The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-01-31
COTTON AREA FOR 1906.

What shall the cotton area of the
South he in 1902 This question can
be asked by anyone. 1t can alone be
definitely and correctly answered ny
that great army of cotton growers, VINO
will solve the problem for themselves
and the world within the next 81
days. The great Cotton Convention,
which met at New Orleans La, Jan
lib 1906, and the committee OF the
Southern Cotton Association, which
convened at the same place on Jan, ID,
both, harmoniously and without a
dissenting voice, passed and recon-
mended the following resolution:
"Believing that the 25 per cent. re-,
ductiOn in cotton acreage, ec0mm
| ed and insisted upon by the Southern
Cotton Association at its meeting at
New Orleans, La, a year ago was enl-
inently wise and salutary, this COM
mitee suggests with all the insistence
at its command that tor the year lSo6
tie Cotton Association endeavor to
continue that work, to the END
that the original 25 pet cent. reduction
from the acre age of 1904 may be
accomplished in the year 1867"
1t is generally admitted that the re,
duction in cotton acreage for 1902
amounted to an average of Is per cent.
The demand for a full reduction of %
per cent. from the enormosn area
planted in 1904 would mean that we
must still further reduce the area plan
in 1906 at least 10 per cent. Ihose
farmers who redced their cotton
acreage Is per cent. last year will not
be asked to reduce again this year,
but they will be expected to hold
their acreage down 10 that planted
last year. Those farmers who did not
reduce last year are expectedito cut
their acreage Is per cent? this year.
The man who recuced u per cent.
last year is expected to cut his acreage
another ten per cent. this year. In
other words, it is imperative that the
cotton area planted on every farm IN
the South this year shall be at least 70
per cent. less than that planted III the
spring of 1904. ,,,,
This is easily understood and should
be strictly carried into practical opera
ton if the advice of the best brains
from leading Southern farmers, the
Southern Cotton Association and the
perils of overproduction are to be heed
ed. The farmers are generally getthg
into a position of thrift and lndepend-
ence. This is due to the fact that 1or
the past few years. with but q eXcep-
ton, the crops of cotton grown, nave
not materially exceeded the demands
for consumption, and fairly good prices
have prevailed.
DIvEsIFICATION THE WATCHWoRD.
That the area planted in cotton last
year, was too large there can be poques-
ton of doubt. But for the badcllmallc
conditions prevailing in the south
western states, we would have produc-
ed over 1000, 900 bales and suffered a
tremendous depression in prices.
With the area planted in 1905, which
amounted to to q 1000, 900 acreas, 1t Is
easily possible, with normal seasons,
to produce a crop Of over 19,0OO,G oO
bales. What is the sensible thing to
do: cut the acreage and hold produc-
ton within the limits of consumption
at good prices, or plant largely, produce
superabundantly and sell at rulnlous
prices? This Is the question which
now confronts every cotton grower Ill
the south. Diversification is the key
note to the proper solution OF the prob
lem. Plant more land in food-supply
crops; less land in cotton; live at home,
and sell your staple crops slowly, ana
at prices showing a profit on the years
labor. Cotton is today the cheapest
commodity on the market, figuring the