The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-02-04

which are borne out by the history
of leaf tobacco since you OF your
forefathers laid down their worn out
muskets at Appomattox, on the 9th
day of April, 1855.
Why is it that those who advise
an increased acreage do not give
some reasons for such advioeP Why
did not they advise you to decrease
your crop when your tobacco was
selling so low that it would not pay
for the fertilizer you put under it?
Whence cometh all this special in
terest which such advisers would
have you believe they feel in your
success? They tell you that they
have information to sustain the be.
lief that there will be a greater de
mand for tobacco the coming year
than ever before, but they fail to
divulge that information. They may
have information for sustaining the
belief that they will make more
money by your planting a big crop
than they will make if you reduce
the acreage. Ill tell you what they
say-it may be Internationally but
truthfulIy-and it is this: the de-
mand has become greater than the
supply and on that account prices
have greatly advanced. This oon
dition of affairs, which, by the way,
enables you to pay your debts and
put a few surplus dollars in one, SO
much so that they (prompted of
course by their special interest in
your good fortune) strongly advise
you TO increase your crop, when they
know that is the only thing under
the shining heaven that can and will
put the prices of tobacco down. I
could give you hundreds of reasons
why prices will advance or decline in
proportion to the decrease or in
crease to acreage, all of which fade
into insignihcance when compared
with the one great indisputable res-
correspondence. 10
Yes, my friends, the crop for the
last two years has been decreased
and prices have correspoudingly ad-
vanoed. That bottom dog, to which
l referred in an article on this sub
ject two years ago and subsequently
twelve months ago, is now gloriously
on top, and rejoice most heartily
over the fact that l was one who
suggested the remedy that placed
him there. And / tell you as sure as
the sun lights the day and the moon
and the stars the night, just so sure
will the cause that put prices up keep
them up.
Theories are possibilities but ex-
perienoe is the truth. Hope and ex-
peotations are but desires of the
heart and Oft times but air-castles of
the mind, but the lesson of expert
enoe is the safe guide to success.
You have purchased your experience
at u great price you are just emery
ing from the dark days of servility
into the light of freedom and plenty,
and you have only to continue the
course you have pursued for the past
two ye4rs TO land in the midst of the
glittering rays of prosperity, highest
ambitions and sweetest hopes. a
strict adherence to the short crop
idea and plan will make you, 30 far
as the prices of your tobacco is oon-
cerned, lord of all. No increase in
acreage means extra dollars in your
pockets; no increase in acreage
your early liberation from
debt no increase in acreage will
make you the money-lenders instead
of the money-borrowers no increase
in acreage means your owning the
merchants instead of the merchants
owning you; no increase in acreage
means a happy, we'll dressed wife,
educated and useful children, a proud
father, a prosperous farmer and an
independent and valuable citizen.
But an increased crop of tobacco
means the surrendering of all these
happy blessings and pr vileges to the
merchants, the manufacturer, bhe
de tler and the trust, while your % d
wife lives in slavery, and the sweet
children whom G1d has given you
go clJthed in rags and grow up IL
ignorance and you, the unhappy