The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-08-28
mo. A..

1
below the cost of production, just as il
has done with the cotton crop when tie
supply was greater than the demand;
therefore do not depend entirely en- q
crop OF peas and nothing else.
The farmers rule 20 be successful
should be, variety, Of crops and all
crops regulated with an Observance to
the wants and needs of his market. The
farmer ID perhaps the only one who can
and ought 10 have more than one "iron
In the fire" at time, and it would be
necessary for him. to keep from burning
his IRONS" to reduce his business to solne
definite and rigorous system. He vino
tries diversity of crops and without sys-
tenn will soon find himself surrounded
with blasted hopes and prospects dear.
| l have only 80 far spoken Of
few Of the leading products of our fields,
but there are. many things which are at
present looked upon as "smalI" indus
tries, which could be easily built up and
made profitable and paying Investments.
| The pindar, ground pea, or pea nut,
thrives in our soil, and pays wrll as
| field crop. To the one who has made
it a business the gathering OF the crop
is not so lab0rious as it appears to the
uninitiated. The blowing, stocking
the vines, and picking them off after
they have matured, is not bit more
laboriaus than picking cotton, haul-
ing it TO gin, aud other work neces-
sary to a cotton crop, and the expense
is not so great.
The sunflower, which almost without
cultivation, rears its large head fringed
with yellow petals, and brazeuly seems
to attract the attention Of the pssser
by, could he made source of proliS
to him who would invest portion Of
bls time and capital in its cultivation.
The poultry interest, which of late
years has grown with steadily in
creasing per cent. over other years
gone before, has bnilt up demand
for the seeds of this plant, and not
oyer IL moilts since they were quesed
in the New York market at $3.50 rer
bushel. They bear an average price
each year in the st. Louis market of
$l.50 ESQ ] have been told) per busiiel;
being used for making an oil, which
is said to greatly resemble olive oil.
The writer of this articl6not long since
gathered FROM one hunded stalks one
busllel and a half of clean seeds, and
thinks that an acre would easily yield
IS to 100 bushels of seed. 81
There are hundreds of places through
out our State, where small factories
can be started and kept employed
throughout the greater part of the
year in canning vegetables and fruits.
By such factories the farmers would
find themselves benefited by having
home purchasers for their beans, reas,
cucumbers, cabbage, beets, tomatoes,
and the fruit growers could dispose
Df peaches, plums, ounces, dew berries
blackberries, straw berries. And these
factories would, besides buying The
surplus which is now allowed to 20 to
waste because of the want of q pur-
chaser, give employment to mary who
t present can do nothing in the way
It earning living except 10 SNAKE
ottoD," which of course helps to gorge
he market and cause reduction Of
'rices ia that commodity.
The South, and more especially tliis
'ortion of it, desires to be built up.
We have too long depended on cotton
nd railroads to put us on the high
Dad to fortune. The Southern peo-
lie are hard working people, and,
ecause of the many and severe dis
engagements which have oefallen
hem, have become, contrary to their
ature a patient people. 1t is now
Ugh time that they were turning their
ttention to other fields of employ
tent, more diversified, aud more
romising than that introduced by our
and suited only to slave
Dor. 1t towns and villages are to
9 built up among US. II an iDtc;ii-
emit population is to be introduced,
nd made to dwell and remain. If
rosperity is ever to come to Us aud
less us with ready cash circulation.
zen the large cotton aud corn fields
ust he banished and made to give
ace to the struck PATCH" The road
prosperity has been sought for in
e broad fields If the cotton planter;
1T, alas! for the farmer, the only road
und yet has been that which leafs
the commission merchant and hope
IS indebtedness.
Tie calculation can easily be made
tween the cotton field and the hum
Q truck patch. The first with its 90
res of corn and cotton barely makes
support for the farmer and his family.
Ne same number of acres ia such
ings as we have mentioned. anc q
me market, will support four far
,rs and their families. The first is
ICED to purchase his necessities on a
lg credit aud ut correspondingly
yh prices. Tie latter buy chcap!y.
y the cash. and are rid OF many Of
3 evils which are consequent upon
> credit system. The first passS~s
industry which is Liable t. 4 ilnre
IN anil evarx vaar Tba Iutfo- I,.,s