The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-08-07
SPECIAL CROPS.
4 Few Suggestions Relative to Their Gull
tivatiOn.

Il
tivati0n.
In the vicinity Of cities and large
towns many farmers devote their at
tent on principally to the production o.
some part cular crop. and if they selec
a crop that is adapted to the soil o.
their farm, and it is one that they are
interested in enough to induce them te
become thoroughly acquainted with the
best methods of producing t. there is
but little doubt but they W II do better
than if they follow mixed farming; but
if they attempt 10 produce a crop that
is not adapted to their land, or one that
they can not become interested in. they
will very surely make ia lure of it.
When farmer decides to enter large
" into the production of any crop. the
first thing for h m to consider is. what
he knows about it; If he does OF know
enough about it TO select the soil best
adapted to its growth, and does no.
take enough interest in 1t to learn the
best methods of operation. he had
better continue to follow mixed farm
ing, or select some crop that he is
familiar with. When a farmer does
fully understand the wants of acrop he
should not try to produce it on a soil
that IS not adapted to its growth,
thinking he can make up the deficiency
of his land by his superior knowledge,
because by so doing he is carrying
load that, as rule. is unnecessary.
Our farms most of them have q variety
of soils, so that by properly assigning
the different crops, each one may be
put on to land adapted to its growth;
but if farmer should chance to have q
farm composed of land that is all
heavy soil, he will confine himself to
such crops as grow best on heavy land.
II milk or butter be b money crop he
will feed his cows principally on grass
and hay, and if he finds it necessary to
grow any fodder crops for summer
feed. he will grow oats instead of Hun
garian. If his farm should be of light
sandy soil and he wished to produce
milk. he would depend largely on win
ter rye. corn fodder and Hungarian to
feed both summer and winter.
The farmers success depends largely
on his ability to assign the diffe emit
crops to such portions of his farm as
are best adapted to their growth; he
who can not do this had better follow
mixed farming. because by so doing he |
will be likely to get some crops on the
right soil. but when he attempts to |
grow but one crop. if he makes any
m stake in the selection of the soil. or |
in his method of cultivation. he will be |
unable to grow his produce as cheap as
those who fully understand the busi-
ness; SO he has to sell atno profit, il |
not positive loss.
When farmer decides to 90 into
some special crop he must remember
that he has got to compete with ex-
perts; therefore. unless he feels very
sure that he also can become an expert,
ne should not enter upon what must be
IN unequal race. and in the end he will
ind that he has made q mistake in
eaving mixed farming.
Special crops. as rule, require high
culture, and the use of large quantities
II manure or commercial fertilizers;
his means large outlay Of time and
money. thus opening q chance for
! failure that to the common farmer
will be somewhat serious; there viii
'ccas onally be year when . crop will
all and ii only one crop be grown
here is nothing to fall back on, as
here will be if several crops arc
rown. for some one of them win in all
be good. but with q thor
ugh knowledge of how best to pro-
nee crop the profits in good years
! poor year.
Thn |
nccessful are those who have confined
to q few crops that are to
g put into the market for sale. He
no confines himself to mixed farming
i'll always have some crop that will do
ell. SO that he will have something to
Ill. but what he sells must necessarily
e in small lots. which as . rule can
OF be disposed of to SO good advan- 7
lge as if he had large lot. and had
thoroughly learned the trade of pack
g it for market; the transportation to :,
arket is also as q rule much more ex-
,nsive than it would be if he had large q
lantities. Whether or not it is best
r q farmer to leave mixed farming 8
T the production of special crops
ust depend somewhat on his financial q
'ndition, as well as upon his intelli-
,nce. for it requires more capital to q
'oduce special crops than for mixed q
rming, for he must not only have the y
cans to carry his crop through the "
tire season, but he must be able to n
idge over bad season. when crops q
not pay expenses; thus he must be-
az to that class that can keep q sur t.
US of money until wanted. without p
ending it for what he can do with g
t. Unless he possesses these require X
snts he will find himself ct the end Of n
bad season compelled to hire money 4
carry his next crop through. Some q
'mers never can succeed with special d
BPS because they can not keep the e
,ney obtained in good years to carry q
sm through the unfavorable years. II
rule it is best for . farmer to to
ange from mixed farming to special
Fps very gradually, thus making him. OF
fully acquainted with al Of the W
nts of the crop before he gets into il Ct
any great extent, he win then know
ether or not his land IL adapted to pr
and whether Il 10 . crop that il g
l v1for3 - ~. ea.k~ i -