The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-12-03
NEXT YEARS CROP.

About this time speculations commence
as To what will be the area in
cotton next year and from now on until
the crops Of 1901 shall have been pitched
ami planted The farmers will not be
short on advice although they may be
short on acceptance of the same. Well,
I believe every one who has prophetic
ken should give the benefit of his proDhe-
cies 10 the public. Certainly every one
who firmly believes that he is capable of
advising the farmers what course TO pur-
sue should speak out and not too modest
" hold his peace. There are some few
whose advice NAV not bc worth anything,
bat let Us have il all. that lin the nu.
titCde Of counsel We shall find out wis
dom.
in nv long experience as a statisti"lan
l have often been struck with the fact
that close approximation to the truth
may De- reached by taking the average of
q great many estimatcs-in tho absence
Of actual house To house and farm TO
farm statistics. The extreme estimates.
those Tar above and far below the aver
axe. balance each other of and .io not
uuduy affect tae final result. SO with
the advice given las each of "A great many
ADVISORS the average is close t. the kernel
81 true wisdom and sound policy.
Hon . B. Stevens. commissioner OF
49, va AathA - a tANtt-iAtsttit't
man and usually gives good and whole
some advice. Indeed do not recall that
h. has done otherwise since lie MAS
paced in his present position by the votes
% tine peop.c Of Georgia. lie says.
The tax about planting more cotton
next year l. rather premature. 1 am
sure the number Of ACRES planted next
Nthg wiil be no larger than TINS year.
The farmers have At last realized that
ire smaller the crop planted the higher
lne pr-cc- This Year is fair instance
A4stl 4 Tfla44 crop brings a higher price.
Diversified crops are beginning 10 tell.
! have iu~t returned from south Ocorgia
anu lad the farmers are y autiRg large
quantities 81 whcat-mBre than ever he
Tore This ! regard d good s:en for IL
Shows that the farmers recognize the
TACT that thcy can raise wheat here as
cheap. and II anything. cheaper than
they can buy the flour.
The cotton in Georgia has beeu na.rl,
an picked. ana now there ara but a few
hundred bales left in the fields
As uming that he is perfectly sincere
'And there Is lao reason to doubt his sin
ceriiyl, his expressed opinion that the
cotton area next year VIII not be larger
than the past year IS certainly encour-
aEinS, and II is 10 b. hoped that IL i
well founded Bat whatever may be tn.
present surface Indications Of the pur-
pose ANA plans of farmers in regard tn
next years planting. those purposes ana
plans have not vet become fixed and I'M
alterahle. They are subject 10 modifi-
cation and change which may in many
Instances amount To a revolution or a
sort Of -hacks.iding" 7 sincerely wish
that the farmers shall limit the area in
cotton each for himself. hut I am aw-
fully afraid that they will not, in thu
presence Of 3 and 10 cents pound for
cotton. cor even cents. Indeed. to blab
g.. H.~E.a Il.
great majority Of them are going To hold
90 Their present purpose. / believe that
the temptation Will be too strong To DE
overcome ia one year.
Past experience. extending over
great number Of years. Is a safe guide in
Judging ~ the future. Farmers have al
ways. in the past Che majority of them.
broke over the bounds of reason when
cotton Is at an unusually good price In
the spring. They VIII do IL again in
lsf. or AN experience Of the past GOES
8 naurht.
OF raur~. such "A policy Will be UNI
wise: il viii boz the very height or folly.
in my humble Judgment. II. however.
they 10 20 back ON the past and break
the record. thus proving that I am fool
ishly apprchensiye. I viii be too glad 10
feel soy. because my Judgment now shall
prove to be wrong. and nay apprehcnsions
groundless.
1 dare not hope Ia move the masses
~ farmers Indeed. 7 cannot reach them
with ms public voice ana pen. excepting
ew hundred thousands. and 10 is %
-hcs,. few that I now address this warn
ir.- when everybody goes wild over
cotton planting. then Is the time Tor the
wise aud prudent farmer TO take reef
On lis sails" when the multitude go
into foly and error. the wise man should
hold back
advise farmers. MS 7 have persistent
lv done Tor many years past. To- reduce
The cost ~ producing cotton 10y refus-
.ag o. cultivate land in cotton that viii
mot We'd. with moderate fertiliZing. ~
least half i bale ~ cotton 10 the acre.
ou'I aim for hirn average. not Jess
thau threc-quartcrs Of bale to the
acre.
course ] insist ON abundant pro-
vision crops plenty ~ hog and hominy.
-a~e IS permanent prosperity and profit
Ia stock ar animal farming-in raising
hs.f. pork. fowls and dairying. which in
r-e rra-s. grain and forage crops.
There IS no permanent prosperity TO be
fo,sn0 In cotton farming exclusively.
Cotton Is TOO cas- " ct WA. It, area can
he 100 easily extended. Il is a TOO specu-
igtiy. crop-and always was.
7 4