- r l w i
Tuesday, Jiarcii -J
CRISIS IN COTTON GROWERS'
CORNER.
Fanners' Threat to Hold Produce De
spite Large Surplus Causes Alarm in
the Trade Situation Now Abnormal
Law of Supply and Demand Upset
Reduction of Acreage and Fertili
zers Plan of Campaign.
The following article which we
came across in the New York Herald
f last Monday, March 13th, pre
H.Mts so vividly and forcibly the
,,nint situation with reference to
tlu. otton crop and the cotton far
mers' orportunity that we have de
rided to omit our "Cotton Growing
Talk" this week in order to set this
interview of Mr. Fleming's before the
cot lon-growing readers of The Pro
jrresive Fanner and Cotton Plant,
following is the Herald's article, as
printed under the headlines given
above:
In the deadlock which exists to
day in the cotton trade there is pre
ented an anomalous condition with
out a precedent in the record of any
staple commodity.
"So firm is the farmer's determina
tion to hold until' his idea of a fair
price is met," said L. L. Fleming, a
director of the New York Cotton
Exchange, who has just returned
from a trip through the South, "and
so consistent is his- course with Kis
puMie avowals on the subject, that
the trade is confronted with the ab
normal situation of a positive enor
mous surplus, and yet merchants
who have contracts for delivery to
sninners find an actual scarcity of
offering, and what is bought is at
a heart-breaking basis as compared
with their future hedges.
Danger In Coming Contest.
"Should the owner of the cotton
sec fit or find it practicable to con
tinue for the next thirty days the
policy pursued during the last sixty
to ninety days, we shall see a contest
interesting indeed to the looker on,
but sure to leave its mark on some
of the participants. .
"The parties to the impending
fight will be the planter who owns
the cotton, the merchant who has
contracts with the spinner for speci
fied delivery, the spinner who has
not yet contracted for all his wants
and the speculator who expects to
profit by the discomfiture of one or
the other of these legitimate forces.
Of these contestants in a battle roy
al the farmer stands out as the
most interesting and picturesque
figure, flushed with the victories ac
complished during the last two years
hy standing for his price and get
ting it. His plan of action, openly
stated, is to market his cotton spar
ingly, to hold back one and a half
to two million bales of -the surplus,
and by reduction of acreage and fer
tilizers to so reduce the next crop
as to force to and hold the market
around ten cents, thereby avoiding
the sacrifice of his surplus, and mak
ing more net money from less cot
ton another year.
Merchants are Alarmed.
"I- iiidinjr it difficult in December
to ovrr in his commitments to ad
vantage, and feeling assured that
the first of the year would bring
freer selling and a normal relation
between his sales and hedges, the
merchant arranged extensions of
many contracts to January; then,
as the lines were more tightly drawn,
deliveries actually demanded were
made, though at a loss, and such as
could be arranged were again .de
ferred. This policy having been pur
sued again in February, the mer
chant finds himself with a heavy
accumulation of commitments for
March, the delivery of the greater
part of which will probably be in
sisted on by the spinner without fur
ther postponement.
"He can make no plan of action,
but must buy to fill his contracts
as best he can; if the farmer fails
to maintain his position and sells
freely the profit originally calculated
on may be realized; if, on the other
hand; no weakening is shownjie must
pay the price and probably stand in
for a worse parity between spots
and futures than before. His lot
for the last ninety days has been an
unhappy one, and it looks as though
the end of his suffering is not yet.
"The farmers position financially
is better than in years, probably the
strongest ever, and owing to the gen
eral prosperity in the South, the
banking facilities there are amply
competent to take care of his sur
plus on a reasonable basis.
Farmer Is in Earnest.
"Undoubtedly the farmer himself
is in deadly earnest and prepared
for extreme measures, not such as
burning his cotton, but ostracism,
and maybe worse, for the neighbor
who violates hisN pledge. But we
must reckon with the man who will
not bind himself, and with more con
cern the backslider who, while others
are standing by slips in his cotton
to fill the demand, leaving his neigh
bor to do the holding, and who, be
lieving others will do the reducing
in acreage and fertilizer, increases
his own.
"This blackslider, if discovered,
may find his lines no path of roses,
but the fear of him is possibly the
greatest obstacle in the way, of united
action.
"An unbiased opinion would seem
to be that neither side will win de
cisively. The farmer's plan of a
concrete organization is too compli
cated and made up of interests too
diverse to prove entirely successful,
but the fact that though fpr two to
three months talk' of five cents cot
ton has been thrown at him through
the newspapers, circulars, private
wires, etc., he has stood 'pat and
not only stopped a decline but de
manded and got an advance, is evi
dence that he will not emerge from
the contest without some measure
of success.
"Every indication points to a cer
tain reduction in acreage, probably
15 per cent at least, and the fer
lizer dealers are authority for the
statement that even if wanted, it is
a physical impossibility of trans
portation, since orders for shipment
have been so long delayed, to get
more than 80 per cent of the quant
ity of fertilizers used last year to
the farm in time for planting."
.LIFE SAVED BY SWAMP-ROOT.
The Wonderful Kidney, liver and Blad
der Remedy.
SAMPLE BOTTLE SENT FREE BY
MAIL.
Swamp-Koot, discovered by the
eminent kidney and bladder special
ist, promptly cures kidney, liver,
bladder and uric acid troubles.
" Some of the early symptoms of
weak kidneys are pain or dull ache
in the back, rheumatism, dizziness,
headache, nervousness, catarrh of
the bladder, gravel or calculi, bloat
ing, sallow complexion, puffy or dark
circles under the eyes, suppression
of urine, or compelled to pass water
often day and night.
The mild and extraordinary effect
of the world-famous kidney remedy,
Dr. Kilmer's Swamp-Root, is soon
realized. It stands the highest for
its wonderful cures of the most dis
tressing cases. If you need a medi
cine you should have the best.
Swamp-Root is not recommended
for everything, but if you have kid
ney, liver, bladder or uric acid trou
ble you will find it just the remedy
you need.
Sold by druggists in fifty-cent and
one-dollar sizes. You may have a
sample bottle of Dr. Kilmer's
Swamp-Root and a pamphlet that
tells all about it, including many
of the thousands of letters received
f roin sufferers cured, both sent f rep
by mail. Write Dr. Kilmer & Co.,
Binghamton, N. Y., and please be
sure to mention that you read this
generous offer in The Progressive
Farmer. Don't make any mistake,
but remember the name, Swamp
Root, Dr. Kilmer's Swamp-Root, and
the address, Binchamton, N. Y., on
every bottle. '
IT'S TIME TO SHIP
Eggs, Poultry, Calves, Oweot
Potatoes and Hams..
Horth Carolina Lettuce Wanted
See our market quotations In this pa"
a per, and send us your consignments-
e guarantee tod market prices.
TRIUNE FRUIT AND PRODUCE CO.,
18 Roanoke Dock, Norfolk, Va.
EGGS FOR SALE-From my prize pens
Barred Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island
Reds, Buff Oplnertons, Whlta Wyandottes,
Single 'Comb White Leghorns. G. H.
SHOOK, Eufola, N. C.
FOR SALE. Fine Jersey Bull, three years
old, for cash. Write W. T. GILLIAM, R. F.
D. 8, Sanford, N. C.
A GREAT MEDICAL DISCOVERY.
These dangerous, because sudden diseases
Croup and Pneumonia easily treated and
completely cured by
Vick's Made Croup and Pneumonia Cure
If you have it in the home you may feel as
secure as if the family physician lived with
you. Readily relieves Sore Throat, Whoop
ing Cough, Stifling Head Colds, Muscular
Rheumatism. Swellings, Bruises, and all
Itching Troubles. Price at your druggist's
or dealer's 25 cents, or mailed direct by us to
you for 35 cents.
VICK'S LITTLE LIVER PILLS, 25 cents,
are the best and most innocent Vegetable
Laxative for adults and children.
Build up the run-down system with Vick's
Aromatic Wine of Cod Liver Oil. It is the
great restorative tonic, and is as pleasant to
taste as Sherry Wine. Price, $l.oO.
Trade supplied by, or two bottles sent, ex
press paid, for $2 00.
L RICHARDSON DRUG COMPANY,
(Wholesale and Manufacturing Druggists) '
QREENSBORO, N. C.
WOOL.
If you have wool to sell for cash, ex
change for goods, or be manufactured,
ship it to : : : : : : :
Chatham Manufacturing Co.,
ELKIN, N. C.
They -pay highest market price and
guarantee satisfaction. Write them for
terms and samples.
To .Me -Farmers.
1,000 Tons of Ground
. Phosphate Lime Hock or
Land Plaster, v-
87H per cent. Carbonate of Lime; pro
duces the finest crops of Corn, Pea
nuts, Potatoes and Cotton. After a
few i years' use of it, your land will
need but little help.
Prices Exceedingly Low.
9 For further particulars write
B. F. KE IT
Wilmington, N. C.
l vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvwvvvvvvvvvv?
FOR
t tm IBM TTILS'B IPROLUIFIIO
And Win a Prize.
For further Information, yvrlto-
JOc Packet
see Pint
4Sc Quart
Southern Seed Co.,
C. BATTLE, Mgr., Durham, N. C.
5