The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-02-25
A SUCCESSFUL. FARMER
What Has Been Dono by Cot. Smith OF
GOOrEia.

The Augusta Chronicle makes an
interesting statement about Col. JAS.
NJ. Smith, of Oclethorpe County, Ga.
Ills extensive tarm of 1900 acres,
teemlng each year with such products
of the SOIL as are needed for home con-
sumption, together with the surplus
crop OF cotton, shows him to be one OF
the largest as we'll as one of the most
successful farmers in the South Allan
tic States.
| lie is practical business man and
stands as a living demonstration of
ne success of farming in the South
wien properly conducted. His plans
are wise in conception and satisfactory
IN operation. His barn and smoke
house are at home, and whatever may
be the fluctuations of prices in Chicago,
he is safe and independent.
llalf OF his farm is planted in cotton.
The other half is planted in field crops
for home consumption. That is all,
This plan, says Mr.. Smith,-and he
speaks from experience as well as from
information-if followed out year by
year, is bound to be successful in the
long run. Ills cotton is converted into
ready cash, and with an abundance Of
corn, wheat, oats, hay, as we'll as pota-
toes, peas, cabbage, onions, etc, he feeds
his wage hands and tenants, sells Il con-
siderable quantity, and still has suni-
clent amount to teed to his horses and
mules and to the hogs and cattle which
further afford a handsome income.
Last year he raised 5000 bushels of
rust proof oats, which he sold for seed
at - per bushel, after saving enough
| Tor his own and his tenants use The
average yield was thirty bushels per
acre. From TOO acres he raised 5000
bushels of wheat. n portion of this
he sold for $1.25 per bushel. The bal
ance he ground into flour, with which
his hands and tenants were supplied.
The bran was fed to his live stock. lie
raised 175 hogs which average 165
pounds net. He keeps herd of 600
cattle, among them being a number of
registered 1lolsteins. lie is now fat
tening 60 steers, which he will sell the
latter part of March, and which he
thinks will average 800 pounds gross.
lie mlkS 10 cows, and after amply sup
lylnS bis plantation, sells quantities
OF milk and butter and feeds Quantities
more to the hogs.
MT. Smith, therefore, naturally con-
slderS oats and wheat Il profitable crop.
ASIDE from tho grain itself, the straw
ana bran are valuable for the stock.
Cotton seed hnlls and meal in proper
proportion, he thinks the best food for
cattle.
lie allows that the average farmer
in the South is not very successful, but
this Is, in many cases, the farmers own
fallt. What Mr.. Smith has done can
not he disputed. Starting at the close
or the War without a dollar, he now
owns hlS fine plantation, we'll stocked,
on winch Il private railroad fifteen miles
IN length is operated, and otherwise is
supplied with every advantage. What
he has done others can do. lie advises
them to live within their income and
AVOID the credit system. Cotton has
declined 80 per cent. but by reducing
expenses 80 per cent, they will keep OH
level. If they raise their supplies at
home, they may not handle so much
money, but they will still be better Off.
In two years this plan would show
gratifying results.
Now are these the hardest times
which the South has ever seen. Mr..
smith lememEerS that in 1916, when he
came TO Augusta, cotton sold at y
cents, and good shifting was considered
high at 81 cents. Times were then
hard, indeed.
The animus of bis argument is con-
tanned in the advice that farmers "raise
everything LOT man anu beast ut home.
Thereby hangs AL the law and the
Gospel. lie belieyes it and has demon
stratcd it. There is much in the above
which every farmer in Georgia and
Carolina should take home with him.
The facts should be burned into his
heart until he realizes that he can and
must live at home, and when careful
plans diligently executed on this line
become general throughout the South
many Of the chimerlcal expressions
which distress the farmer Will be eX-
ploded, the real ones be remeded, and,
sci sustaining and independent, he
Will ride in On the flood. tide of pros