The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-13

quarters of the Southern Cotton As- sociatfon, indicates upon their face that the cotton acreage has been con siderably reduced under that planted year ago, and that the use of fertilizers under cotton has been correspondingly reduced Tn the face of these reports 1t Is rather difficult to understand the constant heavy movement of comner- ciaI fertilizers unless the farmers have this year largely increased their cora acreage and used commercial ferttlt- gers to considerable extent on the land planted In corn.
 In these States tens of thousands or farmers have signed pledges to re- duce their cotton acreage 25 per cent, and the use of fertilizers under cot ton correspondingly. l am not pres pared to believe that men who have signed these pledges and who realize the present crisis which confronts the South will at this time fail to stand by their pledges, or recklsssly go forward in the very face of financial ruin and disaster by planting the same acreage this year in cotton that they did last year, and for this req son buy an increased quantity of fer- tiiizers. My confidence In the farm CTS of the South Is absolutely unshak- en, and do not believe that the re- ports which are now being sent out to the effect that an increased uuan- tity of fertilizers is being bought to be used under cotton and that the cotton acreage will not be decreased in the States named are true.
 Georgia last year was particularly responsible for the enormous increase in the size of the crop, that State raising hetween five and six hundred thousand bales more than ever before in her history.
 Individual Action.
 The Southern Cotton Association cannot undertake to be responsible for the action of each individual farmer. although we fully recognize that not only the future of this Association but the future prosperity of the en- tire South Is at this tina absolutely dependent upon the individual action of the South have been fully informed upon the situation with reference to the enormous crop produced in 1904, and also upon the fact that ct least two million bales of the 1904 crop will necessarily have to be carried over into the crop of 1905, because of the fact that this enormous surplus cannot be consumed by all of the spinning mills of the world during tne pFestHt year. A BTSdt many idItH- CTS are doubtless pursuing the policy that as it is generally understood that the acreage in cotton will be curtail- ed. they win increase their acreage and make a profit at the expense of their neighbors. From the present consumption of commercial fertilizers 1t would appear that the same mo- tive is actuating large number of our people.
 This is time when each individual should do his full duty and no man should be deceived into thinking that he can increase his acreage and use of commercial fertilizers because his neighbors will decrease theirs. There is but one way out of the present emergency which confronts the cot ton growers of the South, and that is for each individual to determine to curtail his cotton acreage at least 25 per cent no matter what the balance of the world may do. With that kind of sentiment actuating the mind and heart of every farmer who hopes to secure a profit in the production of cotton. the solution of the present problem can be solved. If one man expects to plant as many acres in cot- ton this year as he did last, or even increase his cotton acreage. he should also conclude that every other cot- ton grower in the South will do the same thing. and in oroer 10 save nin- self and his neighbors from bank ruptcy he should reduce his own acre. age and use all the influence at his command to insist upon the reduction in acreage by all of his acquaintances.
 if teis policy Is pursued. we can yet brighten the future with the hope of general prosperity. If it is not pur- sued, then cent cotton and financial disaster will be the reward of the growers, the merchants and the bank CTS before the end of the present year. The farmers in the Southwest are depending upon the farmers of the old States to stand Loyalty by them in this their first conscientious effort to reduce the cotton acreage. If the farmers of the, old States fail to CO., operate with the farmers in the South west In the planting of the present crop, it will be absolutely impossible to ever again secure any unity of &C., tion between these sections. If the cotton acreage is not materially re- duced this spring 1t will turn back the wheels of Southern progress for atwenty years and absolutely paralyze every effort in the future to unite the farmers upon any proposition of any great magnitude.