Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-19
Cotton Situation IN
The South

tn HERE has never been time
since the Civil war that the cot
- ton situation has been at so crit
ical a stage as at the present time. OF
course a chance of circumstances, be-
yond the control of anyone, has brought
about this state of affairs, and at pres
ent it looks like this will be one year
when the producer of cotton will hold
the key to the situation of supply and
control of the present crop that is now
in sight, if our farmers will only stick
together on the present crop. AT pres
ent there is no crop produced of any
kind that is being marketed at so low
a value, according to all other commo-
dities as the cotton crop of the country.
and it does look like circumstances OF
all kinds would justify better price
for this staple crop that We all know
can only be grown in limited sections
and must be produced absolutely by
labor. There are but few other crops
but what can be cultivated and harvest
ed with machinery, but up to the pres
ent time hand labor alone can only
cultivate and harvest the south's great
est crop We all know that today the
labor problem is the most serious thing
that confronts the production OF cot
ton. 1t is just as impossible for the
southern states to cultivate and harvest
ever again big cotton crop in the race
of the boil weevil and labor conditions
as it is for anyone to positively say at
present how many bales can be expected
every years. We all know this is utterly
impossible regardless of the number Of
acres planted and the amount of fertil-
izer used. 1t will be impossible to ever
again produce the $4,000, 000-bale crop
as has been done during one year In
the past, and even at that time cotton
sold at a better price compared to all
other things than 1t is bringing at the
present time.
The farmer who has a cotton crop
planted this year should leave no stone
unturned to give it the best of cultiva-
ton, fertilize it heavy, work II tast ana
leave no stone unturned to bring to ma
turity the capacity of every acre that IS
now growing We cannot tell what an
other year will bring forth in the shape
of more serious labor problems and
fertilizer conditions, to say nothing OF
the boil W'eevil and other enemies that
confront the growing Of cotton. Even
If big crop is made this year it will
be a serious problem and an expensive
one to have it harvested and handled.
1t will naturally cost nearly twice as
much to do this as 1t has ever done be-
fore If the most favorable weather
were 10 prevail IL "ONAN NC
almost impossible to properly work the
present crop that is now planted, and
then several weeks later with the scare
ity of labor it will naturally make IT
hard to cultivate as fast as needed.
1t is situation that can be abso-
lutely controlled by our southern plant
ers If we would only take care of our
food crops and produce as much of our
home supplies as possible, get out or
debt and put yourself in a position TO
hold and demand the actual value OF
the cotton crop that will be harvested
this year. 1t should bring 40 cents and
will be worth it, and the cotton planters
who begin now to look forward to this
Price and holds until he secures 1T with
combined cooperation and ali working
together for one good cause. The sea-
sons crop should bring it's real actual
value the same in proportion as the
wheat and corn crops have brought
during this season to the western
states
If ever there was a time when the
southern states were in position to
dictate prices and demand something
for the efforts that have been spent
during the past lifetime it will be this
coming fall and winter, and II the
grower throws his products on the mar
Ket and gives it away as has been done
in the past, another great opportunity
to make the south independent will
surely be lost. Naturally the specula-
tors and manufacturers are leaving no
stone unturned now, far in advance or
the harvest of this growing crop. to
keep it hammered down and get possess
sion of it at half value, and they will
succeed unless the producers get busy
in time and look after their own in
terest more than ever. We all know
that every indication points to much
prosperity and the greatest demand the
world has ever seen will be during the
next few years for this wonderful
crop. not only from a clothing stand
point but the seed and food produced
from the growing of the cotton crop
is an item that has received but little
thought However, 1t is today one OF
as much importance as the staple that
is sold from it.
The seed produced on an acre of good
cotton is actually worth in food value
almost as much as the same produc-
ton Of an acre of corn, oats. wheat
or most any other kind of grain that
has heretofore been produced on the
average southern acre. This by-product,
cotton seed. has never been appreciated
As IL should, but the time has come
when the world is beginning to realize
the actual value of cotton seed oil, cot
ton seed meal and bulls that are pro-
duced as a by-product and has never
before been appreciated as 1T should be
In actual value. Yours very truly,
LORING BROWN.
Ito Be Continued.)