Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1905-03-09
RAISE PLENTY OF GRAIN
Commissioner Stevens Gives
Farmers Good Advice.
100000 BALES FLEEcY STAPLE
This Is the Amount of Cotton the
South Should Plant For-Mr. Ste
vens Well Pleased With the New
Orleans Cotton Growers Meeting.


vens Well Pleased With the New
Orleans Cotton Growers Meeting.
The last report issued by the Unit
ed States Department of Agriculture
at Washington, D. c., and also the
gfnners' report, showing the crop of
cotton raised the year 1904, has natu
rally attracted a great deal of atten.
tion. The crop as shown by the re-
ports is so much larger than the
that it calls for earnest reflection
The low price of cotton since
last November has very seriously af
fected many of our people financially
So much so, that all of the cotton
states through their organizations and
other sources, conceived the idea that
it would be best to call a meeting of
the farmers, bankers and merchants
at New Orleans, / was fortunate
enough to be at this meeting, and
suffice it to say that it was one of the
most representative gatherings l have
ever attended. All the cotton states
and territories producing cotton were
present with large delegations, and
every single delegate seemed
to be of one opinion, viz: that the
surplus cotton now on hand should be
stored and that as far as possible
1t should be kept off the market for
the present, and that an organization
should be formed for the purpose of
inducing every planter to reduce his
acreage 25 per cent in cotton and fer.
tilizers accordingly, SO as not to raise
a cotton crop this year to exceed
100000 bales, and in this way take
care of the surplus cotton now on
hand without selling it at a sacrifice
There were great many plans sug.
gested, but the convention, after dis.
cussing all of them, finally reached
the conclusion that by a united effort
the people could be induced to hold
their cotton for the present by keep
ing out of debt and trusting to the
southern bankers to tide them over
until fall.
| have for several years been urg-
ing upon our people of Georgia to
raise plenty of grain and forage for
both man and beast, and to diversity
their crops as far as possible, keep
ing plenty of pasturage, growing the
various grasses suited to their loca.
ton and climate, and by that means
raising more hogs, more cattle, more
poultry; in fact, everything that is
needed around the home or farm, and
then, if we have an overproduction of
cotton, we would be prepared for it.
When we are out of debt and have
plenty of home supplies, the price of
cotton does not affect us so much. l
still urge this plan, and hope the peo-
pie of Georgia will stop and think for
a moment what we might do if we
would. Tn history of the cotton crop
for the last thirty years has shown
that the smallest crops have brought
the most money to the planters. To
Illustrate, in 1898, when we used
100000 tons of guano, we raised a
crop of 11,250,000 bales. That crop
brought us less than cents. The
following year, 1899, we used 100000
tons Of guano and raised a crop of
100000 bales. This crop brought us
fraction over cents During the
year 1900 the entire surplus of 1898
was wiped out. We took an even
start upon the market and the crops
since that time have been kept with.
in reasonable bounds of consumption.
Therefore we have had up to the re-
cent decline fair and rea-
sOnable price for our cotton
since 1898. Our people ought to stop
and think for moment what the
result may be if crop of 10000, 900
or 100000 bales is made this year
q905). We would be so Handicapped
with surplus cotton that it would take
US years and years to be relieved. 1t
is to be hoped that our entire people
will adopt the plans suggested by the
New Orleans convention and give all