The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-04
Cotton and Wheat.

The New York Journal of Commerce
and Commercial Bulletin learns from
Rome, Ga, that the farmers of that sec
ton will not plant more than half as
much cotton as last year, and that some
of them are going into wheat, and some
into truck farming" 1t may be that there
is a movement in Floyd county which has
not extended itself to the state at large,
and that the Floyd farmers have deter
mined to make a radical change in their
methods. But if such is the case, we
have heard nothing of it. 1t is, to be sure,
very desirable that the cotton acreage
should be reduced, and there is not a
cotton planter but would be more than
glad if every other cotton planter would
cut his cotton acreage in half. But the
individual planter almost invariably con-
cludes that 1t would be better for him
IL he planted just as much as before, if
not a few acres more. There is in his
mind the suggestion of possibility that
the other fellows will reduce their crops
while he will come in with an increased
crop, sell 1t at an advanced figure, and
put money in the bank. The outcome of
this sort of reasoning, which probably
every planter INDUCES in more or less, is
too we'll known to be repeated.
Southern farmers have during the past
few months been captivated by the reports
of the wheat market, and the good for
tune of their fellow citizens OF the North
west. But 1t should be borne in mind that
the conditions which sent wheat prices
soaring. and which have kept them up,
are not normal conditions, but except
ional ones. The crops in almost every
wheat country in the world except the
United States We're almost a complete
failure at the last harvest. This country
therefore, had to be depended upon TO
furnish the bulk of the bread for all civii-
cation. 1t is not likely that such condi-
tons would obtain for several seasons in
succession, or even for two years. Fur
thermore, the western wheat farms are
operated upon an extensive scale which
reduces the cost TO a minimum, and under
ordinary circumstances II would be i'm
practicable for the average Georgia farmer
with the average wheat farmer of the
Northwest. Therefore, too much thought
should not be given to wheat as a money
crop to take the place of cotton.
We do not mean, of course, that Geor-
gia farmers should not plant wheat at all
On the other hand, we think they should
plant and cultivate everything they can
in the way of provisions crops, and wheat
is such a crop Our idea is that the South
should make itself independent of the
West, or any other SETON of the country.
in the matter of food supplies. Each
farmer should make himself independent
of the merchant in so far as food is con-
cerned. When he does this the money
crop will be of less pressing Importance
to him, and far more profitable. If every
farmer in the South would this year set
aside enough of his acreage TO raise all
of the corn, wheat, peas, potatoes, sugar
cane and other food crops that would be
needed for his family, his horses. hogs
and other stock. what would be the result
upon the cotton acreage? Manifestlv
there would be less cotton planted. and
the crop at harvest time would in all prob
ability be found within the s,5OO,OOO bale
mark, which is about the limit of amount
that the world will take at a remunera-
tive price. If Southern farmers will raise
their own supplies. they can command the
! cotton markets.