The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-18
HARD TIMES.
A SENSIBLE VIEW on HOW
TO SOFTEN HARD TIMES.
Southern Cultiyator.)

There is q general hue and cry of
agricultural depression and hard
times among the farmers. Over
production, poor markets, aud 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, Il have always something to
sell; l never take an inferior article
to market; l always give good
weight aud good measure, conse-
quently | always find a ready mar
ket at paving prices for my pro.
duce."
Now this farmer is doing 10 more
than you or l 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 | believe that lIttle"dribs"
have ruined more farmers than great
things. The farmer con see readily
the danger of great debts, but does
not notice little ones. [ know, to
have something for market of choice
quality requires care and fore~
thought; really it requires more fore
thought than labor. | have watched
the markets, and have seen produce
of choice quality find ready sale,
when it was entirely gluttcd with
produce Of common quality.
But some men are too proud to
market small articles of produce,
some have not time, they think, while
others are too indOlent and neglect
ful of business. Most every farmer
has to visit his town once q week to
| purchase something for bis family.
! Many rather keep an account at the
store than TO be troubled with small
markets. | know a man who is max
ing farming pay, who always carries
something to sell every time he goes
TO town. On public days he takes
nice bucket of butter on one arm
and q basket Of eggs on the other,
which will pay for his family needs
that day. His more aristocratlc
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 anything to sell, but
goes aud spends the day buying his
family supplies on credit. Both
these men lost the day as well as the
first one did, but returned home two
or three dollars deeper in debt and
ot the end of the year, on delivering
their tobacco are greatly surprised
to find their accounts nearly equal
or more than their tobacco brought
them, while the first man bas nearly
as much tobacco as they, but his
little markets paid his way, and
therefore bis tobacco money goes in
to his peck t. 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 so diversified that there
may be something to sell each week,
enough at least to purchase the lit
tie necessaries Of family Consump~
ton. There are bnt few farmers that
do not keep few COWS and farm
fowls, that, if they are anyways carr
ed for will give surplus Of butter
and eggs. If there Is no market for
milk it can be given to pigs, which
can be brought into market at pays
ing figures. A good poultry ward
we'll cared for will turn out eggs to
sell all the tiue, with an occasional
brotler, and few turkeys for
Thanksgiving and for Christmas
holidays. A good garden will al
ways produce something for mar
ket. A good orchard Of well select
ed fruit Will, good portion of the
time, produce something, either
green or dried, or for market. If
the farmer will provide these things
his wife will and be glad Of the
chance. have it in marketable shape
every tine you want to 60 to town,
In fact. believe it would be well
for the farmer to market st least
twice a week, unless he lives too far,
whether his family need supplies or
not. He can thus gain a surplus for
'raiDy day :" Every farmer ought
to try to bring his farm to produce
some article outside of the staple
crops, and so instead of always go>