The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-07-23


Special crops are becoming both prof
table and popular. 1t is mark OF en-
terprise for farmer to leave the old
and beaten track and Law out new one
for himself, and he may often find that
it pays to do this. Many farmers are
eagerly considering how they can in-
crease their incomes, which are mar
rowed and shortened by the low prices
of grain and other staple products,
which are far more cheaply grown upon
Western land that costs but a few dol
lars per acre than upon farms costing
ten times as much. And it has turned
out that those have done the best in
this direction who have given their at
tention to special crops. Crops of this
kind depend for their profit upon near
ness to markets or upon the possibility
of making market for them. The large
cities and towns supply good markets
for such special products as poultry,
sweet corn, cabbage, caulifiower. celery,
small fruits, melons, cucumbers for
pickles, and fresh vegetables of several
kinds. But these crops require special
attention, and in general the whole at
tention and care of the grower, for
greater success. This is necessary for
several reasons-among others that will
be obvious may be mentioned that early
and successive planting are necessary,
as well as liberal manuring, practical
knowledge of the habits Of growth of
each. the special diseases and parasites
which trouble them and must be guarded
against, quick and forced growth and
the best methods OF disposing of them.
This technical knowledge will easily be
gained after a short experience, during
which. perhaps, some loss and disap-
pointment may be met with. but this is
to be looked for in all new ventures
and very often the way to salts
factory success is found through a
few failures. Many markets for these
products are in an undeveloped con-
dition, but require only the attempt to
start a business TO make it successful.
This is especially the case in small
towns and rural villages, in which it is
a well-known fact that early-grown,
fresh vegetables and fruits are very
often much scarcer and more difficult
to be procured than in the large cities,
and where finely grown vegetables and
fruits are but rarely seen. The mar
kets, then. must be sought and often
made, and it is a great advantages and
help in this respect that really good and
choice farm and garden products will
in every case make market for them
selves If they are only offered. Con-
trary to the usual opinion in this respect,
it is not the demand that brings out the
supply, although this is true when de-
mand is existing; but the supply actu-
ally creates demand, because it is a
special trait of human nature that one
always wants whatever one sees and
that which is never seen is never de-
sired, the want remaining dormant and
undeveloped. The most surprising sue
cesses have been made in this way. A
graduate of Yale. for instance, finding
his chosen profession filled, and disin-
clined to elbow his way through a
crowd of aspirants for limited bust
ness, takes q farm and makes choice
butter, feeding pigs upon the surplus
milk. and turning them into the most
carefully prepared sausages. Really
good butter always sells. Sausages are
usually hedged about with the gravest
suspicion and dread of hidden danger
lurking within them. But when Deerfoot
farm sausages were thrown upon the
market they became popular, and the
young man very soon made wide rep
utation, and his success and fortune be-
came assured. Now the resources OF
his farm are not sufficient to supply his
business, and contracts are made with
other farmers to supply the pork deli
cately fed upon milk and meal, and pos
sessing unobjectionable. and even the
most desirable, qualities. This is ease
ia point.-N Y. Times.