The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-31
Words OF Wisdom From One Who Has
Studied the Situation to Some
Purpose.
By Marvin V. Calvin.


terest been so aroused as to the i'm
portance and the intrinsic value of the
crops as in this year Of grace, 1904.
More fixedly and with deeper inter-
est than ever. the eyes Of the whole
world have been, and are still centred
upon the South.
The Widespread interest manifest ed
in the size of the crop and the price
per pound of the same suggest that
we retrospect the crop as it rounded
up in actual figures, not estimates, at
the close of each of a series Of years.
Take, for convenience, a group ot
six years, say 1S91-'96. both Inclusive
We find that the average acreage
was 20,90S,971 acres and the average
production per year, S,146,36S bales.
Take the succeeding group of six
years 1S9T-1902, both inclusive:
We find that the average acreage
was % 463.S3S acres and the average
production per year 10503, 295 bales.
study of two groups discloses the
fact that between the years in each
group. the increase in acreage was
very gradual.
For example, the second year OF the
second group, '9S, witnessed an in
crease in acreage Of 647,711 acres.
This gave what was called the bump
er crop''-1l,1S9,2 05 bales.
The following year the acreage was
reduced by l.564.14 acres. The crop
aggregated 9,l42.83S bales.
This fact conclusively demonstrates
that the farmers can reduce the crop
and control the situation.
The net two years 1900 and 1901.
there was an average annual increase
in acreage of 3,T64,155 acres as COM
pared with $500. The average pro-
duction Il year was 10, 522,224 bales
The next and last year, 1902, of
that group, the acreage was reduced
1.462275 acres compared With 1901.
BY higher fertilization and better Gull
tivation. the yield per acre was in
creased from 39-100 of Il bale to IL
100 of bale and the cost of produc-
tion reduced.
The crop of 1903 was smaller by
714.043 bales than that for the year
just referred to.
In 1908 the farmers not only made
a crop of cotton, which was smaller
by 1,17S,824 bales thar the bumper
crop" of 1898, but the eight strictly
cotton States made that year seventy
million 10000. 10000 ushels Of corn
more than in 1898. They had more
two million, five hundred thousand
(2.50G. 000) milch cows-many of
them meek-eyed Jerseys.
The smaller crop of 1903 was worth.
in cold cash. three hundred and fifty
five million S3E55.000 .000) dollars
more than the bumper crop" of 1898.
The record shows that whenever
you find level-headed procedure can
trolling in the matter of cotton
acreage. you may be confident that
YOU will find a commercially large
increase in the home supply crops.
A comparison shows an increase in
acreage during the second term of
years of 21.7 per cent
During the secod series of six years,
compared with the first series. the in
crease in the quantity of commercial
fertilizers used was AIS per cent.
The average yield per acre during
the first series of six years was 38-l00
of a bale; during the last six years,
41-100 of a bale.
During the second serfes as compar-
ed with the first series of years there
was a marked reduction in the cost of
production as evidenced by the in
crease in the yield per acre.
Patrick Henry said he had but one
lamp and that was the lamp of exc
perience.
Experience cries out that there are
three things for which every cotton
producer should strive in 1905:
/. Reduction of cotton acreage.
2. Reduction in cost Of production
per acre.
3. Greater diversfication of crops.
/ do not believe. that it would be
wise to reduce the quantity of fertiliz-
ers to be used. The very suggestion
of a reduced acreage carries with it.
or ought to carry with it. the idea of
heavier fertilization with view to a
very appreciate reduction in the cost
of production.
Whatever error has been committed
in the use of commercial fertilizers
has been in the application of too
small quantity per acre. Instead of
a general average yield of 41-100 of a
bale of cotton. we should have. in
furtherance of a reduction in the cost
OF production, a general average yield
of half bale per acre.
We all know that not exceeding ten
farmers of one hundred can gather
from his stables and horse and cattle
lot enough fertilizers to meet crop de-
mands.
The ninety must use high grade
commercial fertilizers with a liberal
hand on a reduced acreage if they
would realize profitable results
/ could give example after example
in illustration of the wisdom of the
economy of higher fertilization, but
am not discussing that subject at this
lime.
10 Ieuuce the collOn dcfedgei 10
plough the land deeply; to fertilize
literally according to the condition
IF the soil; to plant the best seed: to
cultivate Systematically will be to in
crease the yield per acre and thus
make the crop at comparatively small
cost.
This can be done and at the same
line by cooperation throughout the
cotton belt, the aggregate cro0 can
De held to a fixed standard.
If this good sense policy be adopted
ma practiced. next Christmas will see
he cotton growing States transform