The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-09-28
HOW TO GET MOST FOR COTTON.
Good Advice to Growers---A LARGE
Cotton Producer Talks of the
Crop and its Value if HANDLED
Properly.
Half the Crop Should be Held Back.
Seed Lower Than Last Year.

This seems to be the day OF the
farmer, and he is disposed to make
the most Of it; he is keeping posted in
general way, and on cotton in par
ticular.
An Observer man had talk, yes
terday, with one of the leading cotton
growers of the State, and got from
him a splendid idea, and some inter
esting facts. This man has proven
himself thoroughly practical by his
success; he is nothing of dreamer.
He has over 500 acres in cotton this
year, and his crop will be twenty per
cent less than it was last year.
In answer. to the question: "What
do you think Of the cotton situation?'
The cotton crop now being har-
vested can be made the most valuable
crop ever gathered, if the farmers will
act in concert and on similar lines, in
every State, county and community.
'There is now no question of the
crop being a moderate, if not very
small one, compared to what was ez-
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 II cts. if
not Is cts, per pound to the grower,
if the growers will gin and sell eau
tiously. If only half the cotton pick
ed each week is placed Oh the market
and the other half held back, either
stored in bonded warehouse, when
money must be obtained, or stored on
the farms either ginned and baled or
in the seed; there would be no glut-
ting the market for October, Noyen-
Der, December, which is the very con-
dition the spectators want, in order
that they may be able to buy what
will be in active demand the world
over, at much higher prices after Jan
uary 1st.
"What is, true of cotton is also true
Of cotton seed. The oil mills are en-
tsring the crushing season with cotton
seed oil 10 cts. per gallon lower than
last year or for the last five years, and
consequently the mills cannot pay by
$500 per ton as much asfthey paid al
through the last season for seed.
Eve have almost identically the
same condition in all crops affecting
cotton oil as existed for the season
1892 1898 when cotton oil went to IS
cts. per gallon in February 1893. We
have a very short crop Of wheat this
year, as compared with the crop for
several years past. There is no cid
wheat to be had at any price, and the
present price for wheat is So per cent.
higher than last year.
"The present corn crop prospects are
for a crop smaller than in ten years,
with perhaps one exception, and if as
short as now predicted, corn will 60
to IS cts, ana perhaps higher, Per
bushel. A short crop and high prices
for corn, means short crop AID
high prices for hogs: and with Logs
high, lard will be high, and high
priced lard means high priced cotton
Oil; then Why not high prices for
cotton seed paid to the farmers?
The crop of linseed now being har-
vested in the Northwest, is only about
one-half to three -ifths the crop har-
vested last year, and the result is,
linseed is forty per cent, the oil
about 50 per cent, linseed cake AID
meal 35 to 40 per cent. higher.
"But the United States is not the
only country with short crops. AL
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 ana competitor Of the
United States for the trade of Europe,
for wheat, is fully employed trying to
whip it's very small, and as she sup
posed, Insignificant agonist-Ja-
ban: and the result is she will have
no wheat to export, and if the var
should continue for several years. as
it is very likely to Go, Russia will soon
be importing wheat aud all kinds of pro-
visions. 'fThe olive oil crop OF ali
countries bordering on the Mediterra-
mean Sea is re ported on bestauthority 70
be only onehalf to two-thirds full csop,
and this shortage amounts to more gal
Ions of oil than the total cotton oil
crop. The condition of every crop IN
cyerv country, should warrant cotton
oil worth fully double its present
price: warrant the mill in paying at
least fifty per cent. higher prices for
seed. But the mills cannot pay more
for seed unless the prices of oil can DE
advanced to a value all things justify.
Oh mills will uct pay more tor seed
thar theg are obliged to pay, arc as
long as farmers are selling seed at sl2
to 81 per ton, mills will not pay $50
to s22, the price seed should be sell
ing at.
1.-The growers Of cotton and cotton
seed can and should control the ,n;.,lbl-
cts bv holding back both cotton AID
seed TIL they can secure a price that
I'll conditions warrant. Unless they
do. they Will find they have parted
with three-icurths of their crop 3e-
fore the advance comes, and the COT
5on and seed Spectator will reap 5ae
benefit that belongs to the producer.
Hold your cotton and hold your cot
ton Sc ed till she advance is here with
you. Il will come much sooner If ycu
hold. for SIS long as you are parting
with your crop freely, the spectator
will hold down prices.
The present crop, il only about
10. 900. OA0 BALES. can be made 90 pay
tie prodncers s10o. 000 00o to S725, ESQ
090 fetal, or from $G2o. coo, 600 to S62D,
coo. 600 for the lint. and from $50. ag0.-
eco 70 5000. coo for 5000, 900 tous
y