The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1915-05-26
Agricultural Conditions IN South
Carolina.

The very informing articles which
have been printed in The News and
Courier recently relating to agricul-
tural conditions and prospects in
South Carolina do not encourage the
belief that the States production of
cotton is likely to be cut more than %
per cent at the outside provided the
seasons for making crop are favor
able from this time on. In Colleton
the acreage in cotton is not likely 10
be reduced more than 15 per cent. The
same estimate obtains as to Cherokee.
From Fairfield comes the report that
from so to So percent Of the normal
acreage is being planted. So it gees
all along the line. The estimated cut
in Sumter is 20 per cent; in Lee 25; IN
Pickens IS; in York 20 to %; in
Darlington 10; in Laurens 20; in Marl-
boro from 15 to 20.
Less fertilizer is being used in all
these counties. The reports to The
News and Courier state that the re-
duction in the use of fertilizer in
Marlboro will amount to 90 pc. cent;
in Laurens to GO per cent in Dar!-
ington so; in Pickens 80; in Lee 80;
in Sumter 80; in Fairfield so; in
Cherokee 35; in Colleton 80. These are
estimates, of course. They suggest
that the average farmer is probably
trying to get along on about half the
the commercial fertilizer he has been
accustomed to use, but that in many
cases he has already concluded that
he will not be able to do this. 1t is
not likely, however, that above 70 per
cent of the normal supply of fertiliz-
ers will be purchased in South Caro-
lima this year.
All the letters which have been re-
ceived sound cheerful note. Labor is
costing less, and the supply is abun-
dant. On this account it is suggested
In number of the reports that the
production of cotton may not be far
from normal, despite the reductions
which have been made in acreage and
In the use Of commercial fertilizers.
Everywhere it is stated that farmers
are Keeping down expenses and are
doing their best to live at home. Not
as many hogs will be raised as ought
to be raised, owing largely to the diff
ticulty of getting as many S6ung pigs
as are needed; but much more meat
Will be produced in South Carolina
this year than ever before, and much
more poultry also. This is true also
as to wheat and corn and oats; al
though the experience of the average
South Carolina farmer the past win
ter and spring does not invite the be-
lief that this is likely ever to be much
of a grain state. If the seasons had
permitted the planting Of more grain
this year the acreage in cotton would
have been reduced much more than it
has been.
The reports to which attention Is
called are from all sections of the
state and are probably fairly typical
of conditions throughout South Caro-
lima. There will be regret that the
acreage in cotton has been reduced
so slightly, but as The News and
Courier pointed out again and again
last fall and winter, in opposing the
acreage reduction law, nothing else
than this was to have been expected
We have in South Carolina large
colored population which is absolute
ly dependent upon the growing of cot
ton for a livelihood. These people had
to be taken care Of some way and
they could not have been provided
with work If the cotton acreage had
been cut IN half
The situation which exists today is
on the whole one which encourages
optimism. One great lesson the peo-
pie Of South Carolina seem to have
learned fairly we'll already as re-
suit Of their experiences Of the past
year-the obsolute need OF economy.
Another and no less important lesson
Is beginning to impress itself upon
their consciousness--the fact that the
tenant system Of the State is waste
fnl to the last degree. THE farmer
and business man quoted by our
Darlington correspondent as saying
that diversifcation Of agriculture Is
impossible in South Carolina so long
as the present tenure system is re-
tanned is right. Progress will follow
this reform almost automatically, but