The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-04-29
The Cotton Acreage Com
mittee Memphis, Tenn.
TO EDITOR:

TO EDITOR:
The Cotton Acreage Committee de-
sires the aid of.sll Southern newspapers
to warn the Cotton grower against be.
ing trapped by a rise in the price of
cotton.
The prospective carry over of cotton
at July 3lst, 1921 is now not far from
1000, 600 bales. That amount is fully
1900, 600 bales larger than was threat.
ened before the Christmas holidays,
when the acreage committee predicted
that the carry-over would not be less
than 9,000,0 OC bales. Thus it is that
our fears have not only been confirmed
but the situation is even worse than
we seemed warranted in predicting a
few months ago.
A desperate effort has been made
during the last three weeks to advance
the price of cotton. 1t is trick OF
those who want cheap cotton, to ad-
vance the price about planting. time.
The trick has been used SO often that
it csnnow deceive no one. Efforts to at-
vance the price of cotton while deter.
mined havs failed, and this fact of it
self should be sufficient warnings to
farmers not to be msled. When those
who want cheap cotton advance the
price for purpose, II is not likely that
the farmer will be able to advance il.
Cotton acreage must be reduced, and
the reduction must be adequate. Any.
thing less than so percent compared
with last year will not be adequate.
There is now enough cotton in the
world unspun TO last nearly two years.
The world will carry over this year
more American cotton than was spun
during tue last twelve months.
The carry-over, including .linters,
may approximate ll,00O. 900 bales, or
from five TO six times a normal carry.
over of American cotton,
The United States cannot consume
more than about 5000, 600 bales OF cot.
ton annually.
Europe, which ordinarily takes the
surplus vi the American crop, or a.
bout 80 percent of the crop. is very
unpromlsllg as a market, because of
DEPRECATED currency and lack of Sc
curlIy ID offer as basis VI credit.
The ou7lng power VI the word is far
below formal, but the supply of cotton
is nov vastly In excess VI every normal
RECRUITMENT.
4. will cost more 10 produce new
crop tnsn It can De sold Tor al the pres.
ent prices and there is no present pros.
psct that prlcts will ADVANCE.
Cotton can Low De bought cheaper
than il can be produced. 1t is better.
therefore, to buy cotton or to hold what
you now own lnan 10 grow more.
Every bale purchased tends to advance
prices; every acre planted tends TO
make prices 90 down.
Unlsss cotton can be produced profit.
aoly il would be worse t1sn folly to at.
tempt to produce 1t at all.
Ii 10 impossible 10 recover losses BY
incuring more losses-tns is the r.ad
OF bankruptcy.
Uul.ss cotton can be sold it will not
pay debts or taxes, neither can We eat
il.
Cotton 10 no longer cash commodity.
For the first time 10 your life, it 10
difficult If not impossible to sell cotton.
The cotton farmer, at the best re.
ceivcs returns for bis lator but once q
year. He turns his capital only once a
year, whereas under q diversified sys-
ten of farming, returns are received
many times b year.
Any ore crop system is uneconomic,
because under il no plan CT farm
management can be devised which will
give q maximum yearly use Of tools.
equipment and labor. The one crop
farmer, particularly the cotton farmer.
fads it difficult il not imp possible to
keep himself proftsbly employed the
year round.
II you grow cotton without growing
food for man and feed for beast, We
shall all be the worse off than bank
rupt, maybe empty smoke houses sn
cornless corn iibs...
Diversified farming will raise Il g
standard Of living in the South.
Diversified farming will make health
Ter and happier women and children,
more and better schools and churches
manlier and more contented men. In
short, a more ambitious. better educi-
ted, thinking and more intelligent
citizenship.
Farmers who have depended entirely
upon cotton and cotton alone, are viz
tually bankrupt today. whereas farmers
who have diversified more or less, have
food for themselves AMI families and