Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-03-15
Steady Advance In Cotton.

Tkcre is no topic Of more practical
concern to tho readers Of Homo and
Farm than tho steady advance in tho
! cotton market. Several months ag3
Home and Farm called tho attention of
tho Southern cotton planters to tho cot
ton situation, and predicted that tho
good prices then prevailing would be
followed by niger prices during tho sea.
son. 1t has boon demonstrated that the
manufacturers havo overostimated the
worlds supply and have undorcstimated
tho worlds demand. Tho result is that
there is something of a cotton scarcity
in two continents, and the prico ut the
nearly 0 cents in New York. There is
reason to believe that with some tluctua-
tons it will pass tho conts point.
At this writing moro than two-tl,irds,
probably throo-fourths, of tho cotton
crop has been sold by tho planter but it
is Il fact that n larger proportion of the
advance in prico has accrued to tho
farmer himself during this cotton year
than over before. Tho advance began
early; it began before much of tho crop
had left tho farmers hands, and it has
continued with slight reactions through.
out tho season. Tho advance in price,
therefore, benefits tho planicr to
larger extent than it benefits tho spocu-
lator. 1t leaves millions of dollars moro
in the South for the cotton crop than tho
South has known for many years past
1t followed a long series Of Improbable
years in cotton, but it puts the cotton
planter in IL better condition than hc has
been for ten years. lie has been forced
to produce cotton OH an economic basis,
has been forced TO adopt iabor-saving
devices in order to produce tho cotton
ut all. The present crop was raised on
this basis of cheap production, and tho
additional price received was largely
clear profit.
There is ono danger, nevertheless,
which may provo Il disaster. Cotton
planters should remember that tho pres
rnt price is due to the fact that tho crop
does not exceed nine millions of bales,
probably does not reach that figure.
The world wants moro than nno mil
lions of bales. If the farmers Of the
South will keep tho crop down to nine
millions they can maintain or increase
eleven or twelve millions thorc will DO 4
surplus Of supply with a corresponding
decrease in price.
II it is well, therefore, toltpducc nine
millions instead of twelve millions Of
bales, it is worth while for the farmer
to see that it is well for him TO plant for
nine bales instead Of twelve; he should
aim to raise eighteen bales instead Of
twcnty-four; he should fix his acreage
upon basis of twcntyscvcn bales i'll
stead of thirty-siX. If each man will
do this, il he will apply to his own
plans for the future, this ratio, then tho
South will have another year Of great
unprecedented prosperity.
We trust that the cotton planters Of
the South will not be tempted by the
present prices to increase the cotton
acreage. 1t is to be remembered that
the present acreage is sufficient under
favorable conditions to produce II or
T. million bales. Adverse conditions
rurtailcd this crop, md not the design
OF the planters themselves. There arc
farmers in the South who have learned
that Il good part of their cotton acreage
IAN be more pr"litably devoted to other
crops, devoted to food crops, to grasses,
vegetables, small fruit, to the dairy, but
the great mass of farmers cling to cot
ton, not simply rs money crop, but as
Il sole crop, and these are the men who
are so largely responsible for the long
years of low prices.
We urge our friends in the South,
therefore, To curtail their cotton acre |
age and t" put this saved land in other
crops. Plant potatoes. plant corn; if
you are in Il good belt, plant wheat plant |
grasses, buy few more cows, try dairy |
ing, first on Il small scale, and whatever
you Il" 'lo with the best implements YOU |
can put your hands upon. Apply the
Knowledge gained from experience, |
gained from observation, gained from |
the experiments your nrighborS have |
been making, or from the cXrcrimcnts |
that have hr"n made by the agricultural
stations. rnt brain, aS well as energy |
and enthusiasm, INTO your work, curtail |
y"nr cotton acreage, and life ON South
crn farm will soon be more attractive |
than ever before. Home and Farm, |
March |.