The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1868-03-07

% Horticulture we believe to
be one of the most instructive, in
teresting, and at all times, when
properly conducted, one Of the
most lucrative branches Of the
occupation of man; and we can
safely say that both agriculture
and horticulture at this time
claims the earnest attention of
the South. The whole history of
our national existence, as a civil
lized agricultural people, never
knew a time when the ''cultiyation
of the soil" demanded so impera-
lively our most earnest and solici-
tous consideration. Now is the
time, most assuredly, when we
should both study and practice
this valuable science in all it's
bearings. It is the life blood OF
our existence, the stamina of the
nation, and opens to our view the
avenues to wealth, honor, peace
and a happy prosperity.
The cultivation Of cotton, and
the profits arising from it, being
no longer an inducement to the
cultiyatorS of the soil of the South,
we are forced to turn our attention
to the production of the cereals.
stock raising generally, and the
poultry yard. The freedmen can
not be depended upon as scientific
laborers; besides, they are fast
relapsing, to great extent, into
idleness, theft, and all the dement,
ed habits of a dirty, low class of
people; and we feel assured,
speaking from observation, that
the "curse of Cain" not only fell
upon the negro, but in a very few
years will be upon the whole
United States, and particularly
the South. This curse the worst
of all will soon be upon us, and
we know that the North see and
feel it as well as we do. In look
ing over the field Of our labors, as
well as our advantages, we are
somewhat ast0nished to see the
tardiness with which the South is
moving into the proper channel Of
labor. How many thousands and
thousands Of dollars are hurried
off to some Northern port for pro
visions that could just as easily
be retained in this country. Step
into general grocery and proyis-
ion store, and what do you see {?
Potatoes, onions, -four, meal, corn,
cats, butter and q host of other
things, all of which our Southern
soil is peculiarly and abundantly
adapted to. Any Of these things
we can produce in great album
dance, besides, often a superior
quality to that of anything ship
ped to us. We can produce them
at much less figures than we pay
for them. Why do our people
persist in trying to do that which
is Of no profit to them, but rather
to be studied as a lesson of econo-
my? All must plant cotton, cot
ton all the time, and yet it takes
his whole crop, and often more, to
pay for his provisions. Last year
we knew a man who planted cot
ton altogether-gaye it his whole
attention-and at the end of the
year when it was all picked, gin
ned, ETC., and put in market, it
brought him eleven hundred dol
lars in all, and his store bills, for
groceries principally, with a few
other little items of clothing for
his family, amounted to fourteen
hundred dOllars-three hundred
more than he made. This amount
he fell short. All this / saw my
self, as | furnished the goods
His crop was mortgaged for his
store account, besides ne had
given good security for the debt.
Now his friends comes in to pay
the overplus-a dead loss of course
to him.
We are no advocate, by any
means, of not raising cotton; but
we most earnestly insist on ouI
people raising corn, wheat, oats.
and stock sufficient for home con
sumption, and then make all the
cotton they can. How many mer
do we see who lost all in one
crop7 We can point TO men who