The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-24
Agriculture, North and South.

The wheat growers of the North
and by this We mean the farmers who
persistently cling to the single crop
1dea-have an opportunity to learn
something from their brethren of the
South who, throughout many decades,
have devoted their lands wholly to the
production of cotton.
That staple has been gradually re-
drced in price until five-cent cotton
has been regarded as representing dis
aster to those states cultivating this
important commodity. In 1871 the ex-
port price was 14.9 cents; in 1872, 1874
cents; in 1873, 1879 cents; in 1874, 1916
cents, and in 1875, Isl cents Since
that date the tendency has been con-
stantly downward. In 1876 the export
price was 1873 cents, and in no year
since has that figure been realized In
1885, ten years later it had reached
what then seemed to be an extraor-
dinarily low price, viz, 10 cents. Not
until 1890 did it advance above that
figure, and that was only to the extent
of one mill, viz, 10.1 cents Gradually
the price continued downward until
1895, when the figures reached SIS cents;
but in 1896 there was a recovery to 81
cents, but a recession took place in
1897 to IA cents
When the five-cent limit was reached
that is to say for delivery for ship
m6nt from the plantatiOn-sOme OF the
Southern press thought they saw i'm
pending disaster for the industry. SO
intense became the agitation that the
81 Of
led to make a canvass Of the cotton
growing communities with a view to
ascertaining the sentiment existing as
the result Of the decline in price. In
quiries were addressed to bankers in
the principal n-distributing CEN
ters, and, when the replies were all
in, the following summary was pub
Iished:
-, virtually without exception they agree
~ that the reduced price Of cotton does
not imply any setback to the general bust
ness prosperity Of the South; 90 that TIE cost
CT raising the staple has been materially les
sened during the years of steadily falling
prices; 90 that IN most sections the cost OF
production IS only about Cne-half what II
was ten years ago; ~ that scent cotton will
Is RUE, leave moderate Profit to the
grower; t5} that the planters are steadily
diminishing their dependence upon factors
advances through diversfying their crops and
producing articles Of food which thew have
been accu3 DIGed to buy ut oppressive mi :.
81 that, owing to this diversifcat:on Of crops
they have diminished their local debts AID
acquired an independence CT the factors which
enables them, with economy in expenses, to
erect regular savings; ard % that the gen
eral cCnd ton OF the agricultural South is
such as 20 warrant the hoo Of d steady run
or prosperity, II which the mercantile inter-
est vii receive its share Of bensfit."
Any disturbance to the prosperity
which the Southern, or cOtton-produc-
ing states have been enjoying for
several yeas must have its effect UP n
other Industries throughout the coun-
try. The above summary reveals the
fact that the Southern planter has &C
Quired lessons in the economy of prc-
dUctiOn and has not hesitated to avail
himself Of the benefits thereof. It is
certainly not Inappropriate to suggest
to the persistent growers of wheat, in
certain sections of the Northwest, that
they may acquire a wholesome lesson
from the experience of the Southern
cotton producer in the dangers of run
ming too strongly in the direction Of
specific cropping. The farmer of the
Northwest has equal opportunities in
this line with his brother of the South.
The real secret Of profitable farming
anywhere is found in the vsrsifica ton
of agricultural interests. If a little
more of this intelligent tt eatment were
applied to the farming industry in gen
eral, Accent Wheat would be removed
from the schedule of ever recurring
PERIODS Of misfortune in the lives cf
those who persist in conducting their
farms from this limited area of vision.