The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-03-21
THE COTTON OUTLOOK.

plant on the present cotton outlook; but the
Fleming interview on page covers the ground
- +boroughly as to need little further elabora-
zion We also asked Secretary Parker, of the
North Carolina Cotton Association, to furnish
our readers an outline of his views; and he has
resnonded with the following well-put paragraphs.
W. would only emphasize his intimation that the
farmers greatest danger is that the price may
ADVANCE materially between now and planting
+;mc thus discouraging the all-important move
mcnt for substantial reduction of acreage. Says
Secretary Parker:
oTnterest in the cotton situation continues un-
obated. The farmers are holding on with ten
acity that has surprised the bears, and in turn
the bears have managed to keer prices down to
2 lower level than many farmers thought possible.
This latter condition has been brought about by
a continuous leaking selling of cotton by those
who either could not hold longer or by such as
are Indifferent to the welfare and best interests
of their fellow farmers. However. it may be well
that cotton is moving freely enough at this time
to prevent any material rise in the price, for such
rise might cause the acreage to be planted not to
be cut so severely as it otherwise would be.
II understand that Mr.. Price is very hopeful
and well satisfied at the situation, saying that the
farmers are beginning to realize that it is impos
sble to make water run up hill. Such philosophy
is unworthy of Mr.. Price, for he well knows that
a ram behind water can drive it up almost any
HILL So can united and determined South drive
the price of cotton up. But we may as well con-
fess that it can be done only by unity of purpose
and action. The cotton farmers have stood well,
and they have had the encouragement of loyal
business men of the South, but to accomplish the
purpose for which they set out, they need to
double their determination to win in the fight.
The victory can be theirs if they will only stand
firm. hold cotton ,and reduce the acreage to be
planted this spring.
Notwithstanding the movement of cotton is
freer than for some time the letters that come
to my office indicate determination to stick to
the 25 per cent reduction in acreage. That is the
key to the situation. If that reduction is made,
and I believe it will be, cotton will be bound to
bring a higher price than it is now selling for,
and the man who holds for that advance will real
He it.
"The thing to do now is to stand STILL and if,
as Mr.. Price says, you cannot make water run UP
hill, prove to him that you can dam it and prevent
1t from running down hill.
let every division of the Southern Cotton AS
ISOLATION and every Sub and County Alliance be-
come active living organizations throwing them
selves into the thickest of the fight and see to it
that every cotton farmer in the State is appealed
to to stand by the principles and purposes of
those organizations. Also give every business and
professional man opportunity to show on which
side he stands. Having done this, Watch ye,
stand fast in the faith quit you like men, be
strong Do this and all will be well, the victory
will be yours Fail to do it and you have lost all
You will have thrown away a victory that was in
sight and almost in your very grasp"
The sale of fertilizer tags at the North Caro-
lima Department of Agriculture indicates that