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

| S-sS- ~ - IS4'SLSSAA d.
AS our farmers and planters have ad
Vanced into the last spring month, the,
nave by this time pitched their crops
and can form some estimate Of the prob
abilities OF the coming season. So far u.
'he 1oou crops are concerned they can es
Innate pretty accurately the chances fo,
q supply If the rest of the season is propi
tlons. Have they planted sutticienc 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
face of n Kansas exodus. The proDect
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 lett the Americas cotton master
of the field. 1t has been clearly shown
that tho price cannot go below a certain
point without driving out all but Ameri.
can producers.
The decentralization of labor caused by
the Kansas fever will inure to the ben fit
or those who steadily pe1severe in MAX
ing a crop. They Will derive the benefit
OF every acre abandoned, and also of the
anticipation in Northern and European
aikets 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
soid crop for many years. Those who
nave labored for several years past and
sold their crops for low prices, will make
a great mistake if they abandon tho cul-
1lVatlon OF cotton with the prospects
row before them. But we wonld rciter-
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 more easily produced than in the
Southern United States, and the farmer
is lheXcnsablo who trusts to ANYTHING but
his own farm for 4 supply.
no 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, the unavoidable necessity OF
adopting the agricultural system OF all
OTHER free countries. Diversity of labor
ana OF crops, subdivision Of lands. .;.C
steady, persistent, intelligent labnr would
MAKE OF oErs ono OF the best agricultural
sections of the country, and in the course
of time would obliterate from it every
trace of the slipshol cultivation formerly
attendant upon slave labor. Deep plo,r-
ing would take the place Of the skim
ming, impovcrishing methods of breaking
up the lands; heavy maruring would be
Eesorted to instead of clearing up new
lands; rotation of crops woold keep the
land fresh. aid tho aoiing of stock would |
improve it from year to year, and with |
all this Improvement the money crop, |
cotton, would aggregate moro il value |
than 1t does at present.
Let the Southern farmers take lessons |
from the hardy sons of the west and
north; let them not be ashamed to adopt |
improved methods of cultivation no luat-
ter where they may originate, let them
make honest labor the test of resuccta-
biiity, and we will in q few years have Il
which will draw to it the enter
prising labor Of the continent, and will |
place it above any fear Of Kansas feycrs.
-NateAcs Democrat.