Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1886-03-05
Ifarmers' Column.
Better Times fer Farmers.

It is reasonably certain that the pre-
sent year there must be an advance IL
prices of farm psoductS. There is rea
son for genera. COS graduation on this
point. Such an advantages advance
in prices of farme-s' products IS got a
benefit only to orr greatest Industry,
but incidentally 10 all honest Norkers.
It is q serious misfortune to al indus
tries when prosperity is not uniform.
Theirs is an alternate boom and deprss
sion. We have had low pricas Of farm
products about as long as most farm
ers can stand it. This has heretofore
been the signal for Al rise in prices, and
that is now on general principles the
next thing in order.
1t is often remarked that farming Is
a safe business, because industrious
men engage in it, who attend closely
to their business very rarely fail.
The natural resources OF our country
for cheap production OF food are satii
cisnt to overcome artificial difficulties
with which the farmers business IS
he.igad. He is Obliged t. bus in dear
markets, and sell his produc ~ ca
petition With the world Hence. " All
other kinds Of business are booming =
which is to say, Will ali that farmers
buy is dear-he is compelled to woI X
at \ loss When general stsGnatioo
and depression in maauEtcsucs : :"
dustrles reduce the farmer 5 expenses.
he is enabled to make "a little profit,
though under limited mark !.
For year or two past, IFn', T2'irn
and other nanuts.c uTeTa have ben
depressed to a greater exte.t than TO
several wears previous. Tits true farm
produce has been low; bu. for the past
year, at least, the farmer has been a
BILE {, grow it at mnch Ieas expense
But for the fact that wheat III HaHS
sections was failure tll5 season. far
mers would have more clear money
this year than for the past few years
As it is. even with partial failure OF
the potato crop also, farmers VINO havr
been able to reduce expenses will not
suffer from hard times. They will
have at least enough to pay the cost o.!
running the farm and supporting heir
families; and but for the partial fail
ure of wheat and potatoes, would BE-
better paid for their own labor than IS
usually the case.
These are hopeful symptoms, alike
for farmers and all business men who
are directly interested in the prosper
ity of the AGRICULTURAL class. 1t is not
worth while to expect boom IN bnsl-
ness like that which prevailed in 1879
50, and the early part of 1881. Ii any
one is building on the hope of sucn an
era of market prosperity he is likely to
be disappointed. But it is great
deal gained if We have pessed the turn
ing point of long era OF depression.
We may reasonably hope FIR snch a
gradual improvement il business this
year and next, as the country ezper-
fenced from 1876 to 1873 inclusive
It was during those years that farmers
were slowly making money and were
assisted in saving it by the low prices
Of what they had to buy. That is the
agricultural situation now, and it viii
not do to interfere with it by discount
ing the future aud putting up prices
in anticipation Of prosperity which
is yet only beginning. This IS the
prevailing vice of business men, and it
is one of the reasons why, despite cur
great agricultural resources, the re-
covery from times of depression is slow
and difficult. just as soon as it is be
iieved that farmers are likely to make
some money, the prices of whatever
they have to buy is put up SO as to
take it from them as soon as received.
The commercial papers are, as usual
in the fall when crops are being sid,
talking about boom in business
But we can get along very well with
out it. We need genuine prosperity
more than business boom, aud pros
perity is best secured by the slow and
sure gains made by combined industry
and saving. When men go further
than this, and attempt to gain exces-
sive profits without earning them, the
end is sure to come in reaction and
loss. But with prosperity among far
mers for two OR three years to come, a
large portion Of this must overtia"
and be shared by all other classes OF
workers, and Id to the profits of the
capitalist as we'll The beginning,
however. must be with TIE farmer
and woe to those who try to run ahead
instead of awaiting his Lead ,gricnl
turaz Progress.
Feeding Lambs.