The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1905-02-15
MONTHLY TALK TO FARMERS
COTTON CROPS HAVE
BROUGHT THE MOST MONEY.
Farmer Who Is Out of Debt and Has
Plenty of Home Supplies Doesn't
Have to Worry About Market.

|
Commissioner of Agriculture O. B.
Stevens in his monthly talk to farm
ers. lust issued, discusses the cotton
situation, and urges the farmers OF
the state to plant grain. He says IN
part:
'"The last report issued by the Unit
| ed States department of agriculture at
Washington, and also the ginners
! report showing the crop OF cotton
raised in the wear 1904, has naturally
| attracted a great deal Of attention.
The crop as shown by the reports IS
so much larger than expected thai IL
calls for earnest reflection. The low
price of cotton since last November
| has very seriously affected many OF
our people financially. so much
so that all of the cotton states
through their organizations and other
sources conceived the idea that IL
would be best to call meeting OF the
| FARMERS, bankers and merchants at
New Orleans. | was fortunate enough
to be at this meeting, and suffice 1t 10
saw that it was one of the most repre-
sentative gatherings | have ever at
tended. All of the cotton states ana
territories producing cotton were
present with large delegations, ana
every single delegate seemed to be OF
one opinion, viz: that the surplus cot
ton now on hand should be stored,
and as far as possible it should be
kept off the market for the present,
and that an organization should DE
formed for the purpose OF inducing
every farmer to reduce his acreage 70
per cent in cotton and fertilizers ac-
cOrdingly so as not to raise coIIon
crop this year to exceed 9,OOO,OOO
bales, and in this way take care OF the
surplus cotton now on mana WlthouI
selling it at a sacrifice.
''There were q great many plans
suggested, but the convention, aIter
discussing all of them, final reached
the conclusion that by united effort
the people could be induced to hold
their cotton for the present by keeping
out of debt and trusting to the SOUTH
ern bankers to tide them over until
fall.
~ have for several years been urg-
ING upon the people of Georgia to
raise plenty of grain and forage 1of
both man and beast and to diversity
their crops as far as possible, keeping
plenty of pasturage, growing the varl-
Gus grasses suited to their location
and climate, and by that means rails
ing more hogs, more cattle, more
poultry: in fact, everything that IS
needed around the home or farm, and
then if we have an production OF
cotton we would be prepared for 1t.
When we are out of debt and have
plenty of home supplies the price OF
cotton does not affect US so much.
still urge this plan, and hope the peo-
pie of Georgia will stop and think for
moment what we might do If we
would The history of the cotton crop
for the last thirty years has shown
that the smallest crops have brought
the most money to the farmers. 10
illustrate. in 1898, when we used 40,
900 tons of guanO, we raised crop OF
II. $50. 900 bales. That crop brought
us less than cents. The following
wear, 1899, we used $40, 900 tons OF
guano and raised a crop OF 9,4OO,OOO
| bales. This crop brought US frac-
| ton 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 within reaS-
enable bounds of consumption. Ihere-
fore, we have had up to the recent de-
cline a fair and reasonable price for
our cotton since 1898. Our people
ought to stop and think for moment
what the result may be if a crop of
l., 900, 600 or 1900, 600 bales IS made
this year. We would be 50 handi-
capped with surplus cotton that 1t
would take us years and years to get
relieved of it. 1t is to be hoped that
our entire people will adopt the plans
suggested by the New Orleans conyen-
ton and give all the aid they possibly
oo,, on +bat limo -