The Bossier banner., 1892-09-08
FARMER AND PLANTER.
MAKE HASTE SLOWLY.
A Short Homily Containing Much Of Prac-
tical Value.


A Short HOmily Containing Much Of Prac-
tical Value.
Southern farmers are too impulsive
They have by some means esta blished q
reputation just the opposite to this, but
they do not deserve 1t. When l 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 a cool,
calculating progress. There Is now a
widespread inclination to slack up on
cotton, and the prevailing idea is that
the farmers generally must settle upon
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 Scott's
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 wit
cotton. Others think broom corn is to
be. the salvation of the country, when,
as a matter of fact, one Texas county
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 a bonanza. A large num-
Der would go 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 a
doubling of the, present crops would
constitute over-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
tion 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 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 major
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 90
Ing out after new agricultural gods it
will not do to go too far nor too fast;
for, If mistake is made, it will only
take longer to get back to sound prinei-
pies. Sudden changes are not whole
some and generally not permanent
ANY change that farmers make should
be cautiously thought out beforehand.
and it will generally be best to make
haste slowly. Those who are thorough
ly convinced that change will suit
their condition, should act accordingly.
Those who are not so convinced-and
these are large majority-would do
we'll to follow some such plan as this:
Raise, as far as possible, everything
that can be consumed on the farm; as
fast as possible improve the farm stock
and make 1t point to give them the best
possible care; make it a point to have
an occasianal animal of value to SELL
colt, calf or a few hogs. Poultry
should also have good attention, and
will be found profitable. A large va
riety of crops will best. assure success.
Fruit should have an important place
on every we1l-regulated farm. Some
cotton should be raised, but it should
be SO arranged as to time of planting
as to interfere as little as possible with
other crops. As an aid to this, or anv
successful plan, it will be necessary to
do good deal of thinking. Business
methods and business habits of saw
ing all that is savable and utilizing
every product can not be dispensed
wlth.-Cor. Texas Farm and Ranch.