The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-09-07
VERY SHORT CROP
FARMERS SHOULD BE SLOW TO
,-l-i 4 '.iE !..pIi
MARKET THEIR COTTON.
Should Only Sell Enough to Pay Up
Such Obligations as Are Press

Such Obligations as Are fress-
ing Them.
There is probably no class of peo-
pie in the world who are the re-
cipients of more advice than the
farmers" says the Augusta, Herald.
Everybody seems to consider him
self competent to advise them, and
not few, Of those SO ready to give
advice know far less what they are
talking about than the farmers
The Herald goes on to say espec-
tally is this advice given during the
selling season, when these friends
of the farmer rise to advise him as
to the best time for him to sell.
They are at it again this year, the
majority of them advising the farm
er to hold his cotton. This may be
good advice, which, however, the
farmer does not need He knows
his own circumstances and condl-
tions, and the obligations he has to
meet. He knows the condition of
the crop as we'll as do other people,
and the general condition OF busi-
ness. Consequently better than any,
body else each farmer will = know
when he should sell his cotton.
That the crop will not only be
short, but very short this year."is
no longer. q matter Of doubt. The
government report, on the condition
Of the crop, issued Thursday, has
settled the last Remaining uncer-
tainty on this question:. 1t not only
corroborated tie ginners' report and
all other reports as in the poor con-
dition of the crop, but showed 1t
it be lower than all previous reports.
It put the average condition at 63.7
per cent of normal, against 76.1 per
cent last year, and 1876 per. cent
average for the last ten years. 1t
was the lowest estimate on record
since these reports have been made.
Coupled with the reduced average
this means crop very much short
er than that of last year.
Perhaps the crop will reach H.
100000 bales, although this seems
possible now only if all conditions
from now on shall be favorable,
which, is hardly to be expected.
Probably the crop will fall. consid-
erably below 11,0O0, 900 bales. But
even If it reaches that figure. what
will be the condition Of the market7
Secretary: Hester's report showed
that ;last year S ,O60, GOO bales ofethe
American crop were spun in Ameri-
can. mills, while foreign mills con-
sumed S,056, 1000 bales. The stock
of old cotton on hand this year does
not vary greatly from the stock on
hand year ago: American mills
this year will consume more: cotton
than they did last! year, because
J there are more mills and because
the general improvement ~iti4 >busi-
ness will tend to greater activity
in all Then, if over 100000 bales
be required for home consumption
and the crop does not exceed H.:
100000 bales, there will be only
six million bales for customers who
will need more than eight millions
One-fourth of the cotton mills in
other countries will be unable 20
get the cotton they will need to oper-
ate their machinery. Of course the
price will go up, in the scramble
of these mills for their necessary
raw material.
Already cotton is selling at prics
from three to fou. cents higher than
at this time last year; and it is GER
tain to go up. Cotton rs now being
marketed freely, and this has a ten
dency to keep down the price. Bat
IT. will advance as soon as there is
i Gccline in the offerings fer SALE
This is the logical CONCLUSION of the
pres cotton crop condition:
The farmers know this. They are
in better condition to avoid rushing
t'lci: cct.cn to market than they
were last year. They have made
more corn and other crops, and con-
sequently are more independent
Where they must have money 20
meei obligations or for other pur-
poses. three bales will bring them
as much money now as four bales
did last year. They are in far bet.
ter condition to hold a part of this
crop and select their own time for
marketing.
And they will not dump all their
cotton on the market as fast as they
can have it ginned. To advise them
not to be in hurry to sell is super
duous. Fifteen cents cotton is in
sight, and it is those who will hold
their cotton who will get it, and
this is what all would like. Fifteen
cents means a difference OF fifteen
dollars a bale, and this is what the
farmer will make who shall decide
to hold his cotton until the rush 10
sell is over.
D,rn,. 4