The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-02-01
THE OUTLOOK OF THE FARMER

AN INTERESTING REVIEW OF THE
sITUATION-GOOD ADVICE FROM
AN EXPERT.
The following article from the pei
of Mr.. r.. II. Ncsbitt, former commiss
ioner of agriculture in Georgia, is wei
adapted to the conditions existing il
South Carolina, and our readers vii
} profit by its pcrusal:
The farmers have been tho recipients
of much gratultous advice, and hcsi
tate in The face of SO grave subject,
but the cotton area question is looming
up again and possibly there may be
those who, despite the disastrous les
sons of the past, arc contemplating the
folly of again committing themselves
to an overwhelming cotton crop. Sure
} ly we have suffered too painfully from
this mistake to again rlungc ourselves
and all connected with us into this sea
Of agricultural and financial troubles.
Let each of us narrow this question
down to his own farm and there let
us decide it. 1t is lmmatcrial what our
ncighbor does; il Is, in a large measure,
immatcrial to us individually whether
the cotton area be large or small, for
in the agricultural results of 1900 it
will be found that success has come to
the man who, regardless of outside in
tlucnccs, has planted ample provision
crops and then as much cotton as nc
can afford to thoroughly prepare for,
highly mamnc and rapidly cultivate.
Short or large crop, high or low prcc,
he stands the first chance to WIN, and
if the details Of preparation, fcrtiliza-
ton and cultivation be SO managed that
he gets the largest yield from the small
est area, he has mastered the secret of
successful cotton production. Having
done his utmost, in his individual ca
pacity, to settle the cvcr-rccurring cot
ton problem, he musl seek means to
combine with his brother farmers, with
| the merchants anI with the bankers,
| in order that the general cotton crop
may be held against the pcrnlcious i'll
tlucnccs Of speculative combinations
and their power to wrcst from his grasp
his hard earnings ere he can realize a
fair return for his Investment.
The bonded warehouse bill, now a
law, is pc,haps the first step toward
the emancipation Of the Southern farm
cr from his bondage to Wall and I.om-
bard streets. Here we have the IN
ccption OF plan whereby the farmer
who wishes to hold his cotton NAV, for
a nominal sum, store and insure his
crop, the warehouse receipt being a
letter OF credit acceptable in any busi-
ness transaction. BY mutual agree
mcnt both farmer and merchant are
secured. Should the plan become gen
cral, the glutted markets, so often wit
messed in the ear lier fall months, will
be consigned to dead past, never to
be rcsurrccted. The farmers will by
this plan be enabled TO market their cot
ton with more judgment and not under
the whip and spur.o necessity. Witness
the powerful lever which the limited
cooperation of the present season has
proven III forcing up prices. Right
Loyalty have the bankers, the mer-
chants and our local manufacturers up
held the falmcrs, and right royalty has
the price of cotton withstood the repeat
cd and vicious attacks Of manipulators,
Spectators and "prophcts of evil"
1t has been asked, if man has the
land, with sufficient supplies and stock,
Is ne not Justified, after setting aside
an amply sufficient area for provision
and supply crops, in crowdng in every
possible acre for cottonn Yes, and no.
Yes, if he has good land, or such as has
been gradually brought up to good
state Of fertility. No, if his acres arc
like hundreds and thousands over the
South, each year condemned to cotton
culture, and which do not pay the cost
OF production. In proportion as the
bales made On these dcnuded acres 90
TO swell the general crop and thus re-
dncc the average price, they, to that
extent, increase the burden which their
cultivation imposes. No greater mis-
take was ever made, than TO rush over
the preparation of large area of moor
land, to De stimulated by little com
merclal fertilizer, and planted indis-
crlminatcly in cotton.
AT the beginning of new year the
cotton farmer is apt to ovcrcstlmatc
the fertility of his soil as well as his
ability to prepare and cultivate full
quota OF broad acres. 1t is only after
nc ls irrevocably committed to the eek
'ensivo' plan, and finds himself" "ovcr.
cropped" that he realizes his mistake.
and begins to wish that q part at least
OF his land had been devoted to q rest.
or to some rcnovating crop. In the
llhal settlement, however, he does not
always realize the fact that the painful
disparity between the receipts and cx-
penditurcs OF his years accounts might
DC tlaced directly to this big leak of
injudicious cotton cultivation. It cor.
tainly does not pay to plant an indis-
criminate and wide area IN cotton.
though man have supplies, stock aud
surplus of well. worn and oycrtaxcG
acres of hard-run land.
In the history and progress of our
agriculture that period has bccn reached
where farmers cannot raise and sell The
raw products of the farm at satisfac
toly profit, If we take into consideration
the deterioration of Our lands.