The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-24
COL. REDDING THINKS IT WILL
REACH $10,OoO.OoO BALES.
ADVICE TO SOUTHERN FARMERS
Select Best Land, FertiIize Literally,
and Plant Good Seed Raise Az
erage of One Bale
An Acre

letter this week.
Our deliberate conviction is that the
cotton acreage has never been in the least
affected by the action of the many con-
yentions that have been called for that
purpose. We are in hearty sympathy
with the motives that inspire the MEM
bers of these convention, assuming
the entire sincerity and singleness Of pur-
pose of every one who participates, and
we would be very glad indeed to see sue
cess crown their efforts. But, in the
very nature of the case, and especially
the human nature that is involved, such
efforts will always fail. 1T is wasting
words to appeal to the patriotism OF the
farmers. not because farmers are not pa
triotic. for they certainly are not one
whit behind other professions in that
regard. 1t is not question of patriot
ism, but of common sense and business
sagacity, and the appeal should be made
accordingly. 1t is utterly useless, in our
judgment, to try to induce farmers to
simply reduce acreage, and thus contrib
ute-each his quota--to the aggregate
reduction, and so reduce production and
advance the price.
We attended the convention lately held
in Augusta. Ca. and while fayorably
impressed with the sincerity and homes
ty of purpose of the patriotic gentlemen
who composed the meetings, we are not
impressed with the conviction that any
appreciable influence would be extended
on the policy of farmers. Even granting
that few thousand farmers may be in
duced, by the action of the convention,
to curtail their coming crop acreage, the
aggregate amount would not be "a drop
in the bucket" toward sensibly affecting
the aggregate acreage. We firmly believe
that we could not possibly do a greater
service to those farmers who may read
these lines than TO convince them that
there will be an unusually large crop
planted this year. 1t is impossible to
reach every farmer. and it would be use
less to expect to convince every one who
may be reached, but we wish to put the
readers of the Constitution on notice
| that there will be an overwhelming cot
| tonacreage planted this year; if the sea-
| sons prove favorable, we may expect a
| crop of at least 100000 bales, and that
| the price will go down to 5 cents pound
! What then? If we can arouse the fears
/ of one man that cotton will bring only
) cents pound, what will be his refuge
of safety from disaster and loss? We an
swer by simply reducing the cost pei
pound of making his crop. If he will re-
duce the cost of production to 4 or
| cents pound he will suffer no great loss
II he can do still better by producing cot
| ton at a cost of 4 cents, or less, per pound
! he will make some money, even in the
midst of general failure and widespread
loss and disaster. We cannot do better
than reprint portions Of an article pub
L ~, Il a.
''The true and only practical solution
in our humble Judgments found in the
| address to each individual farmer. L
should be based on the assumption 9TH,
certainty that the great majority Of tn,
farmers are going to do just as they hav,
done in the past. The individual farme
must be urged to pursue the policy tina
will most likely be best for himself, re
CARELESS Of what others may do, or know
ing that others are going to do differ
| emily The whole argument is in a nut
shell, although it has its stem, it's branch
es, its roots, its flowers and its promise
all snugley packed away in the kerne
to be unfolded as the idea terminates AM
developes. 1t is to
PRODUCE COTTON AT LESS COST
''That is the general idea, and it's de
velopment is
| INTENSIVE FARMING.
SIT means to select only the best land
fertilize literally, plant the very best
seed, and employ the most effective meth.
DDS OF cultivation. 1t means one bale OF
cotton to the acre on an average. il
means that not acre of land is to be
Il rSlnv TOD <hn% v,n% Il
preparation, liberal fertilizing, the best
seed, ETC., be made to produce not less
than one-half to three-fourths Of bale
This is the way to widen the difference
between the
| COST MARK AND SELLING PRICE.
if 100000 bales bep reduced, and the
degree, the cost Of production; he can
| not control the selling price, but must
take what is offered sooner or later.
1.-THE farmer who adopts this plan and
resolves that his cotton shall not cost
him more than 4 or cents pound, all
| told, ready for market, is all right, even
if 100000 bales be produced, and the
price rules at 6 cents. He will make less
| cotton because he cannot make cheap cot
| ton on poor land, and must, therefore,
greatly reduce his accustomed area. il
other farmers adopt this sound policy,
| they will also be all right, whatever the
| price If the farmers pretty generally
| adopt the same policy, they will reap a
double benefit-for such general adoption
would inevitably work large decrease in
acreage and a considerable decrease in
the aggregate crop production, and the
price would advance.
"The argument applies with the same
| force to all the crops and to all the oper-
ations of the farm, but we have here
considered only the cotton crop"
| 1t certainly needs no argument to con-
| vince any sensible and experienced farm
err that it costs less to produce cotton on
a rich or well-fertilized and well-prepar-