The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-10-31

1906. It would appear hat the pres
ent ginning represents ne arsr 3 per
cent or so per cent than 20 per cent
OF the Texas crop. CsoTcrnCr Col
quit in his letter to The Progressive
Farmer says he is confident that the
government has over-estimated the
IeXas crop. That the crop mas op-
ened rapidly on account of dry wealth
er and the crop in South Texas is
almost entirely gathered and ,inncd.
IT is q general opinion that tho
government report for December will
snow that the cotton crop has been
OTer-eStimated and that there viii SO
a sharp rise in cotton. In 1900 with
80, 93S,000 acres planted the crop
was l0,3S6,209 bales in 1919. with
81, 4o3. 900 acres planted the crop Was
11.965,962 bales. In 1911 there are
%. 900 acres planted in cotton
Even With a 14.O0c,00 bale crop
this year, which is unlikely, cotton
cannot remain a present low figures.
1t cannot be produced with profit at
present prices, and the Intelligence
OF the Sonth has grown 10 that point
where we Will not raise another big
crop with a prospect of present prices
/ which would mean certain loss. IL
] the merchants, bankers. money lend
! ers and business people of the South
/ will agree upon some concert of &C
ton to finance the crop, it will save
millions 10 the South and mean a
continuance of Southern growth and
prosperity.
The plan of Mr.. A. J. McKinnon
that would bind farmers, land own
ers ard tenants mot to plant, or per
NIT to be planted exceeding GO per
cent of the open tenable land now
owned or hereafter acquired in cot
ton." would give great relief for 1912,
| but would not entirely accomplish the
purpose. It would restrict the large
cotton farmer. but would not affect
the crop Of the general farmer In the
South.
1t will be difficult to formulate a
plan that will work a satisfactory re-
striction even if the farmer is ready
| to agree to it. In the cotton grow
ing States there are about $50, 900. 900
| acres in cultivation. OF this area
| less than % per cent or 35,000,0 900
| acres were planted in cotton in 1911.
In the greatest cotton State, Texas.
with 27,OOO.O00 acres in cultivation.
10,S66, 600 acres (about 40 per cent?
were planted in cotton in 1911. There
are more than fifty counties in Texas
in which no cotton is grown. In
more than half of Florida no cotton
is grown.
Many farmers are realizing the ne
cessity of making home supplies and
are ending these crops more profita-
bic than cotton. 1t is predicted by
some of the wisest men in the coun-
try that the ca apacity of the soil and
farmers Of the American States will
be taxed to their utmost capacity
| within the life of the next generation.
to feed and sustain the population OF
this country The farmers OF the
South are facing the future most
hopefn!iy, and are learning the les
son Of diversifcation and year by
wear are growing less dependent on
cotton. Year by wear, they are grow
ing more and more of general farm
crops. The cereal crop Of the South
is now about az large as the cotton
crop. and will far exceed the cotton
crop in the next few years. AS illus
traIions. I will mention only a few
States:
In the last decade Alabama In
creased its cotton crop Is per cent.
lccr-inued on Page TWOl