The Jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 18??-1907, 1905-04-08
DIvERsIF1CATIoN.
Something to Sell Every Day. Nation
al Cotton Association. Reduc-
ton of Cotton Acreage.

"What do you think of the proposed
reduction of the acreage for the year
1882" is an inquiry frequently made
by farmers. but not so easily answered.
1t depends on conditions. If the OBJ
ject is to reduce the acreage in order
to put more labor on the area cultivat-
ed in cotton, the policy is wise and
should be generally followed. If the
object is to cut down the acreage solely
for the purpose of increasing the price
of cotton 1t is questionable, and espe-
cially as this request is accompanied by
resolution to reduce the amount of
fertilizers used by 25 per cent. 1t looks
like suggestion 10 make poor crop
to increase the price.
This poor crop policy is one of the
most damaging lines of advice that
could be given to the public. No farmer
ever made any money by following the
poor crop policy of agriculture. A large
number of reports were secured last
year from reliable farmers in Louisiana
and and Texas covering the question of
cost of production of cotton, and it APP
pears from these reports that an aver
age cost of lint cotton. per pound where
the crop averaged q bale per acre was
4.Sc. If the product fell to one half
bale the cost Of production increased to
&c per pound; and the same reports
show that where one-third of a bale
the average is sic, and at one-fourth
OF a bale the cost rapidly increased;
| When it reached one.eighth of a bale
! the cost was 1Sc per pound; at one
sixteen of cost became 36n per pound.
In these estimates of cost everything
is allowed at reasonable cash value
including rent of land, use of teams,
tools, etc. These costs are only av-
erages. Some farmers may make cot
ton at less and some at greater cost.
The startling lesson that these fig
ures teach is that the average Texas
farmer has not been making any money
raising cotton, because as shown by
the census report the average crop in
Texas has been but little over one.
third of bale per acre, costing. on our
statement, Gle per pound, which is
above the average price. This class OF
farmers, and all making less crop,
have produced cotton by reducing the
wage to which they were entitled, OF
the comforts of life which justly be.
long to them and their families, or the
education which our civilization de.
mands of every citizen, and in general
they have reduced all of them.
The practical lesson to be needed is
let every farmer raise the best cotton
crop possible, because this is the only
line of profit. If you average less than
one-half bale per acre, better go out OF
the cotton business. This applies to
every farmer who is making cotton on
his own account and wants to prosper
10 men who are renting their lands fol
a share, it is of the highest Importance
to secure good crop, and the tenant
must make better average than ht
has in the past ten years or his future
is not very brilliant. There are certain
liked charges in the production of al
crops that are practically the sam,
whether the crop is large or small, sucl
as rent of land, breaking, seed, pillow
ing or cultivating, and in general, al
items incident to the production of
crop except harvesting.
TO these must be added family ex
penses where a man works his owl
] crop. From money standpoint tn
most essential problem in farming i
how to make large crop economically
and the laager the crop the greater til
= economy as a rule.
There is more profit in reducing tn
acreage two-thirds and producing
!, bale to the acre than in planting tn
u whole land and harvesting one-third {
y a bale. The difference between plant
y. ing 300 acres to cotton and getting one
y third of bale per acre or planting 10
. acres and getting bale per acre
$3.50 in costin favor of the less acreae
: and the larger crop.
y S. A. KNAPP.