The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1909-04-28
lcoMMuNIcArEpl


cllnation among the farmers Of okla
homa 10 quit the planting Of cotton and
raise corn for anothre year. am sure
those who follow this inclination and
fail to plant cotton viii regret Il next
fall. II is not 10 the farmers interest
IN Oklahoma 70 plant All OF his land in
one crop: the one thing that Oklahoma
boasts OF most, is the fact that we can
raise more kinds OF crops than any
other agricultural section Of the coun-
try. This Is o great country and we
can raise a diversity Of crops. This
being the case we are foo'lshly throw
ing away this advantage when We fell
to diversity our crops. and such a state
OF affairs will be bad. not only for the
fathers, but for the commercial in
terests OF the state al large.
The old saying. DO not put all your
eggs in one basket" applies well here.
We have seen too often failures in one
crop countries. and these failures have
always been disastrous to the best IN
terests OF such country. because q
leaves the country twelve months with
out any agricultural support and the
farmer twelve months without any in
come from his land
Corn Is high this season. but who
knows what the price viii be next
fallg The territory in which corn can
be planted is wide and Information
seems to be that in all OF the territory
where corn can be planted. that an inn
mense crop is going in, and that next
year may break all past records for
overproduction Of corn.
Cotton has been cheap this season
on account Of overproduction; but let's
look into the matter a little. We made
l3 100000 bales OF cotton this season
and the price today is better than sl6
cents for middling cotton. Suppose
we only raise a crop OF II 100000 bales
the coming season, and this seems to
be indicated from the short acreage
that Is going in all over the south,
don't you think we are Justified in pre-
dieting a price of not less than liz to
- cents? VIII II pay to raise cotton
at such prices? I believe that every
farmer win say that q viii pay and
pay we'll viii say also that II is not
idle-s speculation. but a prediction based
on sound reasons that we VIII have
Just such prices next fall The mills
have consumed practically all Of the
present crop ls.50O.0o0 bales) at
prices around 3 cents, average, and are
now scratching for the remnants at
siz cents. Is it not good reasoning to
figure that they are doing this expect
ing a short crop and higher prices
when the new crop comes in?
Cotton mills are trying TO buy cotton
for next September, October, Novem-
Der and December deliveries, and this
is another Of the surest signs Of higher
prices for cotton. Prices on all food
stnffs are and have been very high.
This is almost sure to cause the un-
thinking farmer, wherever wheat and
corn can be raised. to turn his atten-
tion largely TO these crops. If he does
foodstuffs viii decline, and on account
of the same law of supply and demand.
cotton will advance because of the
farmer quitting the production Of #.
Il would be a good plan in this sec
tion for the farmer to keep thoroughly
posted and take advantage Of HIS abili-
ty 10 diversity his crop and plant his
crops in such a way each year to take
advantage OF advancing markets and
in no year let his farm go all to one
crop would not advocate the plant
ing of all cotton, all corn, or in fact
any one crop. but on the other hand,
would advocate little cotton. a little
corn, etc. making It sure that he will
get an average return for his labor
every season If this is done our coun-
try will go on prospering as 1t has in
the past
Statistics being collected indicate a
short acreage of cotton this year all
over the South What is the benefit
of our government going to the ex
pense of collecting these statistics al
this time Of the year if the farmer does
not take advantage Of them? You may
rests assured that the mill men and the
spectators win take advantage d
them. and they are now taking ad
vantage Of such statistics by buying
cotton for next fall deliveries.
With sound faith in the intelligence
of Oklahoma's prosperous formers,
beg to remain, yours truly,
VI cyTrn ftr1TrESn