St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-03-03
DIVERSIFIED FARMING.
The Advisability of Keeping Many Kinds
OF Animals and Fowls.

Du ting all their feIlahce III one hlhu
of field crop. or in depending on one
crop for money to pay their taxes and
meet other obligations. The advice is
generally good. There are greater
risks in raising crops than in any
branch of manufacturing. Persons
who work in building are protected
from the weather, and are not obliged
to suspend operations on account OF
the occurrence of rain, snow or severe
cold. During many seasons, however,
farmers are kept from work nearly
half the time by Tho unfavorable
weather. The weather which inter-
feres with the work of farmers also in
terferes with the growth of his crops
Some crops are injured more by
droughts and protracted rains than
Others, and the larger the number a
farmer raises the more likely will he
be to have at least one that will sue
coed. Depending on one crop has re-
suited in the ruin of many farmers. If
the weather is unfavorable it will be
failure, and if it IS favorable the crop
may be destroyed by insects. If a good
crop is raised. the price may be very
low in consequence of large produce
ton ever great extent OF country.
With many crops farmer is toler-
ably sure of large yield and fair if
not high, prices for some OF them.
Wheat raised last year commands but
small price. but the price of pota-
toes and field beans is very high.
Strawberries sold low, but apples
raised on the same farm command ex-
ceIent prices Last season, in many
parts of the country. was favorable to
crops that were planted or sown early,
but generally unfavorable to those that
were put in late. The reverse may be
true of the crops that will be sown
next season. Some minor crop, like
beans, fax or buckwheat. planted be-
cause something else failed, or because
seed could not be obtained, may bring
in more money than is realized from
what were regarded sas The leading
crops OF the place. They may hit the
season and insects avoid them. Only
farmers who have large reserve fund
can afford to risk the labor of an en-
tire season in any .one crop, as its
failure would result in the ruin of a
farmer of quite small means.
AS with field crops. so with farm
animals. There is the greatest safety
with many kinds of animals. If there
was no danger from cholera, hogs
would be the most profitable animals
the average farmer of limited means
could keep. They multiply fast ma
ture quickly. eat many kinds of food
and required but little protection.
But experience shows that there are
great risks in keeping hogs in large
numbers. The farmer who devotes
most of his land to raising corn. and
who feeds tito hogs, runs a great risk.
The breaking out of an infectious dis.
ease may cause the loss of all of his
hogs, as we'll as the crop they have
devoured. The disease popularity
called .'pink-eye' has. during the
past few years. carried off many horses
in the neighborhood and ON the farms
where it has occurred. When foot-fNt
appears among large flock of sheep.
the losses are generally very large.
Contagious diseases are not SO com
mon among cattle rs with most other
farm animals. but they are likely to
occur at any time. and to ruin farm
ers who keep no other kinds of stock.
As with risks. SO with prices. Some
kind of farm stock is low almost every
season, but some other kinds is likely
10 be very high at the same time.
Meat producing animals are now low,
but draft animals are very high. Small
as is the demand for beeves. the de.
mand for horses and mules is active.
During the past few years good mich
cows in comparatively poor flesh have
brought more money in dairy centers
than fat bullocks of the same age have
in the great beef markets Of the
country. While dairying is prosper
GUS, the demand for good mixers will
be active. 1t not unfrequently hap.
pens that mutton is high when wool is
low There is less risk in feeding
horses, mules. cattle, sheep and hogs
on the some place than in devoting the
farm to raising only one kind of stock.
A disease that afaicts one does not en-
danger the others. A fall in the price
of beef or pork does not affect the
price If orse-fesh or OF wool. a
purchaser may come to buy pair Of
mules when no one can be found to
buy fat steers at the price Of the corn
they have eaten
An old eadage tells us OF the danger
Of putting all the eggs in one basket.
The caution III relation to eggs applies
TO the birds that are Matched from
thenls Every large farmer would do
we'll to raise turkeys. ducks. geese and
chickens. Tho first. though they sell
well and furn ish most excellent eating.
are generally difficult TO raise. Tur-
keys are never classed among the sure
crops. The hen is the best general
purpose fowl, but is subject to many
diseases. A season that is unfavorable
10 turkeys and Chickens is often an
excellent one for duekn and geese.
Water fowls have different habits from
IanI fowls and stronger constitutions.
= 81 : r., I - ~ @I. a e. -.