Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-14
THE FARMERS CORRECT POLICY


In another column, under the heading of
Cotton and Corn" we this morning publish
a planters ideas of what should be the farm
er's policy in putting in his crop. Year by
year the old plan of "all cotton" proves to be
deception and a snare. How many at this
time of food and its attendant calsmities are
feeling bitterly the consequences OF the GALL
cotton" fallacy Had they but more corn to
keep their stock alive, and their mules in
fair condition, how different, when the waters
have subsidized, would be the condition of very
many of the suferer4l A season will come
now and then when it proves a fine thing to
have large amount of cotton, and a time
comes occasionally when it is an equally fine
thing to have a lottery-ticket. But what
sensible business man would think of invest
ing all his capital in lottery-tickets? And
time will come when hard bought expert
ence will have forced it into mems brains
that it is squally foolish to invest the years
expenditure and toll ON "all cotton" 1t is
not what may happen now and then that the
planter must aim at, but what wW be accom-
plished, taking one year with another. To
confne the seasons production to a single
article is sort Of gambling, a reliance on
chance; to vary the crop is to go on the
sound calculation OF a steady-going, rational
business man. The product of good years
"all cotton" looks "a big pile" but when
everything that went to produce it is paid how
big is the pile at the end of the processY
With sufficient corn and hay. with potatoes
and beans for the winter, with two or three
pigs fattening in the pen, plenty OF chickens
and eggs, and all the butter that is wanted,
how independent is the condition of the
farmer when he comes to balance up his
booksi His cotton proceeds look modest in
amount, but he can pay what is coming |
against it with a modest amount taken from |
1t, and he can face the winter well provided |
with the main substantials of life. Another
year he can grow more provisions for the
house and more feed for stock, because he
can put in the same amount of cotton as lie
did the year before, and yet be able to spare |
the extra labor for the other crop, for any
surplus of meat or meal he may have will
go toward paying for the extra labor. So
going on he will in the end grow fully as
much cotton as during his "all cotton DAYS,
for he will be able to employ extra help to
raise his other crops. How independent
such a state of things makes mani He is
no longer carried by his merchant" he has
no interest to pay for advances, he buys
where he San buy cheapest, for cash. His
house has every comfort, his children are
and his wife contented. A deter
mined will. strong effort, some self-denial
at the first, and the thing is done. Not all at
once, however, little corn and hog or two
10 start with, something more next year, and
30 on with unfsltering perseverance and
hearty trust in God, and the wonder is ac-
and the years reckoning is no
longer thing to dread but to rejoice at.
The farmer must do this, or he will end by
having to sell out to those who ave tie
tuff in them TO do what he failed to do.