The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-29

The preparation of land for summer
crops claims attention. Autecedent to
preparing land, however, one should know
what crops and how much of each he
intends 10 plant In other words, now is
The time 90 pitch" ones crops. This
Is always an important thing but is dou-
bly important just now, when farmers ore
wasins a vigorous fight against those who
nave been depressing them. 1t is to the
Interest of every cotton planter to keep
the cotton crop within moderate bounds.
we have had demonstrated recently that
a small crop brings better prices than a
larger one. We have had from the last
Two years experience, ample proof that
there is no Profit in scent cotton. Man
ufacturers, railroads, warehouse and COM
mission men want large crops The first
because they want cheap cotton, the 9TH
ers because the greater the number of
bales they handle the greater their profits
They raise the cry that small crops and
nigh prices develop competition in foreign
countries and destroy our monopoly of cot
ton production. Very high prices might de-
Ve.op serious competitt>H, but moderately
high prices will rot Our monopoly is
based mainly upon better climatic condi-
tons and superiority of fiber. Whilst
farmers are glad TO see those of other call
tngs prOsrer, they must be excused for
placing their own interests in the cotton
crop before those of other call.ngs. They
cannot be blamed for having first regard
to the direct profits they get out of their
cotton crops, and giving second pace to
the indirect profits obtained through the
prosperity of the country at large. They
have found from long experience that they
get very little of these indirect profits
1t is almost impossible to get all cotton
planters TO meet together. 1t is about as
impossible to get them represented or
i tod
crosses or other like orgauiza tons. Let
every farmer do what is best for him in.
dividualy and the desired general result
will be secured for in the very great ma
jorty of cases what is good for one is good
for all. The prevailing practice has been
20 plant about twenty acres in cotton to
ten in provision crops. thirty acres to the
mule being the usual lotment. Now
there ought to be an equal division of
land between the two ses of crops, and
a shifting of the two halves from cotton
to provision crops, and from provision
crops to cotton, every year. Thus fifteen
acres in cotton, ten in small grain AMI
five in cOrn-peas TO be Sown broadcast in
corn when laid by and small grain foi-
lowed by peas Immediately after harvest
This leaves tine grain land in god SHAPE
for cotton the next year its soil well SUD-
piled with heterogeneous matter, and need
ing only phosphate and potassic manures.
Cotton land is always adapted to grain.
The chief drawback in such a rota ion is
the difficulty in getting the cotton crop
cut of the way in time t. SOW fall grain.
One solution of this difficulty might be In
planting short limbed or cluster varieties
Of cotton, so that p'ows could be run be-
/ tween rows without injuring the cotton
when putting in grain. Another so ution
/ might be the planting of early maturing
varieties of cotton so that this crop may
be picked out early in the season and got-
ten out of the way. Such division Of
crops would insure an ample supply OF
! provisions obviating all draft upon cotton
money to buy them. and at same time re-
duce the acreage of cotton one-fourth.
and thus help to keep up its price.-Dr.
| ZONES