The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-01-05
FARMERS, HOLD
YOUR SEED


] have just returned from a con-
ference OF cotton seed crushers and
dealers at Memphis. 1t developed "a.
this meeting that, based on the gov
ernment's statistics as Of December
lst, there WAS In sight, including the
oil and meal then in the hands of the
II lis, only enough oil to last four
months or until March 81, and meal
to last two months or until January
81. under normal consumption. This
in spite OF the much advertised flood
OF oriental oils that it ia claimed has
caused the unprecedented decline in
cotton seed oil.
The conclusion Of the deliberations
was that the decline has been alto
gctter speculative Que to buyers stay
inS out OF the market because SELL
ers were Offering too freely 1t was
stated that C:'ude mills. on buying two
hundred tons Of seed, would immr-
d-a c'y offer tank OF oil, and not rest
until il was sold at any price obtain
able; that buyers would then offer
less; that wholesalers and jObbers
who usually buy lard compounds in
lots of several cars have pursued
policy of buying one truck load OF
5000 pounds. at a time. 1t also de-
vclOped that, in the face Of the much
advertised 'limportations OF cheap
oriental SOY. peanut ana copra oils,
and of the hand to- mouth buying de-
scribed above. stocks in this country
on August 1st were less than year
ago, and have steadily declined unit!
on December 1st. the supply would
only last four months.
II also developed that only 35 per
cent OF the seed has been crushed
compared with 60 per cent last year;
and when the word crushed was
used, its meaning was "in the hands
OF the mills"
1t was also brought out that the
great bulk Of the seed crushed or in
the hands OF the mills is In the Mis-
sissippl valley and west Of the river.
whore the farmers do not use fer
tilizer.
Further. that so per cent to so per
cent OF the mills all over the belt are
shut down for lack OF seed.
With these facts before me. all
based on government statistics and
brought out by the mills, stated that
i felt very optimistic for better prices,
and was firm in my belief that farm
ers will continue their present policy
of not selling, and will use seed as
fcri,iZ0r unless fair and equitable
pd liz offered in the near future.
Unlike some Of my farmer friends
who believe evil and only evil of cot
ION Oil mills (and might add, OF
cotton mills), / believa the mills are
really anxious to pay q good price
for seed. They certainly cannot make
money for their stockholders unless
they can crush seed at a profit; nni
thry cannot crush seou at proAe
II the market constantly declines fod
the products OF seed. Recognizing as
] do that the oil mills OF the south
have added many millions Of dollars
to the value Of the cotton crops sCf
the south, do otnot want to see them
put out Of business, But do not
forget that, by making cotton seed
more liquid than cotton, thousands az
farmers rave sold their seed and dis
sipated their money, and have not
treated their soil with common fair
ness when the seed money was not
put back into fertilizer--and that in
either event, they have paid heavy
tolls to the fertilizer companies--I
can but see in this slump in seed IA
blessing in disguise IL it leads to more
sane farming. .'#N ,r4,t.
In addition to what | learned In
Memphis. talked with farmers and
seed crushcrS on the trains, and had
a 'onS interview with officials OF the
Georgia Bureau Of Markets In Allan
IN. However. much l may wish TO
see the mills prosper. my first duty Ia
to the farmer, His basis OF value
is fertilizer and an equity in the oil.
He robs himself and his soil unless
he gets price that will enable him
to put back in the soil an equal val
uc or fertilizer plus the cost of haul
ing the seed and fertilizer to and
from his station. The American Cot
ton association I'm September figured
this to be $50 p ton for seed or an
even swap of seed for meal at the
farmers station. While other com
Inoditfcs have declined, my informa-
tion is that fertilizer compa nies have
held up the price and will continue
to do So
And | say to YOU 90 not sell a seed
for less than $50 per ton or q ton of
meal FOR ton Of seed at your station.
lf YOU stand firm right on as you
have done. and the first good plowing
weather in January begin to haul out
and put your seed in the burrows. Re-
liners will see that you mean business
and will begin to bid UP oil, the feed