Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-06-04
SUPPLIES ron The FAMILY.
rnc Dlnereaec in ,hs Method. OF oe,sl"In'

SUPPLIES FOR THk FAMILY.
The Inference In the Methods Of Obtaining
Them Now aud = Generation AGO.
A generation ago nearly every farmer
In the country cndeavored 10 produce
nearly every article Of food that was rs.
quired for his family ahd help He pur.
chased at the grocery little except tea.
coffee, pepper, salt and spices. lie
raised all the varieties Of grain required
to make bread, pastry and pudding.
took them to a custom mill, whore they
were converted into -four. meal, grits,
hominy, bran aud shorts. which were
carried home and consumed. The gar.
den was made to produce all the vege.
iablos wanted for immediate use, and
an abundance for preservation. Every
family made its own pickles, preserves
and icllies. Butter and cheese wero
made in every farmers house. With
very rare exceptions families made
the own soap, candles and vinegar.
All the meat consumed BY the family
was raised on the farm, cured in the
house and preserved in the cellar OF
garret. In the fall or early part Of the
winter supply Of smoked aud dried
meats was prepared sufficient TO last a
year. Every farmer raised fruit, con.
siderable portion OF which was dried OF
preserved for use during the winter
The first object Of every farmer was ti
supply his family with food produced
on the place he occupied. He was re.
garded was very unthrifty II he did not
do this.
During tho past few years matter,
have changed greatly in this respect
In many parts Of the country farmers
are rs dependent on the grocer and
butcher for food as mechanics and
traders in large city arc. They raise
cattle, hogs and sometimes sheep. but
the practice is to sell them ION the hoof."
They procure the meat they consume
from the butcher. paying at least twice
as much for IL as they get for that they
sell Raising large fields of grain, they
buy their flour, meal and other bread.
stuils. They are, II they have the means
TO do ii, liberal purchasers OF dried.
canned and preserved fruits and pickles.
Some buy the garden vegetables they
use, but the larger number 60 without
them. Farmers who have good credit
employ il for their disadvantage. They
obtain most that they purchase on cred
IL In the fall they dispose Of nearly
all the grain and stock they hnve raised
TO obtain money to meet their obliga-
tions. They then commence TO run up
new bills for supplies for / cir FAMILIES.
a generation ago there was a greater
necessity for producing all or nearly al
the articles Of food required for a fami
~ than there is at present. There was
a poor market for many of the pro ucts
of the farm. Especially was this the
case with those that were heavy or
bulky. The means Of transportation
were very poor in most parts of the
country. Farmers living near the
ocean, a large lake. or navigahle
river enjoyed great advantages over
those liyii z IN the interior Of the coun.
try. There was no way Of transporting
heavy articles economically, exceUt by
boats. As farmers remote from water
communication could not dispose of
their products for cash, there was very
little money In circulation. Most of
the local trade was carried on without
the employment OF money. Articles
brought from a distance commanded n
high price ON account of the great cost
OF transportation. The farmer accord
ingly found it TO his advantage 10 pro-
duce what was required to supply the
wants OF his family. II he DIES re TO
live well. and at the same time to live
cheaply, he and all the members Of his
family raised a rye number of arti-
clcs of foDd, and took eat pains in
preserving them for future use. The
curing Of meat the drying Of fruit, the
making OF pickles and preserves re-
ceived great attention in every we'll
regulated farmhouse. A farmer was
not dependent on the grocer and butch
er for food.
Farmers OF the present age are in
much better condition TO purchase ar
tcles OF food than those who lived n
generation ago. Railroads have produ I'd
a cash market for all their products in
almost every town. IL Is no longer
necessary TO have a farm located near
nayigable water in order 10 have an
accessible market for what is raised on
a farm. Farmers now sell their prod
ucts Tor cash, as manufacturers do.
Money is in circulation in every part
of the country where crops, eggs. but !
ter, cheese, wool and domesticated
amin lis are produced. II is policy for
a farmer TO bo trader as well as a
producer. II is obvious, however, that
most farmers are doing more trading !
than is beneficial 10 them. They sell !
too many things and they buy too |
manf. Their greatest mistake is in |
buying back, in a different form. the |
articles they dispose Of. The difference |
between the price they receive aud tina. |
they pay is generally very large, and |
that is invariably against them. An ar. |
ticle Is not sold from a farm, taken to a |
city, disposed OF several times, and |
then brought back without having lis |
price greatly increased. II not doubled !
This sort OF trade, which has increased /
wonderfully during the past few years,
has been highly beneficial 10 transpor-
iation companies, packers and traders, |
but ruinous 10 farmers. A return, In |
4 somewhat modified form, 10 the prac- |
tees that prevailed before railroads
reyolutionized farming and trade. would |
result in grea, benefit TO farmers.
Chicago Times
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