Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-06-23
st. Louis Globe Democrat.
CONTINUED from our issue Of June l9)
a Few Fluures.


planted in 1907 is placed at 100000.
If that is correct, and we have no rea-
son to doubt Uncle Sans figures, what
would have been the result if the land
had produced an average of one-half
bale, instead of about one-third of a
bale to the planted acre?
A crop of 16,5O0,000 bales.
Do YOU know what that would mean?
Nothing short of a scent market, in
view of all that has happened, and an
unstable surplus of 100000 or 5,OOO,-
900 bales. You just escaped that be-
cause nature was considerate enough
to regulate weather conditions in the
planters favor and got hustle on the
boil weevil Any credit to the cotton
grower? Not a bit; he did his best
to ruin himself, but-no use rubbing
it in.
Why plant 3S,0OO,OOO acres to grow
II 900, 900 bales.
That amount could have been grown
on one-half the acreage if only the
best land had been planted. The bal
ance was plowed, seeded, fertiliZed and
worked--but, thank heaven-not pick
ed. Millions of acres were inundated
and did not have to be cultivated; mill
lions of acres were burned UP by
drought in other sections and did not
mature: millions of acres were culti-
waited, but the weevi took his toll;
other millions yielded One-half bale
and upward: this alone bore the eX-
pense of picking, ginning and market
ing, and yet, with a relatively short
crop prices did not average within 4
cents pound of what ii would have
been worth in normal years, or has not
up to this writing. A portion OF the
crop was seeded three and four times
before a stand was secured. Where is
the profit?
At the most liberal calculation TO-
OO0, 900 acres were plowed, seeded and
fertilized for naught. This loss must
all be charged up against the product
Of the balance. 1t was, practically
speaking, only the richest and most
productive land which made the crop,
what there was of it. The poor lands
were a practical failure.
On this basis, then, enough land was
plowed, seeded and fertiliZed to have
produced all the corn, oats, hay, ETC.,
needed in the entire south. All 1t
would have cost in addition to what
was really expended would have been
the cultivation and harvesting. If each
reader of this article will analyZe his
own particular case and mentally go
over his entire plantation the result
will probably convince him that he has
been anything but business farmer
IL he is one of the fortunate ones who
averaged his bale to the acre, or near
that quantity, it may not strike him at
first glance that his calculations were
in error He is the favored exception
and profited by the misfortunes Of 9TH
ers. Their loss made possible his gain
but he did not count on that at seed
ing time; he had no ground for so do
ing. Had the other cotton growers
been favored as he was his crop and
theirs would not have been worth pick
ing.
The planters of the south cannot af-
ford to plant such an enormous acre
age of cotton and run the risk of hav-
ing such gigantic crop as good con-
ditionS would produce, especially if they
neglect all other crops and elect to buy
their supplies on the market. Each
planter jeopardiZes his own market
and his own chance of profit, as well
as that of his neighbor. He may not
be interested in his neighbor's welfare,
but he can not disassOciate his case
from theirs.
Each man must 'legislate' for him.
self as to the acreage of cotton he
plants, but his only hedge" is in the
insurance policy of so diverSifying his
crop as to render himself wholly inde-
pendent of his cotton product. If it is,
as it should be. his profit crop, he will
get some returns even if he has to car
ry it over the season.
1t is money in every mans pocket to
realize that he is not the whole thing.
Try an Experiment.
Borrow a page from the book of sue
cess. Consider your own case and an
alyze your own position. Calculate
your acreage, select all of your best
cotton land and figure how much it
will cost you to make the crop" If
you must borrow money to do this, do
not make a short term loan or one due
in the season of marketing. Borrow
enough to enable you to pay cash for
all your outlay on the season. You can
get money at a cheaper rate on long
time on your land, if you own any,
than you can on other collateral. BOr-
row from March or April for one year,
so that you may have abundant oppor-
tunity to choose your time for market
ing your crop Of cotton. If you sell
early from choice. you can deposit an
amount equivalent to your loan in an
interest paying bank, and thus get
back part of the interest charge.
Then is your opportunity to learn
how to finance your business by
scheming to raise enough of other
crops. to make living and meet that
mortgage note. regardless of your cot
ton
Plant enough corn and forage crops
to cover your needs at least. An acre
or two of early potatoes. we'll tended,
will show a good profit, and a later
crop of Irish or sweet potatoes will not
lose you anything. An acreage of cab
bage and half an acre of onions will
help A few pigs will only eat up the
waste about the farm. Chickens, tur-
keys. geese and ducks are easily cared
for by the women folks and children.
Their eggs will supply the table. Two
or three COWS will render good account
of their care if you treat them well.
The OrChard-which you ought to
have-and the vegetable garden that it
is your duty to plant, will help you live
as you ought to live. and conduce to
health. serving to lessen doctors and