The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-01-18
ADVICE TO FARMERS
From a BOOK Farmer Who Never
Planted an Acre.
He Believes that Organized sEfort
Among the Cotton Farmers
viii Raise the Price

Will Raise the Price
When the cotton crop OF 1904 was
being PLATES the farmers locked for
ward to realizing 10 cents a pound for
the crop, 3r thereab0uts. It is quite
evident fr"m the large portion OF the
crop now neldiback from market that
there was little apprehension In the
MINDS OF The holders that the drop In
the market below 10 cents swas any
thing but temporary situation.
They thoi:ght that there would soon
be a reaction, and we're not prepared
tor the regular descent, ard finally
the decided plunge that followed the
November government report.
While The present condition OF the
market is serious and discouraging,
perha ps the most serious problem is
yet IN the future tae prospects for
the rext crop. We belieye-theafarm-
ers who have sold part Of their last
years :1op could stand the present.
pric S TO- the remnant still in their
hands and would let the same go to
sale, if assured in regard TO the mar
ket for the present years pros pective
crop. WHAT should be done to cause
a reaction and give assurance Of pay
ing prices next fall, Is the vital ques.
tion low awaiting an answer. 1t is
evident tlat the bull Influence is not
yet confident enough, and strong
enough ir that confidence, to effect
any considerable advance in prices.
After considering the various
schemes and plans for bringing about
a reaction that will carry prices to 3
CT 10 cents, it seems obvious that all
plans will foil that co rot include
settled determination on the part Of
cotton growers to very materially
init the area Of the next crop. Sucn
determination shcHld take solid tan
gible shape and not end in mere talk
and viva yoce resolutions. The cot
ton men who handle the crop, the
manufacturers who work it up, and
all concerned in the trade, must have
substantial reason to believe that the
farmers are going to DO what they
are ready to swear they will Go. We
believe If such substantial, unques-
t;onable assurance be carried home to
their convictions the price would i'm
media:ely commence to advance. But
the danger to be feared in case the
market shall again be quoted at or
10 cents before planting time, needs
ous 20 be merely limited at.
The farmers seem to be in earnest
this time in their purpose to cut down
the area. Each one is alX:ous for
every other one to cut the area, and is
wiling to join in the cutting. Now,
how are the farmers acting together
to convince the cotton world that
they mean business" that they are
determined, in good faith, to limit
the coming area in cotton more than
thres-fourths OF the area OF last year?
We believe the reduction should be
greater than IS per cent, not less than
33 per cent. Indeed we are not sure
that one-half the area of last year
will not yield more money next fall
than any larger proportion.
At a reduction Of rs per cent It
would be a comparatively easy thing
to reproduce the total output OF last
year by throwing out the outlying
poorer soils and concentrating skill,
labor and fertilizers on the smaller
area. The very much more liberal
use Of fertilizers last year was more
largely responsible for the big crop
than anything else within the farm
ers control. The good seasons pro-
badly had mere to co with it than
fertilizers, and seasons and liberal
fertilizirg together were far more
i1fuent:al than the increased AREA
compared with previous years. And
yet some may think it inconsistent
and unV'ise not to insist on a greatly
diminished use of fertilizers as well as
a reduced area. Why not hope for,
pray for bad seasons, for storms and
droughts and blight and raVaging in
sect enemies?
1t wo I'D be just as sensible to ad-
wise the farmers to Use old worn out
implements, to buy cheap, weakly
nules, to plant inferior seed, etc.
Such a policy would surely reduce the
Gotten crop, but it would also increase
the cost Of producing cotton. What
the far ner should do is to largely
diminish the area say 40 or so per
cent on the acreage, plant only good
land, fettilize liberally and make a
better yield per acre, thus reducing
the cost Of production while at the
same time reducing the total amount
produce |, and widening the margin
between the cost Of production and
the mar 1et price on both sides. The
strength Of this contention is largely
in the fact that any farmer can adopt
the policy without waiting for the
cooperation Of any other farmer.
Another strong feature is that such
a policy is always In order-at all
times and in all places. 1t is the fund.
amental principle that underlies
scientific, intensive farming. Every
farmer should adopt 1t, and when
every farmer shall adopt it, all will
have done 50, and the cotton mile.
mum will have come and the "cou1.
try will be saved" It is to be added
that tbs is no new gospel Of good
farming" 1t is the ''old, old story"
that has been preached by many tor
years and years and practiced by not
a few, to their profit, prosperity and
present serenity. 1t fits into the
policy and practice Of diversified
farming" Of which we have heard so
often and so vaguely; it makes such a
policy practicable and profitable and
is indispensable to its complete sue