The Dawson journal., 1883-10-04
Diversity of Crops.

and the greater the variety, the more
surely viii his interests be subserved
This is plain preposilion--one
which none can mistake, anl it only
ne9ds to be submitted to receive the
assent of every single intelligent far
mer in the land. Then, if it be true,
as must be granted, that every man
naturally looks to his own interest,
the question arises, why is it that
our tarmers DO not more universally
practice what they admit to be of so
much importance to their own ag-
grandizement? That men of intelii-
gence and reason should so act
would seem little paradoxical, yet
it is true, and to verify the statement
we have only to appeal to the expe-
rience and observation of every plan
ter in the country What. then, is
the solution of this undeniable con-
trariety? Is it lack of energy and
nerve, or is it a lack of means that
many of our farmers fail to pursue
line Of policy which they admit to
be the only correct one? Certainly
not the latter, for it does not require
any more smeans to diversity ones
crops than it does to plant single
given crop. On the contrary, how
ever, the actual cost of production
in the aggregate is cheapened by
large variety ofcrops, which could be
very easily demonstrated did we
think it important to the argument.
We presume that none will deny that
this is SC. Therefore we conclude
that it is not lack of pecuniary abil-
ity that our farmers do so generally
neglect to diversity their field crops.
This being admitted we are forced
to the conclusion that the reason is
found in q lack Of energy and enter
prise. 1t is little more trouble and
Inconvenience and requires more
details and particularly Of labor to
diversity field crops, therefore, for
want Of energy to adapt themselves
to the task, many of our farmers,
from year to year, let the various
seasons come and go without any
effort whatever upon their part to
stop the swelling tide of monotony.
The same old rut, year in and year
out, and when it will step, the proph-
cts only know. Occasionly we meet
with farmer who has the energy
and pluck TO attend to his farming
interest as il should be done-he is
not afraid to lay hold and work with
his own hands if need be-he don't
mind getting up before day if neces-
sary-in short. gives himself fully
and sqnarelY to his business, and it
is almost Invariably the case that
man like this is apt to see the advan-
tage of dlversifying his crops. No
farmer may expect to succeed in this
country unless lie makes up his mind
to produce as great variety Of crops
as possible; and especially is this
true OF the cereals. Nor will he be
able to do this without very great en-
ergy and attention to business. I'm
fortunately for the Southern people
The idea obtains that they are all
poor alike, and that they are not
responsible for this condition Of
things, and therefore, they are CON
tent to drag along from year to year
without putting forth any special ex-
ertion to regain what they have lost
Candor as a journalist compels us to
characterize this disposition as indo-
lence, and until our people Shall
have risen up in their manhood and
shaken it of, we may not hope for
any material change in the direction
OF permanent prosperity. It viii be
seen that the argument is made upon
the assumption that diversity Of
crops is essential to success in farm
ing, and that energy and enterprise
IS necessary in order to proper diver
sity, therefore, it follows as logical
conclusion that energy and enter
prise is necessary to success. Then
the one great thing needful upon the
part of our farmers is little more
pluck, q little more energy and lit
tie more enterprise. Farmers, shall
we have it? Your future prosperity
for all time to come depends upon it.
A Good Investments.