The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-03-23
The Cotton Growers Protective Association


FARMERS ADVISED no DIVER
SHY CROPS.
The Area Devoted TO Cotton VIII
i Yield More Profitable Returns
Il The Kind of Protection Needed TO,
Southern Farmers.
The following address was issued by
the Cotton Growers' Protective AS,
sociation, which met few days ago
in Augusta, Ca, and, which advises
the growing OF food crops as the surest
road to agricultural prosperity in the
i South:
To the Cotton Growers of America:
The Cotton Growers Protective AS
sociation of America, in convention as
8 ibled at Augusta, Ga, on this 10th
March, 1897, again come to you with
an urgent appeal for cooperative ac-
tton in planting the crop for 1897. 1t
is q matter OF extreme congratulation
that the appeal made to you In 1895
and 1896 was 80 generally responded to
and that the crop of 1895, made upon
the diminished acreage, did have the
/ SnCSo VI EESdbiy luCT6hSlD& bu0 prlC6S
of cotton. The crop of 1895, though
estimated to be 3, 400 900 bales short of
the crop of 1894, was in the markets of
| the world worth more by nearly $780,
I 100000. In the face of this result to
| abandon the idea of diminished acre
age would be to sound the retreat in
the face OF victory. 1t Is the consenus
OF opinion among the best thinkers
that If by any means the cotton crop OF
Il A al <,lr \ - L. l. Il
| limits of 100000 to 100000, bales
per annum for<fiye years, the people
of these southern states would be the
richest and most prosperous agricuitu-
raj people in the world. How can this,
be brought about? The answer is
with you. We appeal to your self in
terest and patriotism to do all in your
power to keep down the production of
the staple. Do not abandon the ground
you have won. Fight on upon the
lines laid down, make the cotton states
clover and grasses for your hogs to run
on, diversity your crops, and when you
have done all this the area devoted to
cotton will yield more profitable re-
turns than II you sought to increase
the number of your bales. While the
reduction OF The acreage to be planted
In cotton for the sole purpose of reduc-
Ing the size of the crop may be i'm
practicable, the increase of area plant
ed In food crops must inevitably bring
prosperity to cotton growers, irrespec-
tive of the size of the cotton crop.
There has mover been time in the
history OF our section of the country
that o movement looking to the in
creased production of corn, hay, oats,
hogs and other food crops, was so i'm
portant and necessary.
1t is felt by the most thoughtful men
that we are entering upon year of
great uncertainties, and that even
small cotton crop may fail to give ade-
quate returns for its production. The
mutterings OF a storm are disturbing
values and unsettiing all business cal
culations. The prudent man will
trim his sails to meet it. With the
commerce of the country interrupted
by war-and war may come-cottOn
would be unstable except at nominal
prices. Every consideration, then, of
patriotism, OF self-interest and of pru.
dence dictates that you adhere strict
ly to the rule Of diminished acreage.
Earnest men are earnestly working to
lead you and to guide you into pros
perity. Do not let them labor in vain,
but cheerfully and hopefully respond
to their appeal.
In conclusion, we desire to say to
every cotton grower, whether his crop
Is ten bales or one thousandsbales, see
to 1t first that your place Is self-sus
tanning land we mean by this to be
sure you grow on the farm an sbund-
ance OF corn, meat, hay, oats, peas, po-
tatoes, ETC., for all the people on the
place, both white and colored. II the
tenant will not produce these articles,
sell them to him and keep the money
In your own pocket, in place of send.
ing 1t out of the country. When you
have done this, or provided for it, grow
what cotton you can.
IL every farmer or planter in the
cotton growing district will make this
his rule of action, and live up to it
conscientiously, 1t will accomplish the
result we so much desire of making us
all prosperous and happy, whether
your cotton, which will be surplus
crop, sell for high or low price. We
would urge You again to maze sure
first OF cheap, home grown living for
all the people and ali the animals on
the place, and then make what cotton
you can.
We address our argument to each in
dividual farmer. Every farmer may
measurably control the cost,of produc-
ing his cotton.
Let each individual farmer resolve
III hio oWb lnlpu anu WlJnOuG regard TO
what others may do, to cut down the
cost OF producing his cotton. BY con-
fining his area to the best folds and
to the beet parts of his field by con-
centrating his skill, his industry and
fertilizers on a smaller area he will
produce his cotton cheaper. Every
farmer knows that the better the land,
the better preparation and cultivation,
the more liberal the amount OF we'll
balanced fertilizers he applies per acre,
the less will be the cost per pound of
cotton.
Put only the best land in cotton and
corn and the poorer lands in rye, peas,
etc. This will certainly reduce your
crop product in the aggregate, but it
will much more reduce the cost.
So that, in any event, whatever
others may do, you will be all right.