The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-01-14
FARMER AND PLANTER.
NO PROFIT IN COTTON.
Present Prices an Argument in Favor os
More Diversified Farming


present Prices an Argument In Favor OF
More Diversified Farming.
If the farmers of the south would
only quit wasting SO much time on try
ing to get rich by making cotton, put
more and better attention to raising
corn, peas, potatoes and other grain
crops, and raise their meat at home.
the cry OF hard times would soon cease.
Inc farmer would be able to put more
money in his pocket, wear better
clothes, and wear a brighter smile on
ms face But SO long as we neglect
our grain crops and have to send to the
north and west for corn, flour and
bacon, and pay for it out of cotton at
SIX cents per pound, we must expect to
remain poor and dependent on others
Tor help. 1t should not be so if we
would all look at the matter right and
strive to live at home by proper econo-
my we would in few years surmount
the difficulty and change the old song
OF hard times to peace, plenty and pros
perity. 1t seems that any man of COM
mon sense ought to know that If we did
not prosper when we could get 12k to
rs cents for cotton there is no possibili-
W OF doing so now while we only get
from to cents for cotton Unless we
change our mode of farming and raise
less cotton and make it a surplus CROP
ms we can do; even our poor renters
nave chance here to raise everything
needed at home and owe nothing
at the end of the crop season ex-
cept rent, and rent here is a
small item compared with the
supply bill usually contracted for with
the lien merchant at the beginning of
each year. 1t is these supply bills that
plays havoc with the farmer; it is these
bills that forces us to sell cotton at any
price the merchant SEES fit to Offer for
1t; right here is where the low prices of
cotton hurts the worst. If we make
our cotton surplus crop then the low
price will not be so heavily felt Then
let us cease for awhile to grumble with
our government officials about hard
times and unwise legislation, and turn
about and lay wiser plans for ourselves,
and all pull together in one reformed
movement, and better times with more
money in pocket will be the result of |
our efforts.
We have the soil, climate and seasons
here suitable and well adapted to al
most every kind of crops; corn, oats.
peas of every variety grow to perfec-
ton; sugar or sorgham cane, MELONS
and potatoes do well here. We can
make our supplies ut home and when
we do this, what more do we need or
what should we care for the low price
OF cotton. But If we raise our supplies
at home, raise less cotton and make IL
surplus crop, we can command better
prices and small crop bring us more
money than it brings us now.
We have good many men fretting
and grumbling about hard times and
trying to fix the fault on some one else
generally the government-and are
never willing to acknowledge their
own faults and bad arrangements. Per-
nit me to say to such men that they
must begin to reform themselves-re.
Iorm should begin always at home
follow the precepts of those whom Won
zee and know to be more thrifty and
prosperous than yourself, and you will
'oon see that the government has had
nothing to do with our present de-
'endent condition, and it will never
rant us any free money. If we get il !
We will have to work for it the same
s we have always done, and we'll t
armed treasures are more ENJOYABLE /
han gifts. Home and Farm. G
II