The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1919-12-17
BUSINESS PROPOSITION
PUT Up TO OUR
COUNTY FARMERS

Dear Mr.. Editor.
In talking to farmers about Subst-
tutmg hogs for cotton, great num-
country raise more meat than they
need that the market will go down
and there will be no profit. A number
think that Clarendon could supply a
great part of this demand and that
our production would effect the mar
ket. l would like to say that it will
take>a number Of years for South
Carolina to produce hogs enough to
supply herself. There are hundreds
of markets in the United States l
will give few figures on the Chicago
market showing them how big the hog
industry is in America. Last year
Chicago market over 18,000,00O hogs
for the sum of $88O,09a,O 100000. A
daily average Of over 900 carloads
worth about $3,000,0O0. This is the
average amount sold and delivered
each business day in the year. The
statement was made last year that if
South Carolina ate her own hog meat
she would consume every hog in the
State within 45 days. Suppose our
hogs last 65 days, we eat off of west
ern states the other 800, and pay them
for the meat with Is cents cotton.
They made more money on the meat
you ate than you made on the cotton
you produced. One little boy can feed
the meat that it took you and your
family to plow, hoe, pick, gin, sell,
and settle for this year.
Mr. Farmer, suppose that you go to
the bank in January to borrow money.
You tell the banker that it will take
big sumfas you have 40 corn, no hay,
no meat etc, and that you will have
to ration your hands on stuff raised
out of the state so you can raise cot
ton for the boil weevil. You can put
up all the plea you want but there is
no money. Suppose that you can
walk in and ask the banker to make
you loan, that you have plenty of
meat, corn and general supplies but
need money to build larger barns,
more hog sheds, fence. ditch, etc. The
bank will have to be in bad shape for
him to turn you out and not give YOU
the money. see two dark days ahead
of you. First this year You have
raised your crop on high supplies and
getting not even the cost Of produc-
ton for it. You RAISED a good crop
this year. Second next year YOU
begin with no margin. 1t took all
YOU had to break even this year. You
have no idea whcr you plant an acre
of cotton whether you will pick a bale
or boil. This year the price next
year the weevil. The weevil caring
nothing about the price and if the
wecvil hits you the price won't diff
Ter. 1t will take the same time and
money to produce that cotton or rath-
er the weed. If you can't produce
that cotton and lose that crop and
not get hurt you had better think be-
fore planting that cotton. You owe
shat to the children. But if you can
raise other crops and be safe don't
you think you owe that to your family,
"our country. The welfare of the
State, county, town is dependent upon
you. Everything is run on q MARGIN.
After you have made your crop, har-
vested it and sold it your clear profit
s the margin on which the merchants
DO business and their margin is the
part on which your bank does bust
ness, making margin on which to
carry you another year. If you do
not make a profit the whole wheel is
at standstill. Have your banks,
business reason to expect a profit
from your 1921 cotton. If so you are
safe to plant. If not allow me to
suggest:
If you have twenty acres to plant,
put 10 to corn, 2 acres of cotton, 2
acres of tobacco, 2 acres of potatoes,
acres of peanuts, 2 acres in lcgumes
for hog pasture, buy you two real
good sows and you can look for bet
ter results. For every acre of cotton
keep u SOW. The sow's profit will
keep you going if you lose your cot
ton crop. | have talked to men run
ming experiment stations, Illinois,
lndlnia and Ohio farmers. They claim
That hogs on $l.00 corn can be raised
for 10 cents, on 60 cent corn can be
raised for 6 cents. There are their
figures and we think supposing they
are true; you keep on two acres two
sows raising 20 hogs yearly to aver
age weight of 800 pounds year, This
would give you 100000 or 24O per cent
profit per acre. No grass to contend
with, boil weevil can't hurt them. Wet
spring or dry spring won't differ in
tic pigs. Is this safer than cotton?
P"Cof of this is the two States of
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