The Russellville Democrat., 1880-01-01
A Country Where q Variety oi
 Crops Grow.

0AOPo UAOWs Many persons from east of the Mississippi think 1t strange conduct for our farmers to devote so much of their time to the culture of cot ton, and those from the northwest, without experience here, think it would be more profitable to raise grain and stock. The average Ark ansian or Texan, from long habit, cannot be content without raising bales of cotton for market--in fact it is their whole study; they have been accustomed to it through life and seldom desist. They prefer cotton above all other crops. and frequent | ly fail to raise half as much grain and vegetables IS are really Deces- sary for their comfort and support. At least this has been the case with many of our people--the old ones particularly. The rising generation is becoming wiser; learning by the experience of their forefathers to plant variety of crops. The coun- try has proven itself to be one where great variety of crops can be rais- ed. But we should have a variety of farmers in our country-those that understand raising corn, wheat, oats, vegetables and potatoes; fowls, hogs and cattle, to sell to the cotton raisers and those that may want such articles, and not be compelled to ship bacon from St. Louis to this market.
 It is thought that good hogs cannot be raised here, and it has been said by cotton raiscrs that Irish potatoes will not grow here, and that cabbage, beans, and many other garden growths were an entire failure. As one of experience, we say this is false. The fault is in the cultivation and management of the land. Hogs will grow as fine as in any other coun- try; and as for cattle, this country is not excelled for healthy ones-they seldom ever have any disease, and can be raised with profit Also sheep are very healthy here and the iocks throughout the country are in creasing every year. The price of wool increasing gives an impetus to the business, and quite an interest in sheep is being manifested. Most of our old citizens have had the advan tage of free range, grass growing spontaneously, and have not been compelled to come up to scientific farming. They have neg eglected thelr duty in some respects-they have worked hard, but thought little, and the result is they have lost time and money by neglecting to produce the crops adapted to the country in the variety that is necessary for their support, and thereby impoverish themselves and the country.
 Yet we should have a proper un- derstanding of the country and the people; the produce and the opportu nity of turning that produce into money. If all of the farmers should raise grain they could not sell it at any price, unless they put it into stock, yet we are entirely ignorant as to the money making in this line, taking the number of bushels to the acre and the transportation, etc, into consideration, but we are confident very largo number could raise the above articles with great profit, and with as little labor as in any of the countries west of the Mississippi River.
 This has been very dry year, (in- fact we have had but little rain for two years), yet It is, notwithstanding the rise in every artrcle required for man and beast, difficult to realize more than from sixty-flvs to seventy cents on the bushel for corn and from three to five dollars hundred 6 for pork. Every one appears to have plenty. Beef is offered in the market at an average of from five to eight cents, net. In the country beef is not so high--say about 3 1-2 to 4 1-2 cents. This beef and pork is generally rais- ed on the range. The cattle are fed part of the winter, and the hogs are fed if the acorns fail. The most of the hogs receive very little atten- ion, very few taking an interest in either cattle or hogs, as they should or can, oa account of the cotton crop that is on hand for about thirteen months in every year.
 There are few, however that have raised fine hogs and cattle and will not think of offering them at present low prices; they prefer to wait for higher prices in the future, which they are certain to get.
 We want variety of farmers as well as a variety of crops. Those who have experience in farming as . business, those that are seeking homes for themselves and families from the older States, so that the business of farming will be brought up to the proper standard to show what our country can and will do under proper culture. Those that understand the raising of cotton and have engaged in it for years, are the proper ones to raise cotton; and those that are accustomed to grain and stock are the individuals that come to this country and raise stock at as