The Manning Times

SIXTY CENTS
.PICKING PRICE

Purchase Fertilizer in No Other Plan
Central Platform Cut Ginning Charge

Sumter, Aug. 15. The farmers of Sumter County met at the court house this morning for the purpose of agreeing on a maximum price for cotton picking. After some discussion it was agreed that 60 cents per 100 pounds of seed cotton would be fair and reasonable to all concerned.

This meeting came as a result of similar action last year about mid-season. Cotton picking prices had become thoroughly demoralized at that time. The rumor would reach one farmer that another, some distance away, was paying more. Not having time to go and verify this, he would raise the picking price when in most cases the other man had never paid the reported high figure. At that time last year prices ranging from 50 cents to $1.25 per 100 pounds were current over the county. It was then that County Agent Eleazer called a meeting that was largely attended and a price agreed upon. That price was adhered to rigidly and no violation was heard of. That meeting brought order out of utter chaos, and resulted in satisfying the pickers through the stabilized price. The pickers were satisfied then because rumors of higher prices being paid on other farms (where in most cases they were not at all) ceased, and they went to work undisturbed by the thought of others getting more than they. Since that action then proved advantageous to all concerned, it was decided to hold a meeting for the same purpose each year, before picking started so as to avoid the otherwise inevitable chaos.

This meeting today went on record as favoring the use of cotton sacks for fertilizer, and those present agreed to buy fertilizer in nothing else so far as practical. The Sumter Fertilizer Company used a lot of such sacks last year with entire satisfaction. The sacks cost a little more, but it is thought that this is compensated for in the better sacks that are left for other uses after the fertilizer is used. They are made of good, strong, coarse cotton goods, and have been appropriated for making rough human clothing after they are emptied on many farms.

The matter of trying to see if some arrangement could be made whereby the cotton buyers in Sumter could be at some central point for buying so the farmer would not have to run all over town with his sample and possibly have the price change while doing so, was brought up by J. B. Britton and received hearty approval by all. It was brought out that some towns in this section have such an arrangement, and that it is much easier for the farmer to sell where such an arrangement exists. Mr. Britton and County Agent Eleazer were appointed to call this matter to the attention of the board of trade and to cooperate with it in trying to get such a thing for Sumter this year.

After this general meeting the ginners, who were also present, met to determine ginning prices for the season. It was agreed that $2.75 per bale up to 550 pounds would be charged, and a charge of $1.25 would be made for bagging and ties (six yards of two pound bagging). Heavier bales than this would cost proportionately more. It is said that this amounts to an approximate reduction of 50 cents per bale, including bagging and ties, over last year.