The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-02-01
The Peoples Journal.
PICkENS s. 9.
WILL THE FARMERS LISTEN ?
From The Cotton Plant.

y
their decision will depend TO great
extent the policy and plans of gene
ration. Cotton has given them more
money per pound than for any year in
q decade, because the crop of last year
was raised for less cost per pound, and
hence thele was more clear money real
lied. Besides the average farmer was III
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. Tho
money brought by his cotton crop has
been more nearly surplus than any
year since the inflated prices that pre-.
vailed just after the war, when every
thing was booming along that line
and the contagion of going into debt
took hold Of the farming class and held
it in firm grip for twenty years.
Conditions arc 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
rs possible, and cultivate only enough
cotton to call it surplus crop. The
large acreage III wheat would Indicate
that the farmers arc determined 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 arc
weakening and vacillating at tho
present time, which would forcbodc /,
return to past conditions and restore
the rulnous management Of affairs in
the South. One Of these signs is that
the fertilizer companies and agents arc
generally reporting larger sales than
usual, and the inference is that the
fertilizers will be used on the cotton
crop. This may not be true in every
instance, but the large majority of
farmers arc not yet adopts in the use
of commercial fertilizers for any other
purpose than raising cotton.
On the threshold .of another year
the farmers in the South should make
haste slowly about putting their tlust
too much in cotton. What guarantee
Is there that prices such as are now
prevailing will be realized next fail ?
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 his cotton for
the least money, and that every factor
which indicates larger crop is used TO
our disadvantage The sensible and
poiiitou remarks of Mr.. IL. II. Ncabitt
OF Georgia, which VIC print in another
column, gives needed information and
advice, which ought to be taken by all |
the farmers of the South His roun-
sci in regard to the farmer putting
himself into 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 !hc farmers cannot make ar
rangcmcnts with local banks and mcr.
chants to get advances upon cotton af-
ter 1t has been baled, and thereby pre-
vent the rush Of the crop to the intc-
rlor markets early In the fall. There
Is no doubt that the advice given last
fall to hold back cotton aided to
great extent in raising the price in
October and November, but concert of
acton among the farmers through
banks and merchants where bonded |
warehouses DO not exist will have q
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 1899. 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 than last year, and
ne cannot buy a mule for anything like
tho price paid one year ago. Uis
plows will cost nearly hundred per
cent more than they did last year,
ana all machinery use! on the farm
mas 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
mposslbllity that cotton can be grown
as cheaply as last year, or in fact that
any KIND Of farming can be done N
1000 ct the same cost as in 1900
Farmers who are 80 unfortunate ~ to
buV nrOyiaiOna th;o Mas.