The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1919-03-11
PLEA READILY MET
TO REDUCE ACREAGE
FARMERS OF THE SOUTH ARE
PLEDGING THEMSELVES VIII.
LINGLY TO HOLD COTTON.
PLANTERS ARE FAR BEHIND
In PREPARATION FOR CROPS

in Holding for Higher Prices. Fer.
tilizer Sales Are Far Behind Pre-
vious Years Throughout Belt.
ATLANTA.-Rapidly the fruits
of the great cotton conferences re-
Gently held in Macon, Ga, and New
Orleans, and the many smaller con-
ferences held throughout all the cot
ton-producing states are being real
lied. Farmers everywhere are sign
ing concrete pledges to reduce the
cotton acreage not less than 33 Is
per cent; to plant not more than ten
acres of cotton to the pillow; to buy
less fertilizer; to hold the present
stock Of cotton for at least thirty
five cents a pound, and to diversity
crops more than ever. News is COM
ing in from all quarters that the
farmers are cheerfully signing these
pledges. They understand the situa-
ton and no argument is required to
convince them to take care of them
selves.
Another interesting feature of this
pledge-signing movement is the fact
that bankers and merchants, when
they happen upon an occasional
"slacker" farmer, give him his choice
either to sign the pledge, or to have
his credit curtailed.
Rain Retards Work.
1t is so happening that the farmer
who has signed the pledge to reduce
his cotton acreage is finding it quite
convenient to do so. There has been
SO much rain throughout the belt
that virtually nothing has yet been
done toward the new crop of cotton.
1t is safe to say that the cotton farm
ers are thirty days behind what they
were last season in their farm work.
Usually at this season land is being
broken and seed being planted. Up
to the present time, however, practi-
cally nothing has been done, and the
weather prospects are that nothing
can or will be done for another week
The plan to plant not more than
ten acres to the pillow looks to bet
ter cultivation, and to relieving, as
much as possible, the prospective
shortage of labor.
Holding Movement Succeeds.
The pledge to buy less fertilizer is
| based largely upon the fact that
| farmers are unwilling to pay high
prices for commodity that is to be
used in producing a crop that might
cost more than it will bring. 1t is
no secret that the grades of fertilizer
! obtainable the last year or two have
, been lacking in potash. 1t may also
be said, to the credit Of the south
ern farmer, that he is taking better
care than heretofore of the fertilizer
that accumulates in his barnyard.
The pledge to hold the present
stock of cotton is holding, one might
almost say, absolutely. Fully so pei
cent. of the 1853 cotton is still in
| the barns and warehouses of the
South. 1t is daily becoming more APP.
| parent that the present stock of cot
ton is being held largely by the mer
who made it. The farmer himself is
| holding the reins and he is driving
with determined hand In former
years the holders. what there were
of them, were largely merchants and
| buyers This year merchants and
bankers are helping those of their
patrons, who happen to need the
help, to hold their cotton for a rea-
sonable price. 1t is widely claimed
by those who are in a position to
know, men who are trusted for truth
and honestY-that if the farmer
should realize thirty-fve cents a
mound for the cotton he is holding
he still will get d profit of not more
than three cents a pound.