Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1878-06-07

diversity of crops is no better Than
ny, If the one selected suits the soil climate
ETC., but what the farmer needs is iudici-
GUS diversity of his crop, and without
which farming can not be made success
and profitable to those engaged in it If
this be true, then the question of proper
or judicious diversity becomes one Of vital
Importance 10 the farmer. What then are
the objects 10 be attained by variety, and
the points to be considered in making up
that variety? As one object we would
mention the utilization of time. To ac-
comPlish this purpose, such articles should
be selected as require care in their cult
walton and gathering at different periods in
the year. The farmer OF laborcr, can ac-
complish just so much in either cultivating
or gathering, and 10 have several varieties
on hand at the same time, in either stage
he must have extra labor o. suffer loss, this
farmers knows TO be inevitable. Another
object of consideration, is the means Of
handling and preparing the crops for the
market. There arc but few staple articles
that do not require a certain amount of
machinery to prepare them for transport
tation or sale, and an ordinary farmer un-
dertaking to supply himself with all such
machinery would be very apt to find HIM
self engaged in losing business. For
instance take the articles of cotton, sugar
and wheat, and the machinery necessary 10
handle them successfully would amount to
more than the ordinary farm would pay
the interest on. Hence diversity of farm
ing in such articles or crops can be accom-
plished only by cooperation and concert
among the farmers in such localities as
may see proper to engage in it. The ma
ture ofthe articles in regard to their prcserv-
ing qualities should also be taken into con
sideration. And for the principle crops
such articles only should be produced as
can be preserved through at least
great portion Of the season, that the pro-
ducer may have an opportunity to obtain
the benefits Of the lamentations of the mar
set or their use, and such articles as
depend upon momentary market, should
be secondary consideration in the make
up Of the variety for the season. Another
important reason for variety of articles, is
the preservation of the soil 1t is a fact
patent to all observing farmers, that sue
cession of the same crop for series of
years, will impovcrish the land, hence it
IS essential that crops should be rotated,
giving nature, the great store house
! Of the farmers wealth, an opportuni-
ty TO rccuperatc the exhausted fields for us,
which the farmer in his mistaken ideas of
economy and thirst for gain, fails TO do.
The soil is the farmers capital, from
which he draws his annual per cent, and
Whenever he allows the fertility Of it to be
decreased, his capital is thereby dimished,
and Of course his per cent. lcssencd in the
same ratio. This solves the question
why the yield on many farms seen in this
county of rioh soil has been dimished. from
IS TO 50 per cent. in the last decade, and
the same course persisted in will bring
mournful sequence 10 the owners.
Twill now notice another item of farm
products, and although not produced from
the soil directly, consider it of
the greatest concern to the farmer viz: the
domestic animals, which should be included
among the productions of every farmer.
who is DESTROYS Of being able and prepared
toutilize to the best advantage, both time and
all the surplus articles that may be produc-
ed on the farm. In twenty-five years OBJ
sefvation and experience in this county. l
harenot seen time when young thrifty
stock OF any description would not pay
reasonably well for the cost and trouble of
feeding it. Finding this TO be the case for
aquartcr of a century, i thing we might safe
ly conclude that ii is an established fact. and
that it will always continue to be so.
Hence VIC conclude that every farmer
should supply himself with all the animals
that he may need for either road or
draught purposes, and ior th,ir flesh An
other consideration in connection with
stock when properly managed, may be
made to aid greatly in maintaining the fer
tiliy ofthe soil, at perhaps less cost to the
owner than by any other means.
Finally We conclude that, with skill,
energy and perseverance with judicious
Investigation of crops, any farmer in this
county may and can obtsin an abundance
TO supply all reasonable and moderate de-
mands L cp.v