The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-04-28
FARMER AND PLANTER
THE SOUTHERN COTTON AREA.
1ne Watchward of the Farmer
Should Ne "Plant Fewer and
Better Acres.

Some of the arguments employed by
those who are endeavoring to solve
the problem of the area of the next
crop possess the merits of novelty, il
not wisdom One gentleman claims
that 1T would not be wise for the farm.
ers to SO reduce the aggregate produc.
tson OF cotton as to cause such an all.
vance in the price as would encourage
foreign eompetition Russia, India,
Egypt, Turkey, etc). In other words,
ne thinks is would be wise to keep
down the market price to q point al
winch these foreign nations could not
produce 1T profitably. But what saves
the utter Righteousness of his argu-
ment IS the advice that he gives to re-
uuce the cost of production. He does
not however, explain how the price
can be kept down to the prohibitory
point by increasing the aggregate
crop production, and at the same time
reduce the cost of production. Farm
ers pretty well understand that if they
increase the area in cotton the cost
per pound will generally increase, be-
canse poorer or less productive lands
will be planted.
Another gentleman suggests that
the world is so short on cotton that
even twelve-million bale crop would
fetch good, paying price. He may be
correct in his opinion, but it is pretty
certain that past experience does not
justify it. 1t is leap in the dark to
encourage the farmers to go ahead
and produce twelre-million-bale crop
IN expectation of getting present
prices for it.
Many others insist that the farmers
either use no commercial fertilizers
at all, or very much less amount, ia
order to thus cut down the aggregate
production and keep up or advance
the price. Would it not be just as rea-
sonable to advise the farmers not to
use good tools, not to buy new pillow
or cultivator, not to plant prolific va
rieties, and not to use so much skill
in cultiavtion-if the object be to SIM
ply reduce production? To comply
with either of any of these s'don'ts'
would tend to reduce production just
as certainly rs to 'quit using fer
tilizers. To refrain from using the |
best tools and machinery, the best
seeds, the best skill and care would |
save some outlay, and thus reduce |
expenses just as certainly as to 'quit |
using commercial fertilizers. The ar
gument reminds me of the Irish house
painter who was observed to be in i,
very great hurry in painting house.
When asked the reason for his remark
able speed, he replied: ''Faitah, and
l want to get done before my paint
gives OUT
The simplest and most direct appeal
is the best. 1t goes straight to the
comprehension of any farmer. 1t is
the appeal to his own personal inter
ests, urging his to pursue course
that will be best for him whatever
other farmers in the south may do.
1t is to cut down the cost of produc,
ton. 1t is a thing that he can do him. {
self, without cooperation or consul ,
tation with other farmers. The coop
grafton OF other farmers-which be
knows he can not rely on-is not nee :
essary to do this Every experienced q
farmer knows that the cheapest cot !
ton he makes is that which he gets II
rom the best land Every farmer who h
Uses fertilizers knows from experience !;
hat the cheapest cotton he makes is :
hat produced by the aid of fertilizers. :
I rich soil does not enable farmer
o make his cotton cheap, then there
5 no need for rich soil, and a poor
ere or several poor acres are as good
IS q rich acre. If fertilizers do no, n
nable the farmer to produce cheaper t
otton, then there is no need of fer Fl
liners in cotton farming. II
What, then, should be the farmers =,
1t should be this: Plan-
ever and better acres and fertii;ze ii
hem better. Cut the area in cotton. W
nd increase the application of the II
ight kind of fertilizer per acre, until tc
he two conspire to produce cotton c.
t cost of less than 5 cents pound.
may be necessary for a given farm n.
+ to reduce his cotton area to one. m
,urth the usual amount, and to so
Duble the dose of fertilizers to each in
IRE in order to meet the require 90
ents. Then let him do it. He plant oil
| last year 100 acres, applied tel
ms, OF 5000 worth of fertilizers, 10 RI
roduce yield of SO bales Suppose ci,
; cuts his acreage this year to IS ON
res, and applies to these 25 acres tn
90 worth (twice as much per acre. nj
iudiciously home-mixed FERTILIZER -.