The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-01-31
THE OUTLOOK OF THE FAsMEI,
AN INTERESTING REVIEW OF THE
SITUATION-GOOD ADVICE FROM
AN EXPERT.

AN INTERESTING REVIEW OF THE
SITUATION-GOOD ADVICE FROM
AN EXPERT.
The following article from the pen
of Mr.. r.. L. Ncsbitt, former commiss-
ioner of agriculture in Georgia, is we'll
adapted to the conditions existing in
South Carolina, and our readers will
profit by it's perusal
The farmers have been the recipients
of much SratultOus advice, and hesi
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, are contemplating the
folly OF again committing themselves
to an overwhelming cotton crop. Sure
ly we have suffered too painfully from
this mistake to again rlunge 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 lmmaterial what our
neighbOr does; it Is, in q large measure,
immaterial 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
flucnces, has planted ample provision
crops and then as much cotton as ne
can afford to thoroughly prepare for,
highly manure and rapidly cultivate.
Short or large crop, high or low price,
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 ever-recurring cot
ton problem, he must seek means to
combine with his brother farmers, with
the merchants and with the bankers,
in order that the general cotton crop
may be held against the pernlcious in
flucnces Of speculative combinations
and their power to wrest from his grasp
his hard earnings ere he can realize a
fair return for his investment.
The bonded warehouse bill, now a
law, is perhaps the first step toward
the emancipation of the Southern farm
er from his bondage to Wall and I.om-
bard streets. Here we have the In
ception of plan whereby the farmer
who wishes to hold his cotton may, for
a nominal sum, store and insure his
crop, the warehouse receipt being a
letter of credit acceptable in any bust
ness transaction. BY mutual agree
ment both farmer and merchant are
secured. Should the plan become gen.
eral, the glutted markets, so often wit
messed in the earl lier fall months, will
be consigned to dead past, never to
be resurrected. The farmers will by
this plan he enabled to market their cot
ton with more judgment and not under
the whip and spur of necessity. Witness
the powerful lever which the limited
cooperation of the present season has
proven in forcing up prices. Right
loyalty have the bankers, the mer-
chants and our local manufacturers up
held the farmers, and right royalty has
the price of cotton withstood the repeat
ed and vicious attacks of manipulators,
Spectators and "prophets of evil"
1t has been asked, if a man has the
land, with sufficient supplies and stock,
is he not justified, after setting aside
an amply sufficient area for provision
and supply crops, in crowding in every
possible acre for cotton? 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 are
ltDn h,,pIrolo orI tl,nuooxI.
South, each year condemned to cotton
culture, and which do not pay the cost
of production. In proportion as the
bales made on these denu6ed acres 20
to swell the general crop and thus re-
duce 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 poor
land, to be stimulated by little COM
mercial fertilizer, and planted indis-
crlminately in cotton.
At the beginning Of new year the
cotton farmer is apt to overestlmate
the fertility of his soil az well as his
ability to prepare and cultivate full
quota of broad acres. 1t is only after
he is irrevocably committed to the "ex.
tensive" plan, and finds himself"
cropped" that he realizes his mistake,
and begins to wish that part at least
of his land had been devoted to a rest,
or to some renovating crop. In the |
final settlement, however, he does not |
always realize the fact that the painful
between the receipts and ex-
OF his years. accounts might
be traced directly to this big sleak of