Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-07-14
FARMER AND PLANTER.
MAKE HASTE SLOWLY.
A Short Homlly Containing Mitch OF pfao-
Teal Values

WANu FiAO OLOWETt
Short Homlly Containing Mitch OF pfao-
teal Values
Southern farmers are too impulsive
They have by some means established d
reputation just the opposite to this, but
they do not deserve It, When | say they
are too impulsive do not mean that
they are too impulsive all the time--it
IS not the habit of their lives; simply
mean that when Their impulses move
them in any given direction they are apt
TO go too far and too fast, and they do
not count the ties nor inspect the road
over which they pass. 1t is a rash de-
termination to get there, not cool,
calculating progress. There is now
widespread inclination to slack up on
cotton, and the prevailing idea is that
the farmers generally must settle upon
a substitute for the feecy staple, that
has so long been the farmers hope and
the farmers disappointment. Hundreds
are going to plant castor beans, with
out considering whether the world
wants any more crude oil or SCOTS
Emulsion or not, and very much fear
that deluge of this useful medicinal
oil will flood the country and show the
farmers their mistake. They will find
that overproduction is much easier to
accomplish with castor oil than with
cotton. Others think broom corn is to
be the salvation of the country, when,
a. e fn fNova aNttntM
could supply the entire continent with
new brooms-enough to sweep the
farmers pockets clean of cash. The
pecan is another craze that has
filled a great deal of space in
the papers and has been eXager-
ated into Il bonanza, A large num-
Der would so into the wholesale
production of the peanut; SOME are
talking hemp; some ramie. some jute,
some rice and some one thing and some
another They want to cut loose from
old customs and jump head foremost
into some new thing that some in
terested person says will surely enrich
those who patronize it, In regard to
the products mentioned, the castor
beans and the broom corn can be easily
overdone, because the uses to which
| they can be put are limited, and even q
| doubling of the present crops would
constitute production. They should
not be attempted except by few who
may chance to be favorably situated for
shipping and marketing the crops.
The pecan is all right for the genera
ton following those who do the
planting; but our children will
never reap the immense profits
that some have Indicated Pea
nuts are a valuable crop, and can be
raised all over the south. They are
more profitable as hog-feed than for
market purposes, and every farmer
should raise them. But, mind, peanuts
can not take the place of cotton, except
as a part of a general plan that will re-
duce the product of the staple. The
other crops are yet in an experimental
stage, and most men would do better
not to fool away their time with them.
Some of our farmers may do well to
drop cotton entirely; but for the ajor-
.ity general diversity which shall in
clude as much cotton as can be proper
ly cultivated and gathered without
interfering with the general plan
of the farm, will be best In go
ing out after new agricultural gods il
will not do to go too far nor too fast
for, if a mistake is made, it win only
take longer to get back to sound princi
pies. Sudden changes are not whole
some and generally not permanent
Any change that farmers make should
be cautiously thought out beforehand
and it viii generally be best to make
haste slowly. Those who are thorough
ly convinced that a change viii sui
their condition, should act accordingly
Those who are not SO convinced-anC
these are a large majority-would dc
well to follow some such plan as this
Raise, as far as possible, everything
that can be consumed on the farm; al
fast as possible improve the farm stool
and make it point to give them the bes
possible care; make it point to hay,
an occasional animal of value to sell
colt a calf or few hogs. Poultr,
should also have good attention, anC
will be found profitable. A large va
riety of crops will best assure success
Fruit should have an important plac,
on every well-regulated farm. Som,
cotton should, be raised, but it SHOULD
be so arranged as to time of planting
as to interfere as little as possible will
other crops. As an aid to this, or an,
successful plan, it will be necessary t.
do good deal of thinking Bushes
methods and business habits of say
ing all that is savable and utilizing
every product can not be dispensed
with,--Cor. Texas Farm and Ranch.