine that certain crops are
adopted TO given regions Cotton is
the great product adapted TO the eli
mate OF the South. hence the concentra-
ton upon that crop. The question is,
Have We concentrated too much and
to the exclusion of other crops, even
those that furnish the dSily needs of
Iife2'' There is no doubt OF this. Our
mules and cattle are fed with corn
grown in the Northwest The planters
family and help eat vegetables, meat,
and even eggs which he never pro-
duCed An agricultural newspaper ex-
pert 5om Milwaukee told US PERSONAL
" tNt during q tour Of two months
through certain OF the cotton States
he found the country people eating
fresh vegetables which had been grown
in Wisconsin and California, and some
we're using canned goods in summer
The first step in diversiication of
products is 10 provide those foods that
The planter, his cattle and his commun-
ity require. The planter must live
within himself. and in addition furnish
all Of the farm products for which
there is q ready local market-Eeget-
ables. fruits. meats, milk. butter and
eggs If then, the cotton crop is small,
or money scarce from low prices, the
planter is provided for. so far as he
and his are concerned That is not all.
The planter can grow the corn his
mules and cattle require for fifteen
cents q bushel: and what does it cost
him to bring it from the Northwest?
The Western farmers price: the COM
mission Of the elevator owner, who
puts il on the rail: the railroads
charges. and, finally, the profit Of a
second dealer who sells It in small
quantities 70 the pIsnter-au these
charges bring up the price TO fifty
cents. and the difference of thirtyfve
cents has TO be paid out OF the hard
cash received for cotton
Ii the first great step is taken in the
diversifying Of crops, and each sgricuI-
tural community produces all it re-
quires for consumption. in which d.
rection is the next step? The South
some time ago largely gave up Compel
ing with the North and West in mutton
and wool. Just as it Is now proposed
that We shall make way for our rivals
in cotton production in other countries
The center OF cereal production in
this country has crossed the Missis-
sippi7 and not only has the North
given way TO the West in grain supply,
but the Southern States during the de-
eade ending with 1890. as shown By
the census reports. have decreased the
cereal area 1.34z. s73 acres We must
expand our production OF meats. and