Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-03-23
CHANCES AND DANGERS.
What May Happen In Cotton-A Time
to Keep Cool and Hold the Refns.

What May Happen In Cotton-A Time
to Keep Cool and Hold the Refns.
The present high price of cotton will
prove blessing or a curse according
to the use we make Of ii. If we decide
that we ought to strain every effort to
produce cotton, even to the neglect of
other crops, it will be curse
What has produced this sudden rise
III price? The staple is no better. and
the goods made from cotton do not
last any longer or do any better serv-
ice. The rise is the natural consequence
from the scarcity of the cotton. From
variety Of causes we have produced
three rather short crops. One of these
causes Is that we have quit planting
all cotton and begun to plant a variety
of crops
We are giving more of our time and
thought ana land to producing food
crops and cattle. The result is that
we are very much better Off. We have
something to live on at home. At the
same time the seasons and the insects
and diseases have helped to reduce the
amount of cotton on the market.
If the seasons had been about the
same as usual and the boil weevil did
no damage to the cotton we would |
now be selling 1t mt 8 cents.
We can bring the price down to 8
cents again very easily. All that we
need TO do is to plant a very large
area and buy a great quantity of fer
tilizers and have a good season and it
will be down.
The Fertilizer Frenzy.
There are many writers giving ad-
vice now which will be runous to the
farmers of the south if we heed it.
Some are advising using more fer
tilizers than ever. This is great mis-
take. We are already buying more
than we are using to profit. Georgia
in particular went wild OH fertilizers
last season. We do not need TO buy
more fertilizers. but to use what we
)uy more economically and wisely. We
should use more per acre, but the acre
should be better prepared so as TO get
more profit from the use We should
lot buy any more fertilizer than we
AN pay cash for. Buying fertilizers on
line Is hurtful business. 1t is not
'ood farming. Every note given for
ertilizer is mortgage upon the crop
efore it is planted. These notes hurt
IS in many ways Again, the cotton
eed from last years crop will pay for
he fertilizers for this year. The farm
hould be self supporting. Buying fer
lizers on time encourages laziness and
s-
A Golden Opportunity.
Now is the farmers time to seize
nd hold the reins. If we keep our
nads cool and do not rush madly into
le trap of "all cotton" then we can r
'ntinue to prosper. But if we go wild
cotton because of the jump in price
I'd proceed to plant an increased area
cotton and buy increased quantities
fertilizers and pay increased wages 49,
+ labor and succeed in raising a large o
ED then the whole face of the thing
III be changed.
We VIII have on hand a crop that O
s cost us more than usual to raise.
d the price will go down and down We
d prosperity will give place TO adj tn,
rsity. We will work out our own sto
In. ve
'irst the cry will be raised that we we
We increased the acreage and the la,
and Oh that cry the price bu
II be reduced. Then next fall we ers
II see wild rush to sell. Every man val
II be afraid that the price will 20 sue
wn before he gets his cotton sold the
Is very rush will cause enormous re- sev
pts, and that will cause prices to go tur
yn, so that at every step we will be am
citing the knife with which to cut 20 [
own Threats. This should not be wei
10. We should appreciate the fact all
t diversity is the only safe plan for tina
southern farmer. Everything shows mel
D be to our interest to plant very of s
leratc crop of cotton. Do not mag the
that you are an exception. You are Of
of the items that make ND the figu
Cultivator. had