The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-05-03
THE COTTON CROP OF 1oo4-'os.
Hon. Martin ". Calvin of Georgia Writes on the Cot
ton Outlook and the Proper Policy for Cotton Plan
tiers.
Editors Progressive Farmer:

Tor OBVIOUS reasons, was never so interesting or
vital as now. The purpose of this article is not
to give the farmers advice. They do not need it.
The sturdy men who wrought order out of chaos,
who have restored to the South, in aggregate
amount, the fortunes which were swept away by
war; who have ~grappled with and successfully
solved, a larger number and a greater variety of
difficult problems than were ever thrust upon the
attention of an body of men in the world, do not
need advice. But they do need to participate in,
and follow, the discussion, now in progress
throughout this country and Europe, of the issues
involved in the situation with which they are now
face to face.
A portion of the press seems to be apprehen-
slve lest the true price of cotton (by some re-
garded as abnormally high), should lead to a
greatly increased acreage in the plant this year.
Before touching upon that important question,
l wish to emphasize the fact that the crop of
$19O405 will command 1212c. to 15c., with 15c.
as the average price for the entire crop rather
than 121ac.
The lack of cotton, not speculation, fixed the
price of the crop. 10000. A comparatively small
crop will hold the true price steady for 19O4-O5.
1t would be perfectly natural, under labor con-
ditions which prevailed fifteen years ago, that the
cotton acreage would be greatly increased. Exist
80 N0o~OA wv ASoOAO w 0uSL pOAAS AhO1O
than that, existing conditions, which are a matter
of growth, not accident, will not permit the favor
able consideration of such policy.
Regardless of what he might like to do, there
is not a farmer in Georgia, or in any of the eight
strictly cotton States, who does not know that it
would be exceedingly unwise to attempt the
acreage of last year, much less an increase of
that acreage.
9 Very recently the writer was in conference
with representative agriculturists from every
Congressional district in this State-observant,
conservative, gentlemen, each of them. In reply
to inquiry on my part, each reported that it was
practically impossible to secure requisite farm
labor so far as the negro is concerned, and that
for this reason, if for no other, an increase in
the cotton acreage is absolutely impossible.
Another important view: Current discussion
has impressed upon the minds of the farmers the
fact that, on an average, the crop of 10000 was
not a profitable crop. Why? Because three acres
of land were necessary to the production of one
bale.
There is no money in cotton unless the yield
per acre-be one-half to three-quarters of a bale
a 5OO-pound bale. This is now generally accepted
as a fact.
Is labor scarce, difficult to engage, because of
wages or because or antagonism between land
owner and laborer? Not at all. The younger
negroes, who to-day constitute the body from
which farm help is to be obtained, are in a tran
sition state and averse to the character of work
necessary on a farm. That work is in no sense
exhaustive, but it must be regular and persistent
from the day the crop is pitched till it is har-
vested.
The situation in Georgia is d duplicated in each
of sthe cotton States.
Existing conditions would be alarming. 1 had
almost said appallinp. were # not for the inex-