The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-16
The Next Cotton Crop.

AhC NcAt SUttUA SNVps
 Texas Stockman and Farmer.
 There appears to be a general feel ing all over the South that the 1908 cotton crop will prove a record breaker. Last years crop brought growers a fair price, and for this reason it is gem orally asserted that largely increased acreage will so in the ground this year This may be true as to Texas. because during the past four months tens of thousands of acres of new land in Tex as have been put under the blow and a goodly portion of this will go into cot ton. This paper has often referred to the disaster in cotton values which is certain to follow largely increased crop. If cotton farmers want-to secure a fair price for the fleecy staple the acreage must be kept down to some thing like present figures. Discussing this question late editorial in The Dal- las News says:
 Throughout the South the cry of the press is. Cut down your cotton acreage The fall in the price of cot ton will have been opportune f It leads the farmers to heed this advice The Charleston News and Courier seeks to warn Carolinas by quoting direful reports touching the intentions of Texans It says: It is said that Texas will plant in 1906 larger acre. age OI' COltOU t1dn tN6T DtlOIc' r UT several years the cotton crop of that State averaged about 3.oO9,000 bales year, but in 1905 it did not aggregate more than 2.400. .000 bales It Is expect ed that Texas will grow tfris year 4.- eco, 900 bales. or more than the yield Of the entire world outside of the United States. It is estimated that If all avail able cotton lands in Texas should be put under cultivation it would be prac . fNaN I GOO. 900 to 20.0oo 900 bales of cotton year, or about twice tho number of baies to supply the wants of the manu- featuring world. The News and Cour- Ter adds
 The point of most interest to the cotton planters of the South generally, and to cotton planters of South Caro- lima. in whom we have particular friendly interest. is that Texas will produce this year a million and half bales of cotton more than 1t produced last year In pitching their crops for 1906 the prudent South Carolina far mer will reduce his cotton acreage at least 33 per cent If he wishes to get anything like a fair price for the sta pIc next fall What our farmers ought to do is to make this year tho largest provision crops they have ever made If they grow cotton largely their con- alton aL Lnt Snu Ol thU CIOP SOAt Nhf be far worse than at any previous time in the last decade. The world can take only so much cotton, and the planters ought to have. learned by this time that a large crop means small price for the staple.
 This rumor as to what Texas Is about to plant will serve a good pur pose If is leads Carolina farmers to follow the advice of The News and tS NayH ha same rumor should not serve as warning to Texans as well as South Carolinians. The News does not be lieve that the report is true. and relies upon the fruits of diversfieation and the common sense of Texas farmers to assist in saving Texas from the results of any such mistake. but 1t Is at least in order to publish the rumor as timely warming and thus to saddle re- sLonsibility for any evil consequences to come of a cotton craze squarely up on those who bring the calamity about