The Osceola times., 1878-03-23
small Faras.

We have, in previous Issues OF the
Dispatch, urIed the advantage TO be de-
rived from small farms, or rather at
tempted to show how much more profit
able small farm, well cultivated, is to
large plantation neglected and half
tended. And now. while labor Is no un-
certain. every candid and thinking man
will admit that a small farm will yield
more clear profit than large one. We
have but to look and see, 20 into any
neighborhood in the country, and when
we find farmer who has cultivated his
"bread acres" in nine times out OF ten
we find him under moi yagc and 10 debt,
while the small farmer, although he does
not make such big show, is out of debt,
and has his /" hog and hominy" on hand
for next years crop.
But we did not start TO muralize, nor
did we, when we commenced this article,
propose tn tell what we knew about
farming, or discuss the benefits arising
from proper cultivation. What we want
now, more than anything else, TO secure
prosperity to our state, is immigration,
we want our farmers-our heavy land
swners, 10 divide their farms into small
tracts, 80 that good homes may be pro-
cured for the new conner Immediately
upon his arrival in our country. Eighty,
or hundred and sixty acres OF land are
enough for any farmer and IL those who
have their half sections and whole sections,
their immense fields open and ready for
cultivation, would divide them into
smaller tracts and sell at reasona,
BILE prices, ION liberal terms, soon
our county would be peoped with
active, enterpri.ipg farmers. These big
plantations and heavy land owners are
curses 70 the country. They drive away
new settlers by their extravsgant prices
aI,d their determination to make big
or ps--ihe caus~ of education Is inn
pded-and the wheel OF progress is
stopped, and "money panic" isAlways
upon the people.
We may crush the system of free
schools in Arkansas as much as we
please; we may attribute ignorancs to
bad legislation or inefiiciency OF officers,
but these are not the causes Of the
failure of schools. The cause is at
tributable to the thinly settled country
-thinly settled because our people own
too much land, and those who would aid
us in building up schools, can find no
place 10 locate - are driven out by high
prices and unreasonable and exacting
terms.
Last week we sold land to Ave farmers
from Ohio, and no one of them would
purchase more than forty acres of land
They ssid, we want schools, and II we
buy all the land which is for sale around
us, we drive out Others, and we will be
unable to support school in our neigh.
borhood." And this remark was the
csuse Of the suggestions we now make.
There is sense in it. There is sound
reasoning in it. Aud if our farmers
would adopt similar policy, they would
be enabled TO educate their children,
and build up good society in every neigh
borhood.
Every dsy brings some immigrants to
our country-men OF pluck and vim, and
for our own good, and for the good OF the
country at large, we beg our large farmers
and land owners TO make fair divide
with them, for by 20 doing the balance
OF their land will soon be trebled in value.
Il Prescott Dispatch.
Does Cstsou Planting Pay nj rseent
Prscesy
That depends on how the business is
conducted. Ifthe planter expects 10 live
in town and turn the plantation over 10
an overseer and a lot OF hired freedmen.
it will not. II he farms with the freed.
men in shares and leaves them to msnage
everything. it will not II he plants
without proper preparation and cult.
Yates land that is too poor to make a
crop, it will not. II he relic, on the
proceeds OF the cotton crop for the pus.
chase Of supplies and the payment OF all
the expenses of the farm, it will not. II
he buys everything on a credit and
pays fifty per cent. more than they
would cost at cash prices, IL will
not. II he permits his mule to be abused,
his plantation utensils 10 be lost
and destroyed, his barns to be robbed
aud his pigs to be stolen, it will not.
But II he will give his personal atts ntion
TO tis business, and hires his laborers for
wages, prepares his land well and fertil.
izes it we'll, makes his supplies at home,
pays ~ he goes and takes care of his
stock and farming utensils, it will. There
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