The Spectator., 1915-10-19
THE HIGH PRICE OF COTTON

Why plant more cotton and get less money when you can plant less cot ton and get more money for it?" This Is the question that has been sug- gested to the Profitable Farming Com mittee to propound to those who feel that they did not plant enough cot ton this year and who may feel dis posed to increase their acreage next season in view of the present price on cotton.
 Tn high price of cotton in a large measure is due to the low yield, to re- duction in cotton acreage brought about by the wave all over the South to feed ourselves and stock" Con- siderable croaking has already de- veloped among the minimizing who are complaining about having reduced their cotton acreage" said F. J. Bod man, chairman of the Profitable Farm ing Committee.
 The committee faced this problem fin prospect before it actually arose at this time; that of dealing with the man who wants everybody else to re- duce cotton acreage except himself We have been trying to make the short-sighted fellows see that it is the reduced output coupled with a grad ual marketing of the crop that makes the high price and that increased ! acreage for the sake of additional profit would defeat his own object
 The farmers through application of ing themselves into a commanding DO sition with respect to the cotton crop and by acquired independence of the planter who Is Tn position to sell or hold, as he pleases. owing to the fact that he is not forced to send out money for food for man and feed for beast It matters not whether cotton reaches a 20c figure or not, the policies that this committee has been behind for the past year. Feed yourselves and icy to follow The committee can on ly point out the facts that are so self evident that a young school child car understand them and seek to spread | the doctrine of feeding ourselves and stock" Tive at home, "A COW. a pig or two. a pen of chickens for every 1 family upon farm,' etc.
 When we raise our living at home and save the money that usually goes out to other states for food for mar and feed for beast, heretofore amount | ing to more than sixty-fve millions oi | dollars annually. then gradually grow into live stock that is so necessary t1 maintain soil fertility as preached b, the agriculturists and then raise that crop upon which the South holds a monopoly and for which it is so wei adapted. then the South will become prosperous.
 Give us five years of a properly di versified cropping system and the South will be the most prosperous sec 1 tion of the world.
 If these facts and principles are not emphasized and dwelt upon a lot ot foolish people are going to go cotton 1 crazy dSdiH anu tlle result VIII ue all other fearful object lesson-overpro duction. starvation prices, and the loss of prestige that the South has gained within the last year.
 The banker. the supply merchant the farmer, all have interests in com mon: the former cannot prosper to the fullest degree unless the farmer prospers and it is plain that he can not prosper if he is to go cotton-crazy
 It is to be hoped that this is pret ty generally recognized over the en tire South. but the campaign referred 10 is more essential this year than il even was last year.
 | With the Extension Department o the University of Fayetteville and other agencies that are prepared to give out correct information on new crops and methods. there is no req son why we should not progress sane ly and safely, Whenever the bust ness man and the farmer gets to us ing the agricultural agencies at oul command. to the funest extent, anc not until then will our country make the most rapid progress.