The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-10-22
@aaersut1 gntelIigeueer.
Farmers Opportunities.

One great hindrance to success on
cotton farm is found in the unnecessary
delay in sale of products. A merchant
sells his goods and realizes at once his
profits. A professional man renders his
service and receives his reward.
a farmer works his weary twelve
months and waits and labors under
drought and rain and mildew and
blight and then takes his chances with
all the misfortunes of crowded markets,
low prices and the disadvantages of ftrade.
Can We not in some way reduce this
long suspense-from January to January
hanging as it wers between despair
aud hope, and absolutely beyond the
power of any man to forecast? Is there
not some remedy for this long waiting :
The twelve months are attended with 30
many chances of failure to the cotton
farmer, and the experience of the last
twenty years has so plainly demonstrated
the adverse chances, that for many rea-
sons we should begin to counsel change.
There is no more opportune time than
now to call attention to the possible
changes for the better.
Farmers have just housed their wheat
and oats. If q larger area were sown to
small graip, and at this season these
crops were put upon the markets, the
long strain would be somewhat broken
by the income Of an acceptable amount
from this source.
In many sections of the extreme
Southern States wheat does not do so
we'll, but in almost all sections, with
proper manuring and tillage, enough can
be grown to meet immediate family de-
mands, and in this way save expenditure
for purchase. Money saved Is money
made.
Oats do we'll in all territory reached by
the Southern CkltiVator. Our farmers do
not e1pend upon the crop proper care.
The soil is too thin for good results. If
quite a good deal OF the manure given to
cotton were reserved for oats, and the
stubble then burned and the land sown
to peas, the fertility of the farm would
be greatly increased, and good many
crops secured at a season when farmers
need financial relief. Just now, I say, is
a good time for farmers to realize how
nicely good sum for oats sold would ell
up the necessities on the farm. To this
it may be replied that the oats the past
season have not paid for the expense of
tillage, to say nothing to profit. Aud I
might again reply thoy never do when
they are as carelessly grown as during
the past season. I have seen oats and
wheat at the Experiment Station this
season just as good as farmers could de-
sire to have them. We must catch on
to better methods, and We will have bet
ter results. Abandon the plan of scarf
flying some barren hills late In the spriug,
and scattering oats over them with the
expectation of getting crop. When we
improve our plans, we will improve our
hank accnnnta
Farmers should grow more hay. 1t re-
quires but little or no care. 1t improves
the soil. 1t prevents washing, and
covers deal of unsightliness shout the
farm.
Hay would be In demand at this sea-
son. Gar loads Of it are being drawn
through the streets of this city every day.
Making hay is an easy way to make
money. The methods for saving and
handling are 30 much improved, that
there is almost no manual labor con:
nected with it. A few hundred dollars
from sale of oats, and few hundred
more from sale of hay, would come in an
opportune time on the farm just now.
How about sheep? Wool is always in
demand at remunerative prices. Sheep
cost but little in this latitude, and an
occasional lamb goes we'll on the dinner
table in the spring. Sheep have paid me
as large dividend on the farm as eny
other industry I have tried. $50 or slOO
from wool, added to nice income from
honey and poultry grown for market,
would make excellent opportunities for
farmers. This is the most favorable sea-
son for farmers. This is the most favor.
able season to forecast the future in this
line, as farmers are just now in condition
to know how much pleasant relief few
hundred dollars would bring. Let US
change our methods, and make more
resources for money.-W. j. Northen, in
Southern CAltivator.