Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1878-02-01

the result ~ Ue fdlgss mr.
article like this.
We are speaking to Texas
farmers, and especially those Of
Central Texas. They raise or
attempt to raise-too much cot
ton and corn, and not enough
products. 1t would. seem
that years of experience should
have long convinced the small
farmer that the exclusive plant
ing of these two staples leads
not to comfort and indepen-
dence, but in the oppositite d.
iectlon. The producer knows
better than we can explain to
him the cost of producing an
acre of cotton or of corn, and
the price he realizes when it is
marketed. Cotton ia an uncer-
tain crop at best. Corn, for
market, though more certain, is
! equally unsatisfactory as to net
profits. The question naturally
presents itself: How AM I to
help myselfa The answer is
more difficult to eliminate, yet
plain.
The soil aud climate of Texas
are remarkably prolific and
kindly. What Texas can't pro-
duce is hardly worth producing.
Our state will produce in con-
siderable protusiou and with
much precision wheat, barley,
oats, potatoes, onions, millet,
sorghum, brcom-corn, fax. hemp
and a score of other things that
find a ready sale and at prices
fairly remuneratfve. None of
Them require more labor to put
in marketable shape than do
cotton or corn; THAT is. compar-
atively speaking. Why not
plant themf Probably the main
reason is that they hare not
generally been cultivated in
new western counties, and
farmers feel an uncertainty in
veDturing into what may seem
to Be y mere speculation or pass
ing experiment.
There Is truth in the tradi-
tion, we'll admit; yet it is a
diHdeEce born more OF super
stitious reverence for the GUS
toms of our fathers than of
practical citation. With tamil
iarity comes confidence and
greater knowledge, as a matter
Ut course, and the more of these
crops produced, the more likely
will they be good ones. But
is no valid reason why they can
not be made to pay from the
start.
As it is now, the whole en-
ergy OF Texas is devoted to pro.
dncing u third of crop OF cot
ton, and a tair crop OF corn,
and -four, bacon, butter, mo
lasses and sugar, aud potatoes
must be bought from the north
provided the two staple leave
the produce enough profit to
buy them; otherwise he starves
itout on corn and hogs-it he
has any of the latte. 1t is a
very policy, indeed. and comes
of a blunted business percep-
ton as much as from limited
means. 1t requires no thought
and little labor to be poor; yet
farmers will toll end struggle
with all their might year after
year in trying to become poorer
than their neighbors, by raising
cotton and corn and corn and
cotton.
The GARNER who cultivates by
his own unaided labor from
twenty-five to forty acres, can
not, evidently, introduce SO
great variety of crops as the
pls who operates on five
hundred or thousand acres.
He can, however, calculate and
plan his work to the extent of
producing corn enough for
feeding purposes, wheat enough
for bread, potatoes, onions,
pork, bacon, butter, ETC., TOR the,
years provision. He can do
this and have a little Of each to
sell, and still raise some cotton
TO furnish him with ready
money through the season. AS
to how much of each crop to
plant, or when to plant it, he
must exercise his own Judgment.
The more pretentious planter
can diversity his crops with
less vexation. Having an abund-
ance OF land he can devote
more space to each, and hiring
his labor his personal observa-
ton and supervision can be APP
piled and directed with more
force on the general result.
But it is especially the average
farmer to whom these thoughts
are addressed.-Rouad Rock
Headlight.