The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-07-24
THE COMMING CROPS
PROSPERITY WILL COME WHEN
THEY ARE GATHERED.
The Farmer, Who Feedeth All, Is
Once More Pulling the Country
Out Of the Rut.

The reports from the cotton belt
indicate considerable reduction III
the cotton acreage and a condition
foreshadowing a comparatively short
crop. When these conditions were
announced about the first week In
July there was a sharp advance In
the price of cotton in the markets of
the world, carrying the price of cot
ton to the highest point it has reach
ed in some time. The highest price
reached was nearly thirteen cents for
Midlands in New York.
If, says Home and Farm, the re-
duced acreage of cotton means an
increase acreage in corn, grass and
other products of the farm, the
Southern farmer Is to be congratu-
lated. He will receive as much for a
reduced crop of cotton or more, per-
haps, than he would receive for a
large crop. He has his other crops
in addition.
There is much talk of the boil
worm in the Delta, but the boil worm
has ceased to alarm the farmers save
the individual farmer who has made
no preparation against the worm and
has nothing to fall fack on when his
cotton crop is largely curtailed.
1t does not follow that because
speaking Of the crop as whole-the
Southern farmers get more for a
small crop than for a full crop that
the same statement is true as to the
Individual farmer. The reduction
may fall upon small territory or
upon a few individuals, and these
are the sufferers.
1t all means that no farmer, large
or small, should confine himself to
one crop, should rely solely upon
cotton. He should have corn and
potatoes and cowpeas and alfalfa and
clover. He should study his market
and prepare to meet these demands.
The corn crop promises to be the
largest in the history of the country.
The price of corn for two years has
been high, has probably been in the
markets the most profitable of all
farm products. The result has been
that the acreage is greatly increased
this year. The season has been fav-
orable; that is, We have had moisture
and heat. If we have heat and no
drought during July and August, the
result will be altogether satisfactory
to the farmers.
The rains through the agricultural
regions have somewhat interferred
with the harvesting of the wheat and
of the hay; but only in a few locali-
ties have the rains been disastrous.
Speaking generally of the West and
South. the season has been favorable
and the promise Of grass is fine.
The outlook is cheering. The farm
er is once more pulling the country
out of the ruts. He is getting from
the soil the wealth needed to make
good the losses due to extravaganza,
fire, earthquakes, war and the pre-
parations for war. Seven thousand
millions of dollars is a great amount
of property; that much the farmer
will get out of the soil this year, as
he did last, and it will set all the
wheels of industry moving. Ii the
farmer now will market his crop with
as much wisdom as he displays in
raising his crop he will soon be well
off.
But let him not assume that he
has reached the highest result on
his own farm. If he will study his
own experience as recorded in his ac-
count book, if he will confer with his
neighbor, he will find that there Is
no limit to be set to the increased
production of the soil, if the soil is
rightly understood, If the seeds are
properly selected and if the proper
machinery is used in cultivation.