The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1892-05-06
The HOPE Of The Southern Farmer

90 FtAOti w tHO Az "ok1"PoA PHt-
ing it.-Selected.
The Hope Of The Southern Farmer
From many parts of the South
reports come that the acreage in
cotton is being reduced, and that
farmers are giving their attention to
other crops. We may hope that
this 10 a permanent departure, and
that, even should the price of cot
ton improve, farmers will not re-
turn to the old one crop practice.
Every year that the new policy is
tried will strengthen Its hold, by
showing the increased comfort and
independence of those who raise
their own grain, fodder, meat, etc.
1t is not cotton alone that has en-
couraged this one crop idea.
Wherever there are special induce
ments to raise a certain crop it
may be cotton, tobacco, garden
truck etc.-there is a tendency to
ignore everything else. 1t, of
course, requires, less knowledge
and less effort, to go in the same
rut year after year, than to try to
succeed in various lines, and this no
doubt, explains largely the present
situation. Farmers should, however,
remem Der that like others TO be sue
cessfuI they must be progressive,
and to get the full benefit of their
occupation, they must be constant
ly striving after larger and better
results.
The unsatisfactory condition OF
Southern farmers is the result main
Iy of trusting to one crop for every,
thing. The recent low price of
cotton has increased the distress,
but everyone knows that the com
plant is chronic, and that farmers
have been borrowing money In or
der to raise their cotton, ever since
the war. This borrowing, or OBJ
tanning credit, year, after year, is
all wrong. When cotton sold well
the evil was not so manifest. but now
it is rulnous. The prime need is a
new system which, with economy,
shall enable the farmer first to clear
himself, and afterwards to pay as he
goes; get the fuII benefit of his
crops, and buy what he needs III the
cheapest market.
This new system Is simply the
old system of farming, as distin-
guished from the raising of special
crop. All the venerable associa-
lions of agriculture-its traditions
of peace, plenty and independence,
It's claim of maintaining the world
relate to that all-around farming
which includes the raising of cereals,
vegetables, fruit, live stock, dairy
products, etc.; and wherever
this is carried on under fair condi-
tons, the farmer is a solid and
prosperous man.
The farmers of the South have
undoubtedly legislative and other
hardships, as the high tariff, for
example, from which. by various
movements and proposed expe-
dients they are seeking relief. But
the great and permanent cause of
distress is the continual drain for or
binary supplies that could and
should be raised at hemee If re-
liable figures were at hand, show
ing the amount paid out of each
Southern State for such items as
wheat, oats, corn, hay, flour, meal,
bacon, lard and pork, to which
might be added a large number of
sundries, the millions of dollars in
the total would be appalling. This
may be judged from one or two iso-
lated facts. In one county alone
in Tennessee, the amount paid in
year for grain, meat, vegetables
and live stock, all of which might
have been raised at home, reached
1854, 907, and in the Memphis mar
ket the sales of Northern foodstuffs
and fodder to Southern people in a
year amounted to SIC, 143 ,277. Nor
is this all. True farming supplies
much of the manure for the land.
According to Governor Tillman, Of
South Carolina, the farmers of that
State alone expend 100000 an
nually for guano, and there must
! be corresponding drain on this
account In the other States.
How can the farmer with his one
crop of cotton, at the present price,
and burdened as he too often is with
debt, stand up uLder the load. The
wonder is that he has eked out an
existence SO long.
The lessening of cotton acreage,
called far to limit the crop and
secure better price, is still ur-
gently needed to enable the
planter to give his energies to di-
verslfed production. Once let hum
do this, making cotton a surplus
crop, and he will be on the way to
competence and wealth, while the
South, with its advantages eff cli-
mate and soil, will become the ideal
farming section of the countfY.-Ex.