The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1882-03-22
ONCE MORE TO THE BREACH.

EDITOR DEMOCRAT
BY reference to my note book,
find that this is the fftieth articl
that I have written to different news
papers since the war, on the snbjec
Of "less cotton and more of some
thing to eat," and this is compare
lively nothing to what has beef
written upon the subject. The pre-
sent condition of large portion o
our people is mournful commentary
upon the existing mode OF farming
1t does seem that our farmers Tht
are generally sensible men in othe1
things, will learn in no other schoo
but that set apart for fools, AID pro
badly it will be better for them il
they will learn in no other schoo
than that of bitter experience.
1t is true that last year the droutl
was very severe, but if more atten.
ton had been paid to the production
of corn and other grain, the present
state of affairs would not exist. The
culture of cotton and the cons;dera
tons is ruinous, and will eventually
bring disaster to those who persist
in that policy.
Every farmer in this State should
raise his own corn, oats, potatoes,
meat and sufficient provender to win
ter his stock where it is required.
And then what cotton he makes is
money in his pocket. Every man
who is engaged in agriculture can
have Irish and sweet potatoes, on
ions, parsnips, dried fruit, peas and
beans to do his family the entire
Winter by taking one fifth OF the
labor bestowed on cotton, and en-
ploying it in the. culture and preser
walton Of the above articles. In this
country where God has blessed US
with every natural facility, milk and
butter should be abundant the year
round. Farmers should get a few
good mich cows and feed them plen.
tifully.
One COW that will give two gallons
of milk per day is worth as much as
four that only give one half gallon,
and cost just one fourth to feel
The cotton crops Of the South have
averaged two hundred and fifty mil
lions of dollars annually for twenty
years. Just think about it. What
has become Of this vast sum of
money. Let US multiply little.
Two hundred and fifty millions BY
twenty years, and we have the sum
Of five bihions of dollars. Put the
population of the United States at
fifty millions; this sum would give
every man, woman and child one
hundred dollars each, an amount
that would make very good start
IN the world for some people. Where
has this money gone to? 1t has
been sent out Of the country to buy
mules, corn, bacon, -four, oats, and
agricultural implements, and hun.
1reds of other articles that should
lave been raised and manufactured
It home.
1t has gone to build up New Eng
and towns and enrich the English |
manufacturer. 1t has gone to make
'lethoric the pockets of high protec
i've tariff people, to the depletion
# yours the consumers. The cues.
lon is how much longer will this
tate Of affairs continue?
The result of such a policy has
cen the exhaustion of an extensive
rea Of the best land in the South
nd the owners have not the means
} purchase fertilizers with which
} recuperate it. Very few men have
improved their condition BY the pro-
actlon of cotton, to the neglect Of :
her crops. Do you ever think how {
uch you pay for a pound of cotton 1
lat you sold for ten cents? Saw !
~ pay eight cents for yard of \
'lico, it will take about yards of /
is calico to weigh a pound; this
Ill make 48 cents for the pound
u sold for 8 cents or 10 cents. or a
urse yoq are working to make 9th. y
people rich. / am not sufficiently c
rsed on this subject to speak posi- G
'ely, but l will remark that it is ? ?
reasonable inference that if YOU NJ
oduce one-half the amount of cot P
J, you would obtain much higher D
ce, and then the labor could be d. A A
ted to a iversity of crops, SO you q
lid raise -Four own supplies, and
be materially injured in a pecu- :,
ry sense. NJ
Plant five or six acres in johnson.
,erne or Bermuda grass, and you a, A.
be astonished: how much corn it
save you, and what an amount
took it will keep in good condi A,
J, and then you can always have
plenty of hay. Let me beseech Mi
tn abandon tho pion ~ hint: