The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-04-07
TOCONTROL COTTON.
How the Growers May Resulats the Price
Year by Year.

How the Growers May Resulats the Price
Year by Year.
Mr.. George C. Munro, County cor.
respondent, United States Department
of Agriculture, in writing to the At
lanta E evening Constitution about con,
trolling the price of cotton says:
have been asked to give my views
on the subject of whether the cotton
planter has it in his power to control
the price of cotton or net. In articles
written TO the agricultural journals
over forty years ago I contsaded that
the formers had, and that the only
way to make cotton raising remuner-
ative was to make our farms c2lf-sas-
tanning in every particular, 10 raise
corn, oats, wheat, rye, rotato:j, chu-
fas, groundpeas, field peas-in short
everything that wss needed to sustain
man and beast, and also 10 raisa his
own horses aud mules.
That if he pursued that plau it
would not be possible to rai&o SO much
cotton and that the small crop would
bring him in mora clear cash than the
larger ones, which would glut the mar
ket and put him where, instead Of being
the master of the situation the situation
would master him by forcing the sale
of his crop at the dictation of srsc-
ulators' prices, without enabling him
to have a ward in it; only to march
up like lamb for the slaughter and
say;
science sake allow me enough for it
to pay for the making of it. ..
While, if he pursued the other policy
he would have the buyers to come to
his doors and he could dictate his
price and sell or hold as he thought
best and have it in his power to con-
troll not only the price for his cotton,
but the price for his labor and their
efficiency. He, would have time to
make necessary improvements on his
farm, raise more lot and stable ma
nure, terrace his land bstter and keep
his terraces in better repair, so that
this continued washing away to the
sea which we see going on during
every big rain would be stopped and
prevented; our lands would improve,
appre ciate in value and those of the
North and Northwest which are sell
ing at $3.50 per acre, made high by
raising stock. corn. wheat and meat to
sell to US, would depre eciate and the
cotton producing portion of our coun-
try would become the ideal home of
the natives as well as the emigrant,
and the South would ba built up and
become the garden spot of the world.
We have the most healthful and
pleasant country on the globe to live
in, free from extremes of heat and
cold, blessed with never-failing springs
and wells OF the purest water; our
children raised free from pulmonary
diseases or liability to be cut down id
their tender years by Group or malaria.
We can raise the finest fruits and
melons, the most chickens, turkeys
and ducks and the finest hogs and
Jersey cattle. luxuriate in rich milk
and butter and every variety of nice
vegetables. We can live like princes,
neither freeze to death in the winter
nor melt in the summer. Raise
enough potatoes on one acre or sirup
to feed fifty children for a year.
Now why can't we, the most inde-
pendent and the happiest people on
earth, having eyes, see and having
brains, understands
Turn on your X-rays, Mr.. Editor,
and let us all see our innumerable ad-
vantages over other sections and SO
pitch our crops this year that we can
sell our cotton next fall for a good
price and have time to build up the
waste places. Let usget some fine
stations and stop all this needless ex.
penditure for stock that we can raise
SO easily at home. Send men to the
Legislature that will have sense
enough to see that it is better to raise
sheep than dogs; that wool and NUT.
ton will increase our revenues and
give us some of the best eating that
ever tickled the palate of an epicure
or a. Georgia cracker. Sheep will
fertilize our lands keep down the
weeds and prove the cheapest as well
as the most palatable diet we can raise
for our families.
I can't close without word on free
seed distribution. 1t is a malicious
practice of paternalism that is need
less tax on our public treasury, help
ing to embarrass our government; that
benefits no body but a set of rascally
horticulturists; that enables them to
palm off millions of dollars worth of
old worthless seed on our government
that seldom ever germinate and are a
curse, a delusion and aggraYation to
the one,that receives them. come to
this conclusion after trying hundreds
and thousands of packages for the last
twenty years.
Confessed to Several Murders.