Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-04-21
HIGHER PRICES FOR COTTON
Southern Farmer Has Brighter Out
look Than for Several Years
High Prices Assured.

has produced less cotton in 1915 than
for several years and much less than
last year, has brighter and more
hopeful outlook than for many years.
Some jump at the conclusion that
this is solely because he has produced
less cotton. but this is by no means the
only reason. The bumper crop of last
year would have brought ten cents
pound, but for the business panic.
| forced marketing and false statements
reiterated by practically all the So
called cotton authorities" The small
er crop is responsible for a demand
for cotton in excess of the supply, but
the price can only be maintained by
the independence of the producer,
writes TAFT Butler in the Progressive
| Farmer.
When debts have to be paid in the
South cotton must be sold, and 1t is
only by lessening the debts. by pro-
ducing food and feed supplies on the
farm, that independence can be main
| tanned.
| The cotton farmers of the South are
going to get good price for their cot
ton this year as much because Of the
fact that they have diversified to a
large extent as because Of the fact
that the crop is small. Had we been
as independent of the supply mer-
chants and as free from debt last
year as we are this. it would have ad-
ded at least two cents per pound to
the price of cotton.
| With cotton selling at profitable
price at this time. the South stands
on the brink of danger, probably
greater than ever before in her his
tory. Safety exists only in maintain
| ing the progress towards feeding our
selves, which we have made in 1915. IL
we fail to sow a large oat and wheat
crop this fall and seed the bare lands
with cover, pasture and soil-improv-
ing crops, no power on earth will pre-
vent a large cotton acreage next year.
The cotton acreage will be increased
next year, there is no doubt of that.
but by determining to produce all the
feedstuffs and other supplies we need
for 1916, the increase in the acreage
of cotton will not be so great We can
not only hold down the increase in the
cotton acreage, but also lessen the bad
effects of any increase which may oc-
cur, only by starting now to grow next
years supplies.
/ Of high
we are almost certain to lose some or
the progress which we have made
this year toward "Diversifcation and
Independence; but to go back to old
ideas and conditions will be suicidal.
Oats and wheat DO better seeded
earlier than is generally advised
and practiced. The Hessian fly does
little damage to wheat in the South.
where the crop has not been gener-
ally grown, and for that reason it may
probably be sown earlier than gener-
ally recommended. With oats earlier
seeding is of tremendous advantage.
The only way to hold the cotton
acreage within bounds next spring is
to seed large acreage of oats. Oats
and corn are safe crops in the South.
Hay crops are safe and always profit
able. Wheat. to a limited extent, is a
good and safe crop in the northern
third of the cotton belt il sown on
good land These crops must be used
to keep down the cotton acreage. To
the extent they can be used on the
farm, at least, they pay as well as cot
ton and better when the cotton crop is
too large.
The southern farmer will be put to
severe test next spring. IL he is
wise and is capable of learning from
experience he will not plant larger
acreage to cotton in 1916 than he did
in 1915. If he fails in this crucial test,
il he falls under the temptation to
plant all cotton next year the wheels
of progress will be stopped and will
move with greater difficulty for many
years to come.