Newspapers / The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, … / March 7, 1907, edition 1 / Page 2
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PROGRESSIVE FARMER AND COTTON PLANT. Thursday March 7, 1907 An Imperative Message to Tobacco Growers. 'Don't Increase Your 1907 Acreage; No Increase Means at Least $2, 000,000 More in Your Pockets Than You Got Last Year" This is Mr. Gravely's Message and He Supports it By Able Argument. Fellow JTobacco Growers: I am often asked the questions, "What do you think of planting tobacco this year?" "Do you believe prices will remain as high as they are now, or have been this season, if the crop is increased to the size of the 1902 or, 1903 crops?" In reply, I wish to say that if I should consult my own personal interest, as many others are doing at this time, I would advise the planting of the biggest crop of your life. i But when your interest , is con sidered, and the welfare of our State and Nation is thought of, noth ing but dishonesty and criminal sel fishness would suggest or advise the planting of a big crop of tobacco in 19077 Planting a big crop this year, my brother farmer, is dangerous- so dangerous that many humble homes will be brought to grief as a result. Line after line of statistics could be brought to show the proba ble disaster that will come to the producer with a big crop, but it seems, unnecessary to do so when we have daily practical proof before our own eyes that competition is weak yes, almost entirely gone, and that a conscienceless trust fixes the price of your stuff at whatever figure they think will best serve their selfish in terest, regardless of what you say, think or do. Two Plain Propositions. 'The ability of the Trust to fix the price of our tobacco cannot be de nied, and that they will fix a price below the cost of production on a big crop, need not be doubted. If there are those in our midst whose blindness permits them to think that prices will not decline if the crop is largely increased, we have only to compare pounds and prices of the crops of 1905 and 190G to show that such an idea is based upon nothing but hope. "We pro duced in North Carolina in 1905 eighty-six million pounds of tobacco, which we sold for six million eight hundred thousand dollars. In 190G we reduced the production sixteen 'million pounds, giving us only seven ty million, for which we obtained seven million one hundred and forty thousand dollars. Trust Pays More for a Small Crop Than a Big One. In other words, we sold seventy million pounds in 1906 for three hundred and forty thousand dollars more money than we got for an eight-six million crop in 1905 six teen million pounds less, for three hundred thousand dollars more money, and of a much inferior qual ity, when the condition in which it was placed on the markets for sale is taken into consideration. With these stubborn facts before us, isn't it the height of foolishness to increase the planting? Does it appear that sensible men will do such a thing? But, says one, "I am told by my friend Jones, Smith, or Brown, or some other fellow, that the short crops we have had for the past three years have caused the sup ply to be less than the demand, and you can therefore plant all the to bacco you can cultivate this year, for prices ain't going down." Or, "The world needs it and all you have got to do, old boy, is to make 'er." Hear me, fellow-farmers: the man who acts on such advice is a fool. and the fellow who gives it belongs in the State Penitentiary. Nothing, nothing I say, but a big crop will carry prices down in 1907, and every man with three grains of gray matter in his "noggin" knows it. Why, then, should "a friend" ad vise you to "plant all you can?" Listen: a friend won't to it. . A Big Crop Our One and Only Dan ger. I know that you are told to watch the fellow that's going through the country organizing farmers, that he or they are after the dollar, care nothing about your interest; in fact, "I have hearn that they are hired by the trust" and many oth er such falsehoods concocted for the one single purpose of feathering their own nests at the expense of the men who grow the tobacco. We know, no increase in acreage this year, means higher prices. As for a big crop, we only know it might sell well. Who takes the risk? The farmer. And a big risk it is -so great that there is hardly a shadow of a doubt about his pocket-book being lighter and debts heavier as a result. On account of the farmers' organization and the "get-together" sentiment they created all over the country, they made for themselves about two .million dollars by curtailing the crop last year by sixteen million pounds and thus raising the price about two cents: Why the Price Was Raised. Why was the price raised. We all know that little piece of poetry,' "Will you walk into my parlor, said the spider to the fly," don't we? The trust raising the price of our tobac co last sea'son for the purpose of in ducing us to plant a big crop this year, brings it to my mind most vividly. Has the cost of entering that beautiful parlor so many times been great enough to teach us not to again swallow the poisonous bait? Is it possible, that those of us who were fortunate enough to raise a fine crop the past season, and have sold or are now selling at satisfactory prices, are so blinded by the opiate of good fortune that we cannot see the dangers of the future as reflect ed by the flash-light of past experi ence? If so, we have only to recall to memory the sad recollections of 1902 to show that our hopes and ex pectations of continued prosperity, are a simple delusion. Remember Past Experiences. At that time we had some ground for thinking that prices would re main sufficiently high to justify us to grow the weed. Two commercial giants, each fortified with unlimited means and composed of determined men of the most powerful nation3 of the earth, were at war over the golden leaf which we produce, and as a result, prices soared aloft. Won't we happy? Perfect satisfaction was written on the face of every farmer who had a cart load to sell, and the thought of a change of such a glori ous condition of affairs never for one moment entered our minds. "Will Uncle Sam's boys surrender? Not on your life." And John Bull "will stay there until the end of time," was heard in almost every home. But alas! a flag of truce appeared on the horizon, a peace conference was called, the hachet was buried and peace, love and unity prevailed amongst the former combatants, and the tobacco was taxed to pay the cost of the conflict. Notwithstanding the fact that the combination lowered the price of leaf at least four cents per pound, in less than thirty dayjs after hostilities ceased they could not get enough revenue out of what remained in the farmers' hands to reimburse them, so they took the next crop (1903) for less than six cents per pound net to the grower. Keep Down the 1907 Crop. Therefore, my brother farmer, beg you to tell me on what you base your hope for satisfactory prices tot a big crop of tobacco in the year 1907 upon? Nothing; nothing .but an earnest desire of the heartl "Faith," says one. Yes, faith is a good thing to have, but "faith withj out works ayaileth nothing," sayi? the Good Book. Then what works are we going to do to prevent a return of the condi tions that existed in 1903? Or to obtain as much money for the crop we are about to plant as we did for the: one just sold? j It appears from the reports re ceived from the tobacco-producing! counties, that nothing except the! preparation for a big crop is being done. What can be done is an easy question to answer. Don't increase your planting. No increase in acreage 'means at leastj two million dollars more in yourj pockets for the 1907 crop than youj got for the 1906 crop. The One Remedy. How can an increase be prevented?! By concert of action. Agreeing amongj ourselves-to do "the same thing at the same time," and then doing it is the good fruits of organization Therefore: organization, perfect or ganization, is the only sure method: of obtaining each year profitably prices of our tobacco. And of this I shall have more to say in later; numbers of The Progressive Farmer J. O. W. GRAVELY. Rocky Mount, N. C. itialie Plowing Easy By i Using Wonder Plow; Trucks. This truck will fit any beam, right or left ope or two horse, wood or steel plow. A boy can handle it with ease, most of the time without his hand on the clow. Reieulates perfectly depth and width of furrow. Will balance plow la hard, dryj stony soil, and save a third of draft on horses. : The plowman does not need to hold plow handles, j Works perfectly in tall grass or weeds, turning them completely under. Thousands in use. If it does not do all of these things, you cn send'it back and we will not only return your money! but pay the freight both ways. , Wrjte for our booklet "Progress inPlowlngr. Agents want every wheie. Retail price $5. Get special agents propositi o. Vender Plow Co.. i09Facton & Clair. Kick, o is Money! SAVE YOURS BY USING I m mm ;3 : . - I RUBBER STAMPS & STENCILS. Catalog- 170 on request. Price 25 Cents. Dixie Seal and Stamp Co., Atlanta, Ga. STRAWBERRY PLANTS f-nd Si. 80: for l.OOOi plants. True to name firsts-class. ! rijapoje, peach or plum for $1.00. John Ligbtfoot, Dept. 14, Chattanooga, Tenn. Fortunes in Cabbage Raising. Early Jersey WAKEFIELD The.Earllest Cabbage Grown. Charleston Large Types WAKEFIELD Secoind Earliest. Succession The Earliest Flat Head Variety. Any of the above varieties of Plants, O. O. D or cash; less than 4000 at $1.60 per M.; 5000 to 9000 at $1.25 per M Special prices on lots of 10,000 or more. - We have been in the business eight years and grow pur plants in the open air, Tso that they will stand the early frosts and severe colds. rAl! shipments have our personal attention, and satisfaction is guaranteed or money refunded. Address, B. L. COX, Ethel P. O., S. G. Express and Telegraphic Office: Meggetts, S. C. Ca 4- i I am now prepared jto fill orders for my Celebrated Cabbage Plants in any quantity desired. Early Jersey Wake field Earliest and best sure header, small type. Charleston Wake - field about ten days later than early Jerseys, also a sure header of fine size. Succession Best known sure heading- variety of large flat cabbage, later than Charleston Wakeheld. These plants are from the very best tested Ueeds and grown in the open air and will stand severe cold without in ji ry. j All orders are filled from the same beds that I am using- for my extensive !cabbage farm. Satisfaction guaranteed. Prices, f. o. b. here, packed in light boxes: 500 for SI, 1,000 to 4,000 at 81.50 per M.j 5,000 to 8000 at 81:25 per M. Special prices on larger quantities. All orders shipped C.jO. D. when not accompanied by remittance. I ' CH AS. Mi GIBSON, Young's Island, S. C. FARMERS OF NORTH CAROLINA! Do you want to know why more than 8000 Farmers have bought The Bostrom Improved Farm Level With Telescope fr Terracing' Irrigation and Drainage and recommend It to be the best jone made? Write for list of names, Treatise on Terracing and idescriptive circulars Free. Price in cluding Tripod ana Rod-$12.50. Expressage prepaid to nearest station, cash accompanying order. Boatrom-Brady Mg. Co., 128 Madison Ave., Atlanta, Ga. m mm mm mm mm mm rnrnrn mmm. mm mm mm mm ine.:':URu7 mm mm -Mm ja araBdffflnniit IrUUWT oucuKiu ui lmme &nn npxi nnirv rT ippin are nnmnmHi in the Xork Improved Weeder. The teeth are made of square springsteel withroundpoinis. Being narrow, they dp not injure the plants, Uo clogging. A sir your dealer to, show j you The i York Imnroved Wdir. examine it careiuny, ana you will see tliat it has tne ad vantages of efficiency and economy over- all other weeders.; pangler Corn Planters and Grain .Drills always give satisfaction duralble, per fect hi operation. Write for our free catalogue. SPANGLER MFG. CO., ' 508 N. Queen St., York, Pa. I ! ', I 0
The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, N.C.)
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March 7, 1907, edition 1
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