The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-12-14
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
The Farm as a Factory.

wnlcn always brings the lowest price,
that he is thus losing more than half
the profit he should obtain from the
farm, there would be less poor, run
down farms. less poor, bankrupt farm
ers, and less heard of hard times and
that farming does not pay. The farm
Is not only a factory, but also produces
its own raw material from which to
manufacture articles of sale. The soil
and air are the sources from which the
farmer draws his supplies of raw ma
terial, and the plant and animal
life are the machines by which
no works up this raw mate
rial into useful, manufactured arti-
cles, such as wool. cotton. beef, pork,
butter and cheese. Instead of the
farm being adapted to single occupa-
ton it is really combination Of
great many pursuits. The implements
and machinery are varied and the
products are not limited TO any par
ticular article.
1t is because all the advantages of
farming are not utilized that so many
failures occur; for with proper man.
agement and judicious system no
business is surer; for the farm pro-
duces its raw material; 1t raises its own
machines and manufactures it into
articles ready for market or for use.
The farmer to certain degree is in
dependent He can partially regulate
the prices obtained by sending his
produce to market in the forms that
will bring the most profit He can
watch the markets, and il he finds. all
things considered. that it is more
profitable to sell tho raw material,
which is seldom the case, he can
do so. II stock, the farm
machinery, is in great demand
and prices are high. he can turn it
into stock and sell it in this state;
or il milk. butter. wool and cheese
are in demand and prices are high, he
can run the raw material through the
farm machinery manufacturing it into
these articles. The COW, which unlike
other machines used for converting
the products into milk, butter and
cheese, is self-sustaining and self-re-
pairing. There is q great deal of
matter produced on the farm which
there is not market for and would be
lost; but by the assistance OF the COW,
the farmer is enabled to manufacture
it into a form for which he can find a
ready sale. while at the same time che
returns portion of the original cost
in the shape of manure, for the pur-
pose of assisting to further increase
the amount of raw material
The eve comes in with her mite,
giving a greater variety OF sala-
BILE product in the shape of
wool, mutton, lambs and manure.
besides keeping down briers and other
pests of the farm. Notwithstanding
the great advantage this valuable ma
chinery is to the farmer. there are
many without who buy their families
supply of wool and mutton, and dig up
the briers and sassafras bushes with
.elbow grease" While much Of the
production of the farm that is not
marketable in its present shape could
be eaten by the sheep.
The SOW, another valuable machine,
comes in to enable the farmer to culti-
vate crops that are rarely salable ex-
cept at low prices, and to manufacture
them into pork and valuable progeny
that mature quickly and reach a mar
ket in a short time.
Then again comes the valuable
mare, that gives us the power with
which to perform the work required,
and adds her offspring to the reve-
nue.. There are few, If any farmers,
who do not keep horses to work; but
how many avail themselves Of this adj
vantage OF keeping mare as ma
chine and working her to her fullest
capacityP If the farmer will give the
mare chance she will take |
much of the farms produc-
ton that does not sell at prices |
much above the cost of production,
and manufacture 1t into the shape of !
valuable colts, that will make him in
of the markets and fill his |
pockets with money.
We should not forget the little |
feathered machines. though but a
small part of the whole, are effective
and capable machines for the con-
version of much waste material into
carcasses and eggs. Thus
we see the animals and birds act as so
many machines. performing their
work by different methods. manufact-
uring the raw material OF the farm
into variety Of manufactured prod
ucts, which are salable at all season of
the year.