The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-04-01
KEEPING COTTON
ACREAGE IN HAND
Reasons Why South Carolina Farm
ers Should Hold Down CrOp.

Clemson College, March 2G.-South
Carolina farmers are being strongly
advised by w. w. Long, State agent
OF demonstration and superintcnd-
opt Of the extension division of
Clemson College, not to plant an acre
more in cotton than they planted last
year. This advice is based by Mr.
Long on reports received at Washing
ton which show that, at the present
rate, this years crop will be an cnor-
nous one and the Office of dcmonstra-
tion work at Clemson college is has
tcning to urge the farmers of this
state not to follow the lead Of other
sections in what appears almost GER
tain to be Il losing policy.
Reports which have been pouring
into Washington from many parts of
the South show that Southern farm
crs, acting on the strength, it is be-
licvcd Of the good prices received on
the last crop, and not content with
holding the crop at this figure and
receiving equally good or only Slight
ly lower prices, intend to increase
their acreage all along the line.
Though it is too early for definite cs-
Inmates, it appears probable the crop
raised will be too large for the mar
kct to bear. provided The present pol
icy OF the farmers continues.
The time when everybody else is
raising lot Of cotton is just the time
for us not to raise a lot Of it," said
Mr. Long in discussing the situation.
This principle holds true in any bus
mess. We are not urging the farmer
to cut his cotton acreage. for we wish
to proceed conscrvatively. But what
We are urging upon him and urging as
planting any more cotton that he
planted last year. Let him put the
same amount OF land in cotton again
if he wishes to, and, with the con
stantly improving conditions Of soil
fertility in tho state, it is likely that
We shall make more cotton than last
year even then. probably million and
Il half bales. which is quite as much
cotton as South Carolina is called up
on to produce, or has any right to
produce"
Besides the consideration Of immc-
dia,c price. Mr.. Long pointed out
that il was the part Of wisdom for
South Carolina planters, especially
those in the lower part OF the state,
to begin a policy OF rctrcnchmcnt in
cotton growing and to have their di-
vcrsiiicaton policy well established
IN order TO present a good defense to
10 the bool wccvil when ii arrives.
TO BE Expected.
It was TO be expected that there
would be opposition to the Duke
cotton warehouse plan. 1t is al
Grcat plan. q fact which in itself
is sufficient to ensure the opposition
Of little minds. The plan, If carried
nancial independence of the cotton
farmers Of the South and save them
each year from having to market al
m ,et tncir entire crop sool al it IL
grown. This, Of course, ensures Op-
position from those who do not want
the cotton farmers Of the South finan-
cially independent and also from those
who profit by the necessity that com
pels cotton farmers TO glut the mar
ket each fall with almost their entira
production of the ficccy staple. Can
there any good thing come out cf
Nazareth asked Nathaniel That is
the attitude OF many men as to any
that comes from or is en-
dorsed by rich men. And finally. an
attempt is being made to make cotton
political issue, a means
Of getting Office. and from this source
Of course comes criticism of a non
cotton warehouse system.
Mr.. Duke. however, has received en-
dGrscment of his plan and promises
of support for it sunicento assure
success. If he will disregard the
carping critics. the chronic croakcrs
and the politicians hunting for an Of
flee getting issue and go ahead with
his plans, tho practical operation OF
the proposed great warehouse system
will be the best vindicatlon Of his
Of purpose and soundncss of
judgment After the system has been
in OperatiOn three years II will have