Feliciana sentinel., 1879-05-31
DIVERSIFIED CROPS A necessity

AS our farmers and planters have adj
vanced into the last spring month. they
nave by this time pitched their crops,
and can form some estimate Of the prob
abilities OF the coming season. So far as
the food crops are concerned they can es
innate pretty accurately the chances for
q supply II the rest of the season ispropi-
| tlons. Have they planted 4 sufticiency Y
! OF these crops to make them independent
of the supply merchant! If they can
| answer this question in the affirmative.
they may feel pretty safe, even in the
| 1ace OF Kansas exodus. Tho propcct
was never fairer for remunerative prices
| tor the growing cotton crop than those
before them this season. The low prices
which have rendered cotton planting un-
profitable for the past few years have de-
creased its cultivation in every other
SECTION OF the cotton producing world
and has left the Americas cotton master
OF the field. 1t has been clearly shown
that the price cannot go below a certain
point without driving out all but Ameri.
can producers.
1he decentralization of labor caused by
the Kansas fever will inure to the ben fit
of those who steadily pe.sevcre in maxi
ing crop. They will derive the benefit
OF every acre abandoned, and also of the
anticipation in Northern and European
markets OF losses to the aggregate crop
by the exaggerated emigration of cotton
laborers. We cannot but believe then
that the coming crop will be the best |
sold crop for many years. Those who |
nave labored for several years past and |
sold their crops for low prices, will make
Il great mistake if they abandon tho cul- |
tivation Of cotton with the prospects !
row before them. But we wonld rcitec-
ate what we have SO often said no farm |
er should depend solely upon his cotton |
for his support. There is no country in |
the world where the necessaries OF life |
are moro easily produced than in the
Southern United States, and the farmer
Is lheXcnsablo who trusts to anything but
his own farm for 4 supply.
lhc great uncertainty connected with
orr present system Of labor which has
been so clearly demonstrated during the
present season, should, we think. open |
the eyes Of Southern land owners to the |
absolute, tEe unavoidable necessity OF
adopting the agricultural system OF all |
OTHER free countries. Diversity of labor |
and OF crops, subdivision OF lands, ;,n0 |
steady, persistent, intelligent labor would |
make of oGrs one OF the best agricultural !
sections OF the country, and in the course !
OF time would obliterate from it every
trace of the slipshod cultivation formerly
attendant upon slave labor. Deep ploy-
ing would take the place of the skim
ming, impovcrishng methods of bretking
lp the lands heavy maruring would be
escorted to instead of clearing up new
ands; rotation Of crops would keep the
and fresh. aid tho soiling Of stock would
improve it from year to year, and with
Ill this Improvement the money crop,
cotton, would aggregate moro il value
han it does at present.
Let the Southern farmers take lessons |
rom the hardy sons of the west and
orth let them not be ashamed TO adopt
methods of cultivation no luat-
CT where they may originate, let them
make honest labor the test of resDccta-
'ility, and we Will in few years have Il
onntry which will draw to it the enter
'rising labor of the continent, and will
'lacc it above any fear Of Kansas feycrs
-Natchcs Democrat.