The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-01-18
TRUST HELPS TO HOLD COTTON.
Virginia Carolina Company's Presi-
dent Gives Instructions to Agents.
Less Acreage Recommended.

S. 7. Morgan, president OF the Flr-
ginia- Carolina Chemical company has
written letter of instruction to the
sales division managers Of the COM
pany which is of interest to cotton
growers because Of the information
contained Mr.. Morgan does not ad-
wise farmers either to hold cotton Or
sell, but he does advise less acreage
and cultivation. He says:
The treasurer Of this company is
having so many requests to extend the
notes of some Of our customers and
patrons, who have not finished pay
ing their bills, and who desire to hold
their cotton, stating that they believe
they will get more for the cotton later
on, that this company has concluded
to issue a general letter on the sub
ject, as follows:
Any farmer or merchant who may
be owing your division money and
who has cotton which he desires to
hold, you are at liberty to e, tend his
note for him six months from Jan.
1st, with interest at the rate of S per
cent. per annum, provided he will de-
posts sufficient cotton to pay the note
in any reliable warehouse and will
turn over to you warehouse receipts
for same You are auhtrized to pay
the insurance on said cotton and make
the charge against your. customer for
this item.
We do not pretend to offer advice
to- our customers to hold cotton, but
we do intend to offer them every
faciclity and accommodation in our
power to hold their cotton, if, in their
good judgment, it is best. Whatever
inures to the benefit Of the agricultural
classes Of the south is to our benefit;
our interests is identical with theirs.
We are more closely and intimately
connected with the cotton grower Of
the south than any dozen other con-
Germs combined. They are our Gus
toners in the purchase Of fertilizers
and we are their customers in the pur-
chase Of cotton seed. We both sell
and buy Of them, and dealin every
cotton growing country from Texas to
Virginia. Therefore, anything that will
improve the agricultural conditions or
help the farmer must necessarily bene-
fit us, and if holding their cotton will
be a benefit to them, it is our desire
to aid them in this as far as we can.
Other farm products aside from cot
ton, appear to US to be selling at very
full values, and we believe it would
be wise in the farmers to sell any OF
their other surplus farm products
which would materially aid them in
holding their cotton.
We are also Of the opinion that the
acreage last year devoted to cotton
was too large, and that it never could
have been cultivated III normal sea-
son. The good weather during the
spring enabled the farmers to cult
vate every acre they planted; conse-
ouently the tremendous big crop OF
this year. AS ordinarily it. would be
impossible to cultivate such an enor-
nous acreage, we believe it would be
wise in them this year to materially
decrease the acreage. If it was decreas-
ed ten per cent. it would mean
reduction of more than a million bales
next year, even if the crop yielded as
much per acre as it did this year.
It strikes us that what the farmer
wants is 70 make his cotton at the
lowest possible cost. The profit de-
! rived from growing cotton is not SC
much the pric Of cotton as the cost
| at which the crop has been grown
Mules and horses are high, much high
| er than a few years ago; the price Of
farm labor is high and scarce. There
fore every acre cultivatd means a
large expenditure. 1t costs more &c
| cultivate an acre of land growing
quarter Of a bale Of cotton than one
| growing bale. In the latter instance
the plant soon grows up and shades
the land, consequently the grass does
| not grow so rapidly or luxuriantly.
The cheapest item that can be usec
in the production Of cotton is com
| nercial fertilizers used literally. With
liberal application of fertilizers th<
farmer can grow a bale Of cotton
where he has heretofore grown half 9
bale. and DO it with the same cost OF
| mules ana labor, and the additional
quantity OF seed grown will more than
! pay for the extra amount of fertilizers
used. Therefore, encourage your GUS
toners to reduce their acreage and &c
! i,c-asco the amount of commercials