The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-01-31
wit THE FARMERS LISTEN ?
From The Cotton Plant.

the South are standing just now at the |
parting Of the ways, and upon their
their decision will depend 10 great |
extent the policy and plans of gene
ration. Cotton has given them more
money per pound than for any year in !
decade, because the crop of last year |
was raised for less cost per pound, and |
hence there was more clear money real |
lied, Besides the average farmer was IN
better financial plight than he has
been for ten years, because he has been
practicing economy AMI raising his own
food crops for man and beast. The
money brought by his cotton crop has
been more nearly a surplus than any
year since the inflated prices that pre-
vailed just after the war, when every
thing was booming al"ug that line,
and the contagion of gong into debt
took hold of the farming class and held
it in a firm grip for twenty years.
Conditions are changed for the bet
ter, and nearly every farmer will admit
that the best plan is to raise supplies
on the farm, make as few obligations
as possible, and cultivate only enough
cotton to call it surplus crop. The
large acreage in wheat would Indicate
thot the farmers arc dctcrmin ed to stick
the policy which has in large meas
ure brought them out of debt and
planted their feet on solid ground, but
there are signs that many Of them are
weakening and vacillating at the
present time, which would forcbodc
return to past conditions and restore
the rmnous management of affairs in
the South. One of these signs is that
the fertilizer companies and agents are
generally reporting lar-cr sales than
usual, and the Inference is that the
fertilizers will be used on the cotton
crop. This may not be true III every
instance, but the large majority OF
farmers are not yet adopts in the use
of commercial fertilizers for any other
purpose thau raising cotton.
On the threshold of another year
the farmers in the South should make
haste slowly about putting their tlnst
too much in cotton. What guarantee
Is there that prices such as are now
prevailing will be realized next fall +?
A craze on planting cotton this spring
will inevitably lower the price in Sep
tember, and already the spectators are
beginning to use the increased purchase
of fertilizers to depress the price of cot
ton futures. Will we never learn that
the would is combined against the
Southern farmer TO get h,s cotton for
the least money, and that every factor
which indicates a larger crop is used to
our disadvantage The sensible and
pointed remarks OF Mr.. r.. II. NesbiLt
Of Georgia, which we print in another
column, gives needed information and
advice, which ought TO he taken by all
the farmers of the South His coun-
sci in regard TO the farmer putting
himself into a position whereby he will
not be forced to sell cotton early in the
season is worthy of careful study.
The bonded warehouses may not be
accessible to every community, but
there are few towns in the South
where the farmers cannot make ar
rangcmcnts with local banks and mer.
chants to get advances upon cotton af-
ter il has been baled, and thereby pre-
hn Of In 10 hn int Ia
rior markets early In the fall. There
is no doubt that the advice given last
fall to hold back cotton aided to a
great extent in raising the price in
October and November, but concert of
action among the farmers through
banks and merchants where bonded
warehouses do not exist will have a
like effect another season.
Let no one be deceived by the pres
ent prices of cotton, which would not
yield near the profit this year than was
realized from the crop of 1890. Not
only will the farmer have to pay more
for his fertilizers, but as prices have
advanced all along The line, his labor
will cost him more thun last year, and
he cannot buy a mule for anything like
tho price paid one year ago. His
plows Will cost nearly hundred per
cent. more than they did last year,
and all machinery used on the farm
has advanced not less than fifty per
cent. Agricultural implements and all
else bought from the stores will cost
more this year, and it is a matter of
imposslbility that cotton can be grown
as cheaply as last year, or in fact that
any kind of farming can be done IN
1900 at the same cost as in 1899.
Farmers who are so unfortunate as to
buy provisions this year will feel the
effect kccnly every time they enter a
store to get their supplies.
VIII the farmers listen to the warn
HA'~44pRs- Of their best and most reliable
counsell6rs? Or will they ignore The
facts staring them in the face, and
,l,nun boafllpnn ,pin q rpproo ,ub; ;,l,