The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1908-05-07
President Taylor Again Says Reduction
In Cotton Acreage.
TO THE COTTON PLANTERS:

endorsing my efforts for a reduction
in acreage from nearly every section
of the South that I have decided to
continue the work and by request
write another article Oh similar lines.
| Cotton for October delivery sold this
week at eight cents per pound. Can
you produce it at profit at this
price? No. Then in order to get
profit on whaty you raise this season
you must plant less than you intend
ed planting at first. Reports on the
acreage issued so far show that the
acreage will be about per cent.
larger than last year. This is prob
ably due to the new farmers that
have settled in Oklahoma and West
Texas putting in so much new land.
| We must more than offset this in
crease by reducing in the rest of the
belt.
again state that the main cause
for the decline in prices is lack of
confidence caused by the fear of a
large acreage which means, with
good weather conditions, large
crop and even lower prices than at
present. Do you want to grow a
crop at an actual loss? If not re-
duce your acreage; then if your
neighbor persists in planting large
acreage and you have to sell your
crop at a loss you lose less than he.
If by reducing you add $500, 100000
to the wealth Of the South you will
not only receive part of this but you
can feel that you did your part to
add to the prosperity of the country.
Is it good business to plant a crop
where there is no profit in it? No.
Then let every reader at once plant
part of his present acreage intended
for cotton III some feet crop, or let
the land lie idle one season as you can
get more money for the crop grown
on the part you do cultivate. Ifyou
s@have it already planted do not work
it out as it will be labor thrown
away.
Which do you perfer? To plant
your present acreage and get from
7 to 8 cents per pound or reduce it
! and get II to II cents and possibly
higher. The present contemplated
acreage and good weather means q
return to the old days of cheap cot
ton Of ten years ago while reduced
acreage means a continuance of the
prosperity of the past few year.
Let every planter that reads this
at once make up his mind that he
will not be the cause of Wall Street
Bears fixing the price for your croI
as they will do with a large crop
Go to work at once to reduce YOU
own acreage and see az many Of youl
neighbors as possible at once and gel
a united action in this matter as thi:
is the only way we can be indepen
dent and prosperous.
| urge every merchant and bank
} err throughout the South to advise
: their customers to reduce their acre
age as it means loss to you as wei
2 as to the planter to return to the OLE
: days Of low prices again. twill pa.
you to write circular letter ant
send it to every planter you hav
dealings with urging reduction il
acreage. Don't delay but get bus.
: as there is no time to lose. We mus
have reduction in acreage to say
!. the South. 1t is as much your dut,
as mine to help in this work. l ge
nothing for it.
| again urge the members of til
Farmers Union and Southern Cottol
;. Association to work together for
reduction in acreage which mean
such an influence on future crops
| want to hear from every section O
the belt as to what you are doing il
!. the matter. Write me and | Civ
you all the assistance l can. Don
delay but get busy now.
]. A. TAYLOR. Pres.
Nat. Gin. Assc