The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1891-12-17
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THE REASON WHY.
why Farming is Not Always Profitable to
the Farmer.

why Farming is Not Always Profitable to
the Farmer.
Being a tiller of the soil and with
nalf a score years of experience and
close observation, / may be able to
point out some of the obstacles in the
way of the farmers success. In nat
ural advantages and various resources
no country on this terrestrial globe sur
passes, if indeed, equals ours. The
lands and the climate are adapted to
the most diversified system of farming,
and within her limits man can raise al
most every article necessary to his
sustenance and comfort with naturally
fertile lands, and those impoverished
easily enriched, pure air and water
health nowhere surpassed, and prod
ucts innumerable. With such advan-
tages, we know of no such country or
people under the blue canopy of Heaven
which nature has done more for, and
yet we are financially wrecked.
What now is the true condition of
our farmers? In debt. Farms mort
gagged, lands worn out and growing
poorer year by year, not enough pro-
visions raised at home to do four
months when the farmer must apply
to the merchant for his years supplies
Who is to blame for the present
status of the farmers? Who but the
farmer himself? Can the merchant be
censured for charging enough for his
goods to allow probation for bad
debts, if he takes the risk of getting
his money out of their crops before they
are even planted? He is certainly en-
titled to a margin for his profits and
that margin is often too short, and fail
ure is the inevitable result.
The main causes which have kept our
farmers in their present condition are
these: First lack of management; this,
in one sense, embraces all. Second, ex-
travagance. Third, idleness. These
are the prime causes, yet mention may
be made of many others. They all have
their origin, directly or indirectly, from
these three, hence our remarks will be
directed to them.
There is less iudicious management
OH the farm than in any other form of
industry. The merchants, manufac-
turers, and, in fact, every vocation in
life to which success is assured can tell
what their expenses have been and
what for, and whether the expenses
are greater than the income.
and what branch of business paws
the best This is not the case with a
larger portion of the farmers. They
make extravagant purchases, regard
nf
economy; buying many articles they
should raise at home, or else do with
out; keeping nOrecord of what they buy
or sell, leaving it entirely with the
the merchants to keep accounts thereof.
The result is, if errors are made, the
farmers are the losers. If suits are
brought, and from any cause testimony
is desired, they have nothing upon
which to depend except memory. They
fail to utilize One-half of their resources.
Too much time lost around our country
stores discussing the political issues
of the day or devising some plan
to lessen their work. The
time should be occupied in saw
ing manure and vegetable matter,
which may be applied to their land with
great profit that is now allowed to
waste. If THE farmers have been un-
successful in their present method of
farming, and it has brought them in
debt, they should try another plan
raise all of their home supplies, such as
corn, oats, peas and potatoes, and be
not afraid of an overproduction of any,
thing that man or beast can eat; and
when this is done farm mortgages will
cease, and we shall once more become
free men and unencumbcred, and then
we can count on the cotton crop being
the moneyed crop. There is no great
need of so much money if boun-
tiful support is made at home. Cotton
has been curse to the southern farm
er; not necessarily so, but in the GUAM
titles it is now raised. Diversified farm
ing is the system for making money,
and there is certainly money in the |
business, for it is the backbone of the |
country, and, where judiciously carried |
out, will bring the farmers out more
than conquerors. Use the brain in con-
nection with the body, and he economi- |
cal In everything; waste nothing, for |
there is use for everything on the farm: |
look to your interest personally, for the
lack of energy and laziness has caused |
the failure of many men. 1t is not the |
hardest ticks but the best directed ones
that accomplish most success. 1t does |
not depend so much on the greatest |
number of hours spent at work as the
manner in which they are spent. Agri-
cultural prosperity is the only criterion
of the fourishing condition of people.
and II 1T is wanting in middle Georgia
1t Is not because nature has failed to
do her part, but because man has
failed to co-operate.-E L. Moore, in
Southern Cultivator