The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-03-25
The Cotton Growers Protective Association
FARMERS ADVISED TO DIVER
SHY CROPS.

The Area Devoted to Cotton viii
Yield More Profitable Rcturns--
The Kind OF Protection Needed for
Southern Farmcrs
The following address was issued by
the Cotton Growers Protective AS
sociation, which met a few days ago
In Augusta, Ca, and which advises
tho growing Of food crops as the surcst
road to agricultural prosperity in the
south:
TO tho Cotton Growers OF America
The Cotton Growers Protective AS
sociation OF America, in convention AS
blcd at Augusta, Ga, on this 18th
March, 1877, again come TO you with
an urgent appeal !or cooperative uc-
tlon in planting the crop for 1891. 1t
is q matter of extreme c0ngr;tulation
that the appeal made to you in l>nj
anu lS96 WAS SO generally responded to
and that the crop OF 1885, made npon
the diminished acreage. did have tN"
effect Of greatly i''."
OF cotton. &c crop OF lS9j, though
estimated ~ be ), 400, COO bales short Of
the crop OF 1874, was in the markets Of
the world worth more by nearly So
O00,00 In tho faco Of this result to
abandon tic idea OF diminished acre
age would be TO sound the retreat in
the face OF victory. 1t is the consunus
OF opinion among the best thinkers,
that if by any means the cotton crop o.
America s'lnuld be held within tho
limits OF S,0OO,OOO to 9,0O1,uOO bales
per annum for five years, the people
OF these southern states would bc the
richest anu most prosperous agrcultu-
raj people in the world. How can this
with you. We appeal to your self in
tcrcst 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
selt-supporting, put more land in
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 if 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
Cd IN iood crops must inevitably bring
tive OF the size OF the cotton crop.
There has never been time in the
history Of our section OF the country
that movement looking TO the in
creased production Of corn, hay, oats,
hogs and ether food crops, was 50 inn
pOrtunt and necessary
1T is felt by tho most thoughtful men
that we are entering upon "a year cr
great uncertainties, and that even IL
small cotton crop may fail to give adc-
Qnatc returns for its production. The
muttcrings OF Il storm are disturbing
values and unsuttling all business cal
cuIatlons. The prudent man will
trim his sails to meet it. With tho
commerce OF the country interrupted
Oy War-and war may cOmc-cOtton
would be unsa liable except at nominal
prices. Every consideration, then, Of
patriotism, OF self.intrrcst and OF pru.
dcnce 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
pcrity. DO not let them labor in vain,
but chccriully and hopefully respond
to their appeal.
In conclusion, VIC desire 10 say TO
every cotton grower, whether his crop
Is t9n bales or one Thousand !bulcS, see
TO it first that your place is sclfsus.
taning-and we mean by this to be
sure you grow on the farm An nbund
ancc OF corn, meat, hay, oats, peas, po-
tatOcs, etc, for all the people on the
place. both white and cOlOrcd. 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 it out OF the country. When you
T. q va EiI. a. f,,,
what cotton yOu can.
If every farmer or planter in The
cotton growing district will make this
his rule OF action, and live up to it
conscicntiousIy, il will accomplish the
result we SO much desire OF making us
all prosperous and happy, whether
your cotton, which will be q surplus
crop, sell for Il high or low price We
would urge you again to MAKO sure
first OF cheap, home grown living for
all the people and all 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 of produc-
ing his cotton.
Let each individual farmer resolve
in his own mind and without regard to
what others may do, TO cut down the
cost OF producing his cotton. BY con
lining his area to the best fields and
to the best parts OF his field by CON
ccntrating his skill, his industry and
fertilizers on q 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 well
balanced fertilizers hcupplics per acre,
the less will be the cost per pound Of
cotton.
Put only the best land in cotton and
corn ana the poorer lands in rye, peas,
etc. This will certainly reduce vour
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.