The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-01-29
Reduce the Acreage.

The Rock Hill Herald calls atten-
ton to the efforts that are now be-
ing made to depress the price Of cot
ton. The South Carolina spinners
in their Columbia meeting decided
to curtail production, it says. The
New England spinners have done
the same. They say they have no
demand for goods and there is no
use piling them up in warehouses.
They claim that cotton is too high
for the spinner to get any profit out
of it. The English spinner at a re-
cent meeting passed a resolution
looking to the establishment Of an
immense cotton farm in the South
so that they might teach people how
to make, take care of and bale cot
ton. This all shows that spinners
are anxious to get back to six-cent
cotton and that they will unite their
efforts and great capital to accom-
plish their purpose.
In view Of this, what should the
cotton growers do? asks the Angus
ia Herald. In the first place, as to
the cotton grown last year, they
should continue to hold it. The
crop last year was a short one, at
least two million bales short OF meet
ing the ordinary requirements. The
little curtailing Of manufacture that
may be done here and there will
have little effect. The new mills
will more than suffice to make the
demand for the raw material as
great as it was last year. So far as
the cotton now on hand is concern
ed, it is bound to advance in price
as the season advances.
AS to next year the Southern
farmer should prepare to meet the
organized efforts Of the manufact-
urers to bear the price by planting
more corn, peas and small grain.
That will surely lead up to raising
colts, hogs and cattle. That will
cut down guano bills. Prepare land
throughly and plant two-third the
usual acreage in cotton. That may
give less cotton but more mon
ey. Ifit was known that the
South would make only ten million
bales this year, the crop would be
bought for future delivery at Is
cents if possible Then let the acreage
be cut down. This is the only de-
fense the farmers can make. With
an abundance Of corn. hay, hogs
and cattle on hand the farmer vii
be in condition to hold his cotton
till needed.
This is a stereotyped form Of ad-
vice which has been given Southern
farmers for many years before plant
ng time. But it is worthy Of more
consideration now than ever. The
high price for which cotton has sold
III this season, and the still higher
price which those will get who shall
,e able to hold it, will serve as an
Incentive to planting larger acre
.ge. If this be done, it will play
o the hands Of the manufacturers,
IS they have stacked the cards, The
,rice next season would be low.
So the safe plan will be to devote
larger acreage to corn, small grain
I'd other crops, and less to cotton.
mis- will insure a high price for cot
On and at the same time have the
arms better stocked with food sup
lies. It would mean prosperity for
he farmers, and for the entire
outh.
To this the Farmers Union and
cuthern Cotton Association should
ldress themselves. AS to the last
.asons crop, they can do nothing !
,ore. Each individual holder Of !
otton must now determine when he
al sell his remaining bales. But c
trough the Union and the Southern
'ot.on Association with their mem {
er$hip including the majority Ct
otton planters, the urgent need Of .
the acreage to be given to /
otton should be set forth and an ac-
lal reduction Of not less than {