202 
COTTON 
He is able to calculate with more accuracy. As 
a rule, he knows what his raw product will cost. 
He estimates what his operating expenses will be 
and sells his product, including his many items of 
expense, at a profit as great as competition will 
permit. While he has troubles to bother him, 
they are small indeed when compared with those 
of the farmer — troubles that begin even before the 
crop is started and only end when the last bale is 
sold. 
The mere fact that the quantity fluctuates, is 
enough to show that the farmer deals with factors 
beyond his control. 
Let us suppose a cotton factory produced one 
year 10,000,000 pounds of product, the next year 
12,000,000 pounds, the next year 7,500,000 pounds, 
and the next 9,000,000 pounds, all unexpected 
results, not in the calculation of the management: 
do you think if such results were produced, the 
manufacturer could make any very close estimate 
on the cost of 1,000 pounds of product; or do you 
think he could remain long out of bankruptcy, 
unless his profits some years were very great 
indeed ? 
But the manufacturer may even sell his product 
before he makes it. If he can arrange with his 
labor, and purchase his raw material, he knows 
within close limits just what his business will do 
during the year. With the farmer this can never 
be the case. He knows not twenty-four hours 
ahead that some insect may not damage his crop, or 
that some disease may not destroy it in part; nor 
does he know that wet weather may not come and 
injure bloom and boll and plant, or give him trouble 
with his ever-ready enemies, weeds and grass. 
One day he may be glad and rejoice for what his 
