The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-12
DrvERsIFIcATIoN vs. OVEn.pl

OvER-PRODUC~TyON. The Southern Cotton Association will not ask the farmers of the South to re- duce the cotton acerage for. 1906 less than that planted in 1905. Tho Asso- ciation does ask and insist with all the force at It's command that the acre. age planted in cotton throughout the belt in 1905 be not increased during the planting season of 1906. Let the watchword of every Southern farmer be divcrsffication. and through that agency produce an abundance of food supplies to maintain each farm. per- manent indepe ndence. thrift and pros rerity cnn only be enjoyed by South- ern cotton growers through the adopt ion and maintenance of system which will make each farh f-sustaining: It Is the only medium through which the, present Ubiquitous credit system, which has so long held our people in bondage. can be effectively broken up and relegated to the past. 1t is the only medium through which the great masses of cotton producers can ever hope to control tho sale of their cot ton in the markets of the country and force consumers and buyers to pay them fair and just prices for the sta pie. Any system which forces the producer to market his crops rapidly tn order to meet maturing obligations to pay for supplies that could be more lcheapiy raised at home will ever tend
 to make slave of the grower. minim- ixing the rights of manhood which every Southern cotton raiser should enjoy to the fullest extent.
 over .roduction Serious Menace. In the spring of 1905 crisis serious
 and potential faced the cotton growers of the South by reason of over-pro-
 dnction of cotton In 1904. The south Icru Cotton Association at that time wngcd an active and effective cam paign for a reduction in the cotton area to be planted In 1905. The advice of the Association was ioyaily support ed by the cotton growers throughout
 the entire cotton belt and { reduction
 of fully five million acres was strick-
 sn from the cotton area for 1905 and planted in other crops. The result uf 1 this display Of good judgment on the
 part Of the formers Is to-day seen in bringing the production of cotton within the legitimate demands for con-
 sumption, good prices for the staple and welI-filiod corn cribs and smoke-
 houses from North Carolina to the Rio Grande River. The agricultural. com nerciaL industrial and financial i'm
 terests Of the south are to-day en- Joyinx an era of prosperity far In ex-
 cess of any period experienced within
 the past half century. To maintain
 our present. position and forge ahead in the achievement of greater Euc-
 cesses, ii is Imperative that no serious
 mistake be made by the planters who
 arc now making ther arrangements
 for the spring planting of 1906, Let
 every man pause and calmly consider
 his future even while enJOying the
 flush of victory which has been the
 most marvellous ever won in modern
 timee.
 Present Acreage Sufficient
 oraaEnf A1fiuatad fwan U auaf,
 million acres planted in cotton Is suf- fcient under normal climatic condi-
 tiOnR to produce enough cotton to meet the demands of spfnners for the American staple. Any material in- creass In the cotton acreage for 1906
 wiIi tend to stagnate the cotton mar ket and depress prices below their le- sriIimate value. The legitimate laws of supply and demand Is the only true medium ol regulating iair anu leGiti- mate prices for our great staple pro. duet. The southern Cotton Assvcia- tion through ull its sources Of strength and comparative me diums of dissemi- mating information to It's Toy al and pa- triotic supporters, with an eye single to the future prosperity Ot all cotton growers and business interests of the South, earnestly Inakes thir appeal for broadening the splendid advan tages thai are to be gained by eiVer- sified agriculture on Southern farms. Plant an abundance Of small grain, corn and side crops. Raise more hay, cattle and hogs.
 Peace and Plenty.
 Let well-filled corn cribs and smoke houses be the great bulwarks of safety between the farmers and the world of trade with whom they have to deal. Rotate your crops. intensify your acreage, fertihzs liberaliy, cultivate xyatt r,rohuca ri,ntifuiiy on the acre age planted and enjoy those rewarfsI which should be the fulsome portion of those who rili our southern soils 1