The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-08-01
Turn in the Cotton Crop.

Turn in the Cotton Crop.
The cotton crop, says the Weekly
Augusta Chronicle, is now in the
uncertain period. Bulls and bears
are making it up to suit their own
purpose and millions are beng fleec-
ed from one side or the other while
nature goes on with its answering
plans. The cotton crop of the South
has unquestionably been up to the
top-notch during the past two months
but now it is, beginning to sh.w yell
low. leaf and the first bolls are open
ing, betokening the end 'of the grow
ing season. All arguments Of bulls
and bears will not affect the nations
output and in the end the price will
be governed by the supply and the de-
mand. 1t is perhaps an inexorably
hard thing that supply and demand
should govern things in general, for
there are some people who believe
that supply should be limitea to de-
mand and others who are OF the OPP
ion that demand should equal sup
ply year after year, not onlT in cot
ton, of course, but in all things.
The farmers, however, should be
virtually masters of the situation in
cotton. They should Hrbng them
selves to realize that farm.:y is an
occupation that is just as iudepend-
dent and as much business PROPOSE
ton as anything else. You cannot
get a supply man to furnish the ma
terial for less than it cost him. Con-
sequently why should anyone ask a
farmer to supply his products for less
than they cost, especially IL he be
good farmer and grows his crops
along the right plans.
If sysem was installed IN farm
ing Just as it is in many business
enterprises today it would show a
vast difference in the result to the
South. The land of the farmer is
valued too cheaply in the South and
if it were up to the high figures Of the
Middle West there would be a big
balance on the wrong side OF the led
ger. And did you ever stop to figure
too, that if the right kind CT farming
is followed in The South the ultimate
result will be as good as tha any
where?
1t is only where the wrong kind of
agriculture is pursued that the wrong
kind of results are obtaineu. If you
diversity and plant the crops needed
at home you will be in position to
withstand any kind of weather, so
to speak, that may come your way.
But the great lesson to be borne in
mind is that farmers throughout the
cotton belt are the ones whom the
world has to depend for clothing and
they should receive proper price for
it or hold on until it is paid.
Admitting that the country does
make a good cotton crop this season
there is no reason why the crop
should be sold cheaply, for the mer-
kets of the world have been depleted
and the supplies exhausted 1t
may be years again before another
big crop is made and if that be the
case it will be a good idea to store up
some for the next season and don't
20 downward, for it is cheauer to do
that than it is to sell it az a price be-
low the cost of growing it. It will
certainly be better to do that than
to 60 ahead and raise an expensive
crop next year. Just simply save
some for the nexxt season and don't
pay any attention to the demands
made at low prices.
There's another phase 10 the situa-
ton too now that is the real results
of the crop: While it must be ad-
mitted that crops have turned out
we'll to date the critical time is Just
at hand and the latter part of July
vastly different tale when the pick
and the month of Aulgust may tell a
ing is finished and the ginning Is
over.