The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-19
Safety First
To Farmers and Business Elem
in Cotton Territory.

w lOh L So AhS N'Sl>'SA =
ment OF agriculture is just issuing :
bulletin which 1 have prepared for the
purpose of putting the present sit
uation up to the farmers and busl
ness men. It is entitled Safe Farm
ing in the Southern States in 1919
Ask Your county agent for copy.
The present situation is the mos
dangerous which the cotton state:
have faced in recent years. You have
had four years Of comparative pros
perity, partly because Of four shor1
crops of cotton with resultant gooe
prices and partly because you produc'
ed so much Of your own food anc
feed During the last four years
there have been short crops in Texas
mainly due to drought. In 1311
1912, 1913 ard 1914 the Texas CROP
averaged 4.41s.25o bales, while dur
| ing 1915, 1916, 1917 and 1918 il
averaged only 3.164, 500 bales, or l.
! 253,75O bales less per annum. Tex
as has had good rains this winter
From 1911 to 1914, inclusive, Okla
homa averaged 1,036,250 bales per
annum. From 1915 to 1918, inclu-
sive, the average was only 742,25O
bales Or $4,000 bales less per an
nun. mainly due to drought. O-lla-
homa has had splendid rains this
winter a big crop in Texas and Ok
lahonla has always meant big crop
in the whole country. Think that
over before you decide to increase
Your acreage in cotton.
Will the mills of Northern France
and Belgium be restored to full work
ing capacity at once? Certainly not!
VIII the poor people Of Europe seek
food or cotton first? Food, Of course!
People can and will wear patched
clothing and sleep without pillow
cases and sheets il need be, but the
hungry stomach must be fed. Think
about that.
The last four years have been a
period of gradually increasing prices.
Farmers and business men have
profted out Of this constant in
crease. Cotton just about kept pace
with other things. A pound or an
acre of it would buy about the same
quantity of other commodities IN
1918 at 80 cents a pound as it die in
1914 at IL cents a pound. But Cur
ing this time the farmers had the
advantage Of purchasing supplies in
the spring and summer at one level of
prices and then selling cotton in the
fall at the top price of the year and
paying the debts contracted at the
lower prices. BE on your guard now.
for when prices begin to settle down
the situation becomes more difficult.
We may be in the position of max ng
a crop of cotton with high-priced
supplies and settling Our debts out Of
cotton at lower price. Especially
will this be true if we produce a vHry
large crop and thereby do all IN cur
power to lower the market price OF
cotton Has not large crop alw >Ns
meant lower prices? Think that over.
What about acreage? Let Us l'sok
at the acreage figures in the bulle IN.
The total for 1918 was 35,S9o."9O.
Oklahoma had more acres planted in
1918 than in either 1911, 1913 or
1914 Texas had more acres in
1918 than in 1911 and only ab cut
zoo, 900 acres '-ss than in 1914. che
years 1911. 1913, 1914 were good
years WI. big crops and gerar-
ally lo,. prices. With only 10000
ac.es more in the whole country, in
1911 than we llaG in the whole conn
try in 1918. W. produced 1853, 90
bales, ard the farm price December l..
1911, averaged SS cents per pound.
In 1913 we had 37.O89, 600 acres and
produced 14,15S,000 bales, and the
farm price averaged 1872 cents per
pound December 1, 1913. In 1914 we
had 36,S32,0o0 acres. or only a42.-
600 acresAmore than in 1918, and yet
the production was 16,135.000 bales
and the farm price December l, 1914
was 6.S cents per pound on the aver
age. due in part no doubt, to the
war in Europe Think this over.
With less acres than last year and
a good season we can easily make a
very large crop. especially with good
production in Texas and Oklahoma.
In 1912 with only 34,2S3,O0O acres we
made 100000 bales Of cotton. with
a good season ahead of us. would :'ou
increase the acreage
Which would you rather do. pro-
duce moro cotton and take less price
for it after working a larger NUMBER
Of acres at greater expense. or limit
your production to smaller number
Of acres better tended. permitting
the full production of your food anu
feed and a better chance for gooo
price?
It is absolute folly 10 upset the
present prosperity Of the cotton States
by planting a large acreage when
can only mean large crop and
lower price. ] hear rumors Of farm
ers selling their livestock to put thelr
land all in cotton. Such action is m
viting disaster If farmers. landlords
merchants and bankers combine 10
pull the house down upon their own
heads by producing a large crop OF
cotton. they should have the conf-
age to make no appeal to the rest OF
the world for help If their own ac-
ton leads them into distress.
But remember that there is a sood
way. Look in the bulletin. Food
plus cotton equals prosperity. Full
production OF the food for our people
~. roo.r growing live