The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-17
COTTON.

From Up-to-Date Farming.
 This crop, like wheat and corn, Is not classed as perishable hence 1t is as easy to control in marketing as are the staple grain crops. Cotton is really the most easily controlled, as no granary or ware house Is needed. The bales may be stored in the open. This crop is one of the chief speculative commodities of our country. and frequently great injustice is done to both producers and consumers, as well as to legitimate business through gambling in cotton. Notably was this the case in 1903-O4, when the crop was probably sold ten times over, and prices raised from 10 cents to r cents per pound. This is gambling pure and simple. and 1t is astonishing how any govern ment will tolerate and perpetuate it. It is a blot that must be oblterated by the farmers themselves.
 The remedy is in controll l marketing. Let those hold their crop off the market who can hold and this will make a bet ter market for those who cannot hold If the marketing of the crop Is extended over a year there is absolutely no doubt of the ability of growers to compel a fair and profitable price. This year a large acreage is growing and prospects are excellent for good crop. On the other end the markets are bare and anxiously awaiting the new crop. There Is a grand opportunity for growers 70 test their strength with the buyers. With anything approaching concerted action on the part of growers, there cannot be any doubt of the result If consumers took cotton at the highest speculative prices for the 1903 crop, and they did, will they not pay & fairly legitimate price for the 1904 crop if the growers demand it? They will.
 We caution farmers in the cotton belt to grow diversified crops. Don't grow all cotton and buy necessary supplies for your family, animals and farm. Re member by the plan of the A s. of E., the larger the crop the lower the price. If, with ten million bale crop, 12 cent price. can be obtained, why go to the extra expense and effort to raise a fif- teen million bale crop and sell it at 8 cents? The value will be exactly the same in both cases. Cotton in the bale, grain in the grannary and fruit and pro- duce in a warehouse are good assets, and the owners can always borrow money on them if 1t Is desired You should al- ways, however, strive to keep within your own resources. If pressed for money sell part of the crop If the market is not up to your price, and hold the balance. It may take couple of years to get the plan to working perfectly but those who hold will get the equitable price. If sufficient hold to make the market hungry at the start, all will get the price. The market for cotton is in a vzery peculiar condi- tion, and should supplies not come promptly when they are expected, prices will go up. This was illustrated in the wheat market this year. Spectators and millers had agreed that they would pay farmers 80 cents per bushel, but farm CTS would not sell on that basis. The price went to 80 cents, and still wheat did not move. When the people who own the cotton, wheat and other such neces- sary articles, set their price and fix their mind, the only thing that will yield is the demand Mark our statement and see if it will not be verified
 | It is of the utmost importance that a convention of cotton growers be held this | year to agree on price and send a repre- sentative to the national union. See ar 1 ticle in this issue. We look for encour- agement and liberal response.