Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-03-21
Atistellansuus Rmdias.
DivERsIFicATIoN THE THING.

/
iarvie Jordan Tells the Farmers How
to Reduce Cotton Acreage.
It Is generally believed that the
signing of thousands of pledges to re-
duce cotton acreage this year will re-
suit in the diversification Of crops,
something that has been needed In
the south for many years. With cot
ton acreage reduced the farmer must
utilize his land not planted In cotton,
and his land, according to all reports,
will be planted in other crops. Presi-
dent Harvie Jordan Of the Southern
Cotton association has written strong
article urging the diversifcation Of
crops, and for the farmers to raise
their supplies at home.
Raising Food Supply Crops.
Mr.. Jordan says:
"Diversification is the keynote to
successful agriculture. This not only
applies to farming In the south, but
to all sections Of the world where ag-
riculture Is carried on. 1t Is one Of the
laws Of nature, as we'll as an economic
to high state Of fertility from any
system of culture that does not en-
brace within the methods adopted a
plan Of diversification. This Is especial
ly true In the case Of our southern
lands, which have been largely de-
pleted Of their natural fertility by long
course Of planting and cultivating
single crop. Cotton has for many
years been the dominating crop Of the
south, because Of its money value,
and the ease with which 1t can be
sold In every local market throughout
the south. At the present time 1t is
particularly important that our people
turn their attention to the production
of more food supply crops and curtail
the extended production Of cotton. At
the present price Of cotton 1t ceases
to be a profitable industry where the
growers of the staple have to depend
so largely upon the purchase of sup
plies to maintain the operations Of the
farm. Unless the acreage In cotton is
largely curtailed. and the production
Of food supplies is largely increased
the future does not present very
bright picture for the cotton growers
of the south. Within the next 30 or
30 days the determination Of the
southern farmers to intelligently solve
- ,.,htn
this time will he demonstrated to the
world. Whether their action will carry
with 1t tendency toward protection
and self preservation in the heavy
curtailment Of cotton acreage and an
increased acreage in food supply crops.
Is a question which the whole world
Is now waiting for. From the informa-
ton which Is daily coming In, shown
through the columns Of the public
press, the action of county and parish
meetings and hundreds of letters from
individual farmers, 1t can be safely
predicted at the present time that the
southern farmers, for once at least,
will demonstrate their ability to put
into practical operation what they
know to be for their best interest.
"The reduction in the use Of COM
mercial fertilizers in the old states
has already become an accomplished
fact. Fertilizer factories are preparing
In many instances to shut down their
plants, and the demand for guano at
interior points by farmers Is lesS than
has ever been the case since the manu-
facture of commercial fertilizers has
become one Of the leading industries
Of the south.
Will Hold Cotton.
Another matter which has already
assisted the cotton producing Industry
of two continents is the fact that the
spot holders of cotton have so far lived
up to the pledges which they made
three months ago not to throw their
cotton upon a depressed, speculative
market and sacrifice 1t merely to graf
ify the wishes Of the exporters and
SPECTATORS. The result Of the holding
movement since January 26. up to the
present time, has already added $685.
900, 900 to the amount Of cotton left In
the south unsold up to that time. The
mere fact that the cotton is being held
and not thrown upon the market with
reckless disregard, has added more
than Sc per bale to the prices which
were offered only 30 days ago. This
has been a net gain Of fully $3.50 per
| bale to every man or firm who has
refused to sell cotton, even though
such cotton was stored In warehouses
and money borrowed on the same.
"The wisdom and sound business
Judgment displayed in the present
holding movement has exemplified the
fact beyond all question Of doubt that
unless our cotton Is dumped upon the
markets of the country. that its price
can be maintained at a value which
will show a profit to the producer.
Notwithstanding the fact that 9,O0O,OO0
| hales OF the crop Of 1904 have been
sold. and the mills generally supplied
themselves for many months, we find
today an enormous and ever-increas-
ing demand for spot cotton. And even
in tie face of a large surplus, the
price Of the staple Is slowly but surely
advancing each day. With the present
holding policy. If persisted in until af-
ter the reduction In acreage and use OF
commercial fertilizer has become an
established fact, there can be no ques-
ton that the price Of the staple will
increase at least 2 cents per pound
greater than prices being offered to-
day. Not only will the reduction In
acreage be an important feature. but
the retiring of the entire surplus will
only leave an amount Of cotton to
meet the actual needs Of the mills for
spinning purposes between the present
time and next September, and as there
Is at this time the greatest demand
for cotton goods that has ever been
known in the history Of the world,
the spot holders Of cotton have every
announcement to feel that In the near
future the value Of the staple will be
increased to the minimum price agreed
upon at the late New Orleans conven-
ton. which was 10 cents per pound