The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-10-12
A LARGE COTTON PLANTER

ALARez coTToA PLANTER
Talks Of the Crop and Its Value
dfProperly Handled.
This seems to be the day OF bhe
farmer, and he is disposed to make
the most Of it; he is keeping posted
in general way, and on cotton IN
particular.
A Charlotte Observer nan had a
talk recently with one OF the leading
cotton growers OF North Carolina and
got from him q splendid idea, and
some interesting facts. This man has
proven himself thoroughly practical
by his SUCCESS; he is nothing OF q
dreamer. He has over 500 acres in
cotton this year, and his crop will be
20 per cent less than it was last year.
In answer to the QUESTION: w nat
do you think Of the cotton situation"
he said:
THE cotton crop now being Ea.-
vested can be made the most valua De
crop ever gathered, if the farme 8
will act in concert and on similar
lines, in every State, county and COM
munity.
There is now no question Of the
crop being a moderate, II not very
small one, compared to what was ex-
pected two, yes, one month ago. The
whole spinning world Is depleted OF
cotton; must have cotton, no matter
what the cost. The present crop can
be made to average at least twelve
cents, il not fifteen cents, per pound
to the grower, ii the growers will gin
and sell cautiously. II only half the
cotton picke:: each week is placed on
the market and the other half teld
back, either stored In bonded %ace-
house, when money must be obtained,
or stored on the farms either ginned
and baled OF In the seed; there would
be no glutting the market for October,
November, December, which is the
very condition the speculators want
in order that they may be able. to buy
a product that will be in active de-
mand the world over at much higher
prices after January l.
What is true Of cotton Is also true
of cottonseed. The oil mills are en-
tering the crushing season with cot
tonseed oil ten cents per gallon lower
than last year or the last five years,
and consequently the mills cannot pay
by IS per ton as much as they paid all
through the last season for seed.
"We have almost identically the
same condition In all crops affecting
cotton oil as existed for the season
l992-1893 when cotton oil went to
sixty.fve cents per gallon in Febru-
ary, 1893. We have very short crop
Of wheat this year, as compared with
the crop for several years past. There
is no ole wheat to be had at any price
Tor wheat is thirty five per cent high
er than last year,
''The present corn crop prospect
are for a crop smaller than in ten
years, with perhaps one exception,
and If as short as now predicted, corn
will 90 to seventy-fVe cents, and per-
hapshigher, per bushel. a short crop
and high prices for corn means a short
crop and high prices for hogs; anG
with hogs high, lard will be high, and
b gh-p,iced lard means high priced
c,tton oil; then why not high prices
for cottonseed paid to the farmers?
''The crop Of linseed DOW being
harvested in the Northwest is only
about one half to three ftths the croE
harvested last year, aud the result is,
liaseed is 40 per cent, the oil abol I
81 per cent, linseed cake and meal So
to 40 per cent higher.
"But the United States Is not the
only country with short crops. All
of the European countries, without
single exception, have the poorest
crops OF grain, feed and fodder they
have had for years. Russia, the
greatest grower and competitor Of the
United States for the trade Of Europe
for wheat, is fully employed trying tc
whip it's very small, and as she sup
posed, Insignificant antagonist-Ja.
pan; and the result is, she will have
no whear to export, and If the wal
should continue for several years, as
it is very likely to do, Russia will
soon be importing wheat and all XII ds
OF pr visions.
'sThe olivesoil crop OF all countries
bordering on the Mediterranean Sea
is reported on best authority to be
only one half to two thirds a full crop,
and this shortage amounts to more
gallons Of Oil than the total COT
ton oil crop. The condition Of every
crop in every country, should warrant
cotton oil worth fully double its pres
ent price; warrant the mills in pay
Ing at least so per cent higher prices
for seed. But the mills cannot pay
more for seed unless the price Of oil
can be advanced to a value all things
Justify. Oil mills will not pay more
for seed than they are obliged to pay,
and as long as farmers are selling seed
at s12 to s14 per ton, mills will not
pay s20 to s22, the price seed should
be selling at.
''The growers OF cotton and cotton
seed can and should control the mar.
ket holding back both cotton and seed
till they can secure a price that all
conditions warrant. Unless they do,
they will find they have parted with
three fourths OF their crop before the
advance comes, and the cotton and
seed specula.or will reap the benefit
that belongs to the producer. Hold
your cotton and hold your cotton seed
till the advance is here With you. It
Will come much sooner il you hold,
for as long as you are parting with
your crop freely, the specu!ator will
hold down prices.
''The present crop, If only about
10 000 600 bales. can be made to nav