The Russellville Democrat., 1891-05-14
FACTS FOR FARMERS.

III Bai hpty tucy 1uVuta w tpH hk
 rapidly, after having attained tn
 requisite growth. The feeding
 should not be continued longer thal
 two weeks aud if the fowls have al
 they can eat they will then be as ia
 as they can be made. Longer feed
 ing will not add much to thei
 weight, and is apt to produce dls ease.
 The farmer is one man above al
 men of business who should not 'rlsl all his eggs in one basket" All cot ton, or all corn, or all strawberries | not the safe policy. It may answer we'll for one season, but it will no for continuous pursuit. A diversity of crops is the sure way. If one fail' another will hit. And nine times 1T ten the food for man and beast car be grown at home.
 As a catch crop for winter forage corn may be sown at almost any time up to August upon any piece oi land that has not been otherwise utilized. It may be soTn with z grain drill, closing every other hoe quite thickly in the row, and allow ed to grow until frost. It will thus make an enormous amount of good feed per acre, and if cut and proper ly cured it is almost equal to tlmo thy hay. The close planting pre- vents the development of much tough. woody stalk.
 The Farmers Bulletins issued by the Experiment Station division oi the department of Agriculture at Washington, are proving very popu- lar. They are brief and practical, aiming to give in untechnical Ian guage the most valuable results pro- cured at the various stations throughout the country. They may be had free of cost by applying to the Secretary of Agriculture at Washington.
 The one great argument In favor of intensive cultivation is that large crops are grown at less proportion ate cost than small crops, and as the same labor of cultivation is required In both cases, while the extra man lre that may be applied either pays for itself directly in the increase of ,he product or remains Tn the soil Tor the benefit of future crops.
 Partial security against failure nay be had by diversifying the crops. No one should rely on a single crop, as with all possible care and foresight there still remains too many chances against it in the way of drought, poor seed, frosts, wet weather, insect depredations, etc. Some crops will thrive while others fail. The safe way is to grow sev- sral sorts.
 One point in favor of the early cutting of the hay crop that is ire luently overlooked, is that grass cut sarly is injured but little by an ordinary rain, while later, when the grass has become nearly ripe, rain will render it almost worthless. Aside from this, grass cut at the pe- riod of blowing makes the best hay.
 Through a large portion of tue the spring has been so con rainy that many farmers have not been able to put in any pats at all. The total acreage sown Is much smaller than usual, and higher prIces will doubtless rule for the coming crop. Farmers who have been accustomed to depend upon pats largely for feeding had best make arrangement h season for a substitute. Plant corn, SOW field peas and millet.
 We are either too careless or we do not appreciate the value of COW peas, as fertilizer or renovator of worn out lands. No green crop, not excepting red clover is so valuable to be turned under in the green state or after ripening the crop of peas. The peas themselves rank among the very best and most nutritious foods for man or beast. The hay Is very superior when cut at the time of the first ripeniug pods and all kinds of stock will eat it in prefer. ence to the best timothy hay. They can be sown between the rows oI corn at the .last blowing and will mature before frost. Plant peas to save the waste on the soil to make food for your own table and for the stock. It will pay.
 The man who raises cotton to buy corn makes a great mistake. It is conceded that it costs ' cents to raise pound of cotton and to many the cost IS more. If cotton Is sold for eight cents there is 6 profit of $5 on 300 pound bale. As a general thing it takes two acres to make that The land that will pro duce the 300 pounds of cotton vii make so busheles of corn, which i: worth on the place 50 cents per bush el, or $50. It has cost more labol to make the cotton than the corn two to one. The profit IS four times as much, and when it comes tc counting the estimate in beef, porl and horse flesh it is much more Cotton is more easily converted into money, and thus should be th'
 money crop because the more easi!,
 marketed and cashed, but no farme can afford to raise cotton to bu, corn, even If he make bale to thu