The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-02-06
Cotton Area For 1906.

be asked by anyone. It can alone be
definitely and correctly answered by
that great army of cotton growers,
who will solve the problem for them
selves and the world within the next
80 days. The great Cotton conven
ton, which met at New Orleans, La,
January 1l-13. 1906, and the execu-
tive committee of the Southern Cot.
! ton association, which convened at
the same place on January 18th, both,
harmoniously and without a dissent
ing voice, passed and recommended
the following resolution:
"Believing that the % per cent re-
duction in cotton acreage, recommend
ed and insisted upon by the Southern
Cotton association at it's meeting at
New Orleans. La, a year ago was en-
inently wise and salutary, this COM
mittee suggests with all the inslstence
at it's command that for the year 1906
the Cotton association endeavor to
continue that work, to the end that
the original Is per cent reduction
from the acreage Of 1904 may be ac-
complished in the year 19O6.'' .
It is generally admitted that the re-
duction in cotton acreage for 1905
amounted to an average of Is per cent.
The demand for full reduction. Of 25
per cent from the enormous area
planted in 1904 would mean that we
must still further reduce the area
planted in 1906 from thatspf 1905 at
least 10 per cent. Those farmers who
reduced their. cotton acreage 25 per
cent last year will not be asked to re-
duce again this year, but they will be
expected to hold their acreage down.
to that planted last year. Those far
mers who did not reduce last year are
expected to cut their acreage 25 per
cent. this year.. The man who. reduc-
ed Is per cent last year is expected to
cut his acreage another ten per cent
this year. In other words, it is i'm
perative that the cotton area planted
on every farm in the south this year
shall be at least 25 per cent less than
that planted in the spring Of 1904.
: This is easily understood and should
be strictly carried into practical oper-
alton if the advice of the best brains
from leading southern farmers, the
! Southern Cotton association and the
perils of over production are to be
; needed. The farmers are generally
getting into position Of thrift and IN
dependence. This is due to- the fact
that for the past few years. with but
one exception, the crops Of cotton
grown. have not materially exceeded
the demands for consumption, and
fairly god prices have prevailed.
Diversifcation the Watchword.
That the area planted in cotton last
year was too large there can be no
question Of doubt. But for the bad
climatic conditions prevailing in the
southwestern states, we would have
produced over 100000 bales and
suffered a tremendous depression i'll
prices. With the area planted in 1905,
which amounted to 100000 acres,
it is easily possible, with normal sea-
sons, to produce crop Of over l3,-
100000 bales. What is the sensible
thing to do; cut the acreage and hold
production within the limits Of COLI
sumption at good prices or plant
largely, produce superabundantly and
sell at ruinous. prices? This is the
question which now confronts every
cotton grower in the south. Diver
sification is the key note to the prop
er solution Of the problem. Plant
more land in food-supply crops; less
land in cotton, live at home, and sell
your staple crops slowly. and at pri-
ces showing a profit on the years la
Dor. Cotton is today the cheapest
commodity on the market, figuring
the true cost of it's production.
: The true doctrine Of diversitication
and reduction in cotton acreage will
!