Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1892-01-16

MIR. EDITOR The following extract
illustrates my own ideas on tho SUBJ
iect alluded to SO full that | ask yoh TO
publish il:
Farmers, Take q Lesson.
Admission Hot Blast,
The editor oftha Hot Blast wishes
there were Il thousand farmers in Cal.
hcunt county like Mr.. George W.
lloyd of Paaccburg. whom he visited
this week. Tho gentlemen has not
purchased a sack Of -four y 4 pound
of meat for his own use since the war,
aud is surrounded by every comfort
that life could wish. lie is not only
IN independent farmer, but is adding
TO his accumula;ionS each year and lay
ing up tie necessary lucre for posi-.
bic old age and heltlessncss.
Mr.. Lloyd returned to Calhoun
county after the war pcnnilcss, but net
Respondent. lie had Il strong arm
and a wiling mind, aud at once set TO
work to better his condition. The
then high price Of cotton didn't craze
him as il did SO mury Il olsands OF
southern planters. He adopted the
policy of producing his food supplies
at home and making cotton II surplus
crop. lie has strictly adhered to this
policy, and every year has shown an
improvement in his financial condi-
ton, while the all cotton planter has
rapidly descended the ladder, aud in
this year of grace, has about reached
| the l0Wer.most ro1nl.
Every sober, Industrious planter in
NoXubec County might now be in the
same condition of Mr.. Lloyd if he bad
pursued the same course and policy
Mr.. Lloyd did. Bat they all, or nearly
so, were induced. by the high price of
cotton soon after the war, to make
cotton and bay everything they want
cd; they tell into the habit and untor-
m~uatoly they have kept it up until
about eight out of every ten are iinan'
cially ruined. The truth is the whole
farming interest Of the country sis
broke making cotton. Cotton cannot
! be raised at six or seven cents TO buy
corn at a dollar OF dollar and a GUAR
ter per bushcI, and meat, -four, moias.
SEES, mules and horses at any price.
We have in the Southern States Of
the union, the best country Oil the face
of the globe, and VIC have abused it
more efiectaaliy thlM We ought to have
done. Instead Of taking care of our
lands, fortified and improved them.
we have worn them out, thrown them
away and cut down our forests for
fresh land TO cultivate.
Let me suggest this TO The farmers
OF NGXubce: Cut your cotton patch
es in two, plant only half in cotton,
the otter half in corr, peas, ground.
peaS. potatoes, sugar cNne,- Or let II
grow up in hay and now that. In.
stead Of selling your cotton seed. keep
them TO plant, feed your stock or fer.
tilizc your land. Have your pen or
pens for Tic purpose Of making youI
own fertilizer instead Of buying it.
Pile voUr cotton seed, scrapings from
stable and GOV lots, muck or rotten
leaves from The woods; mix them well
and You will have a better fertilizer
than you can buy at any price, which
will cost you nothing but a little
care and labor at odd times. Then
distribute it property in the drills al
planllng time. and you will get more
pay for it than You can gel for your
cotton seed. Raise your own wheat,
| hogs and mules, and if ut the end OF
five or ten years at most, you arc not
better oil financially, III quit adj, Using
YOU, provided YOU do not spend your
money for strong drink and tobacco,
Bat some Of your readers may say.
what docs this old lawyer know about
farming aud why should he undertake
to advise men who have been farming
al their lives just say to such inQui
RIGS that | plowcd the ground before
many If them were bore, and have
been interested in agricultural work
for mRuy years, all my life, in fact uu
I'll the last three or four years " hen
leased all my lands in cul iyaiion, be
cause | am trying TO get rid OF the
tolls OF this life. When | lived on my
farm two mites south OF Macop. / did
as | have advised n;ltrs TO do
sewcd wheat, and on thin land raised
eighteen hashe,s to the acre. sen, il Il
GIace's o: jaInlson's mill in Macor
, Ind otr flour. shorts and bran
that was of good qualify, and had cor,
aud meat 10 spare. Bat have writ
ten more ihaa | intended 10 writ,
= when ! began. and will close By say
: Ing, ! am getting to lie an old man AT
hive never seen n iarmcr who he,
: corn anl meat TO sell but who La,
# plenty of money, and | have neyc
seen n WHO hahiinally buugh, Ties
things who did net want 10 burroy
y money some times anl mo-, Frequent
y ". II. w. FOoTE,