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
| idea-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, 1876
| cents, and in 1875, ISL cents. Since
that date the tendency has been con-
stantly downward. In 1876 the export
price was 1928 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-
dirarily low price, viz, 10 cents. Not
until 1880 did it advance above that
figure, and that was only to the extent
of one mill, viz, 101 cents. Gradually
the price continued downward until
1895, when the figures reached SIS cents;
but in 1896 there was recovery to 81
cents, but a recession took place in
1897 to IA cents.
When the ffve-cent limit was reached
that is to say for delivery for ship
ment from the plantatOn-sOme of the
Southern press thought they saw i'm
pending disaster for the industry. SO
intense became the agitation that the
New York Journal of Commerce was
led to make 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
tiers, and, when the replies were all
in, the following summary was pub
Ished:
Virtually without exception they agree
% that the reduced price Of cotton does
not imply any setback 10 the general BUSH
ness prosperity of the South; o. that size cost
OF 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 One-half what IL
was ten years ago. a. that scent cotton will.
as rule, leave a moderate profit to the
grower; 90 that the planters are steadily
diminishing their dependence upon factors
advances through diversifying their crops and
producing articles Of food which they have
been accustomed to buy at oppressive prices :;
(6) that, owing to this dversfcat:on Of crops
they have diminished their local debts ard
acquired an independence CT the factors which
enables them, with economy in expenses, to
effect regular savings; and CD that the gen.
eral condition Of the agricultural South is
such as TO warrant the hope of a steady run
OF prosperity in which the mercantile inter-
est viii receive its share of benefit
Any disturbance to the prosperity
which the Southern, or cotton-produc-
ing states have been eniOyine for
several years must have its effect up m
other industries throughout the cOun-
try. The above summary reveals the
fact that the Southern planter has &C
quired lessons in the economy of pre-
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 diversified ton
of agricultural interests. If a little
more of this intelligent treatment were
eral, 40-cent wheat would be removed
from the schedule of ever recurring
Ieriods of misfortune in the lives Of
those who persist in conducting their
farms from this limited area Of vision.