The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-01-22
From the Southern Cultivator.
THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH.
by w. l.. JONES
NEW DEPARTURE.

AS a rule, farmers change their plans
and methods very slowly their work goes
on from year to year in pretty much the
same grooves - eminently conservative,
they foar that change will bring disaster.
Within proper limits, this conservatism is
both wise and commcndable. The result
ant, so to speak, of the experiences of
large numbers of men running through
many years is very apt to point in the
right direction, or quite near to it. But
change of surroundings, increase of knowl-
edge in other departments, more or less
closely related to farming,, now inventions
together with additional experience, open
the way sometimes, to gradual and impor-
tant changes, even in the old art of ugri-
culture. Witness the extended use of
commercial, or chemical fertilizers, and of
labor saving implements the large sub
stitution Of cotton for flax and WOOL and of
beet sugar for cane sugar in European
markets-all within the memory of many
now living. The beginning of new year
is fitting time to consider whether any
new departures arc advisable just now
upon our Southern farms. Does calm,
dispnssionatc consideration of results war
rant repetition in 1856 of the plans,
methods and operations Of 1885 or are
there points at which it is plain that
greater or less changes might be advanta-
geously made ? Let us look into these
matters.
PREpoNDERANCE OF MONEY CROPS.
Is it not true that under the prevailing
farm economy, we sell and tuy too much
Are not money crops pushed.to far ? We
are thoroughly convinced that they are.
We lay it down as a sound, incontrovert-
ible maxim that nothing, needed on the
farm or by tho farmers family, should be
purchased, when it can be produced on
tho farm at anything approximating
reasonable cost. Consider what has to be
paid on everything tha. is bought. First,
Lsheuusuaiuuss ve toa6$tlunzur srie- arrrcls;;
second, the profit Of the producer of it;
third, the profit of tho commissions mer-
chant who first haudes it; fourth, The
cost and profits Of draymen aud railroadsa
in transporting it, anu fifth, the profits of
the commission merchant who sells it.
Surely, he must be very poor farmer who
cannot raise any article at all adapted to
his soil aud climate for less than he can
buy it, with such an accumulated burden
Of profits laid upon it. IF he is suoh a
poor farmer, how can he possibly raise
money crops at such little cost and with
such large profits, as to enable him to save
or make money by buying these othor ar
ticles after so many profits arc taken out
of them. Instead Of poor farmer, it
would obviously take the very best and
most skillful to do it, If it could be '3,done
at all. But the truth of the matter is, it
cannot be done. Nine-ten.hs of Southern
farmers have tried to do it for the last
twenty years, and have signally failed.
They have sunk money in raising cotton to
buy corn, oats, hay, meat aud mules. IF
twenty years experience cannot open their
eyes and satisfy their judgments, how many
will be required to do it? The forco Of
habit was never more forcibly illustrated ;
the ruts are so deep, it looks as if the
wheels could not be turned aside and pull
ed out of them. :.
PANICS-TlaHTNEsS IN MONEY MARKET.
Observe that the practice under discus
sion is not one Of simple barter cotton is
not exchanged directly for meat or corn or
hay but money iutervenes, cotton is sold
and so are the other articles, and then re-
spectively bought again. This opens wide
the field to speculation; panics and tight
ness in money matters come 10, sharpers
perhaps flourish, but the farmer is sure TO
catch it then. IF, however, he raises bis
corn and other grain, his forage, meat and
mules, he escapes tho malgin Influences of
Wall street, with full barns, what: boots il
to him If there is a Corner in grain or
meat, he has none TO buy, no merchants
bills for supplies to meet. Hes free
man-what wealth he has, Is freedom from
care aud anxiety, how sweetly he sleeps a.
night and how sunshiny his face in the
day. God pity the poor Israelite who has
created a famine on his farm, and has to
80 down to Egypt to buy corn bondage
surely awaits him.
COST OF RovIsIoNs--FALsE REASONING
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