The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-11-04
Farmers Opportunities.

delaY IN sale OF produc!s. merchant
sells his goods and realizes at once bis
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 AID
blight and then takes his chances with
all the misfortunes Of crowded markets,
low prices and the disadvantages oftrade.
Can We rot in some way reduce this
long suspense-from January to JANUARY
hanging Is it were between despair
aud hope, and absolutely beyond the
power of ary man to forecast? Is tasre
rot some remedy for this long waiting ?
The twelve months are attended with so
many chances Of fai,urs to the cotton
farmer, and the experience Of the lat
twenty years has so plainly demonstrated
the adverse chances, that for mau! :4a-
sons we should begin to counsel Change.
There is no more opportune tima l:iia
now to call attention to the possible
charges for the better.
Farmers have just housed their wheat
aud oats. II larger area we're so"n to
small grain, and at this season these
crops we're put upon the markets, the
long strain would be somewhat broken
by tho 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 csn
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 Cultivator. Our farmers do
not expend upon the crop proper care.
The soil is too thin for good results. If
quite good deal of the manure given 10
cbtton were reserved for oats, and the
stubble then burned and the land sow1
to peas, the fertility of the farm would
be greatly increased, and q good many
crops secured at season when farmers
need financial relief. Just row, I say, is
a good time for farmers 10 realize how
nicely good sum for oals cold would fll
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
tillsge, to say pothing to profit. And l
might again reply they never do wien
they are as carelessly grown as during
the past season. l have seen cats and
wheat at the Experiment Station this
scasou just as good rs 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 spring,
and scattering oats over them with the
expectation of getting crop. When ne
improve our plans, wo will improve our
bank accounts.
Farmers should grow more hay. It re.
quires but little or no care. 1t improves
the soil. 1t prevents washing, and
covers deal of unsightliness about the
farm.
Hay would be in demand a! this sea-
son. Car loads of it are being drawn
through the streets Of this city every dsy.
Making hay is an essy way to make
money. The methods for saving and
handling are so mach improved, that
there is almost 10 manual labor con.
uected with it. A few hundred dollars
from sale Of oat', and few hundred
more from sale OF hay, would como in an
opportune time Or the farm just now.
How about sheep? Wool is always in
demand st reuaEerstivo prices. Sheep
cost but liIt!s in this latitude, ard an
occasional lamb GOES we'll or tie dianer
table in the spring. Sheep hgvo paid me
as large dividend op the farm IS any
other industry ! have tried. $50. or SlCO
frcm woc!, added to nice income from
honey snd poultry grown for market,
would make excellent opportunities for
farmers. This Is the mcst favorable sea.
SUI for farmers. This ia the mcst favor.
abs season 10 forecast the future il this
line, ss farmers sre just row in condition
to know how much plessaat reliefa few
hundred dollars would bring. Let US
change our methods, and make more
resources for money. - ". j. Northsa, IN
Southsyn CuHivatoT,
Con w r. L, Lee, second son of Gen.