The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-10-23
amaersutt gnte11igeHfet.
How to Soften Hard Times.

.
There is general,hue and cry of ag-
ricultural depression and hard times
among the farmers. Over production,
poor markets and low prices, until they
feel they are on the verge of financial
ruin.
a farmer who seemed to feel no effect
Of the symptoms of financial disease, when
asked why he did not, replied, 81 have
always something to sell ; l never take an
inferior article to market; I always give
good measure and good weight, conse
quently I always find ready market at
paying prices for my produce"
Now this farmer is doing no more than
you or can do if we will put the same
vim and amount of brains in our business
that he does.
There is great advantage to the farmer
to have something to sell at all times.
The reader may scoff the idea, but | be
lieve that little "dribs" have ruined more
farmers than great things. The farmer
can see readily the danger OF great debts,
but does not notice little ones know.
to have something for market uf choice
quality, requires care aud furethuught;
really it requires more fnrethougbt than
labor. have watched the markets, and
have seen produce of choice quality find
ready sale, when it was entirely gIutted
with produce of common quality.
But some men are ton proud 10 market
small articles of produce some have
not time, they think, while others are too
indolent aud neglectful of business.
Most every farmer. has to visit his town
once a week to purchase something for
his family. Many rather keep an account
at the store than to be troubled with small
markets. I know man who is making
farming pay, who always carries some
tbipg.to sell every time be goes to town.
On public days he takes nice bucket of
butter on one arm, and q basket of eggs
nn.the other, which will pay for his fam
l;iiszneeds that day His more aristocratic
neighbor goes too, but is too proud to
carry anything to sell, therefore he is
compelled to pay cash or 60 on "tick." ("
Another goes, but has no time to take
angtbing 10 SELL but:goes and spends the
day buying his family supplies ON credit.
Bath these men lost the day as we'll as
llhe,frst one did, butreturped home two
Or three dollars deeper in debt, and at the
end of the year, on delivering theircotton
aregreatly surprised to find their accounts
nearly equal, or more than their cotton
brought them, while the frat man has
nearly. as much cotton as they, but his
little markets paid his. way, and therefore,
his cotton money goes into his pocket, to
meet losses and soften hard times
The farmer could and should buy by
barter almost entirely; the little crops
and resources of the farm should be 80
diversified that there may be something
TO sell each week, enough at least to pur.
chase the little necessaries of family con.
sumption. There are but few farmers
that do not keep a few COWS and farm
fowls, that, if they are anyways cared for,
will give a surplus of butter and eggs. If
there is no market for milk it can be Civ
sen: to pigs, which can be brought into
market at paying figures. a good poultry
yard we'll cared for will turn out eggs to
sell all the time with an occasional broil.
er, and q few turkeys for thanksgiving
and for Christmas holidays. A good
garden will always produce something for
market a good orchard of we'll selected
fruit will, a good portion of the time,
produce something, either green or dried,
for market. If the farmer will provide
these things, his wife will, and be glad of
the chance, have it in marketable shape
every time you want to got town. In
fact, believe it would be we'll for the
farmer to market at least twice week,
unless he lives too far, whether his family
need supplies or not. He can thus gain
"a surplus for a "rainy day." Every far
mer ought to try to bring his farm to
produce some article outside of the staple
crops, and 30 instead of always going in
debt, pay as he goes, he would have no
need of complaint, or feel depression
and bard times.-7aos Baird, In Southern
!. .Cultivator.