The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-20
URGE ACREAGE REDUCTION.
ASKS FARMERS TO USE LESS
FERTILIZER AND PLANT
LESS COTTON DURING
1912.
stress Laid OH Fact That Another Big
Crop Will Mean Five Cent Cotton.
Rock Hill Plan Recommended to
Farmers and Their Aid Asked i'm
Getting Good Price for Cotton.

| NSt'"S pOOu fflcc Tor Cotton.
The committee appointed by Mr..
d. U. anderson of Rock Hill to have
charge in this county of carrying out
the Rock Hill plan Of keeping up the
Price Of cotton met Wednesday and
issued the following letter to the
farmers of this county. The COM
| mittee consists Of Messrs. Neill
ODonnell, r. l. Manning and S. A..
Harvin, three Of the foremost busi-
ness men and farmers of the coun-
ty, and their ideas will no doubt be
heard with the deepest attention by
the farmers Of the county with whom
all three Of the gentlemen are in the
closest touch. The letter is:
To the farmers Of Sumter County:
The undersigned having been ap-
pointed a committee for this coun-
ty to promote and encourage what is
familarly known to every farmer in
n.
have studied the same very carefully
and recommends it's adoption to
every farmer in the county, large or
small, white and colored, as the
most practical means of reducing
the cotton acreage and thereby OBJ
tanning living profit as a result Of
their labor.
The crop Of 1910 in round num-
bers was practically 100000
bales, which sold for a billion dol
lars. The crop Of 1911, conceded
now to be at least 100000 bales,
will not yield more than $650,0OO,-
600 to $7O0.OO0.OO0. We are pro-
ducing 100000 more bales Of cot
ton and selling it for $500, 600, 900
less.
To bring the matter nearer home
Sumter, from present indications,
will receive this year 60.0JO bales Of
cotton. for which her farmers will
receive probably $2.70O,O0O, against
$4,000 bales last year which, yielded
them faIly as much. No greater ar
gument than this should be, brought
to bear on our farmers to impress up
on theru the necessity OF reaueine
rheir acreage. Satisfies SHOW that
rhe smallest crops Of cotton bring
the most money Another big crop
ard it means, in our opinion. S cent
cotton.
Not only do we recommend a, re-
duction i'm acreage, as provided for
under the Rock Hin plan, but cor
responding reduction in fertilizer: 1t
is useless for farmer to reduce, his
acreage. if he is going to increase his
fertilizer and thereby produce, the
same amount Of cotton. What lis
needed is a reduction in cotton In
the matter of fertilizer We would
recommend to every farmer to, use
his seed, as they are worth more to
him az fertilizer than he can obtain
for them on the market. From what
We can learn manufacturers are
quoting ammoniated, fertilizers, at
about last years prices, and by mix
ing kainft and acid with your cotton
seed you can get a good fertilizer for
much Tess than you can buy the
manufactured goods. A cheap. crop
must be made if satisfactory results
are to be expected
Canvassers will call on you a. little
later with pledges for your sigma
ture, and when they do, meet them
cheerfuily, and do not detain them.
Sign the pledge and let them go on
their way rejoicing, as the time is
short and there is not a moment to
spare. list Of those signing the
pledges will be published from time
to time in the county papers as they
are reported. The same. acreage as
1911 means five cent cotton. A 25
per cent reduction for 1912 means
living prices.
tSlgned) Neil1 O'Donnell,
Richd. 1. Manning,