The Van Buren press., 1894-10-20
FARMER AND PLANTER.
SOUTHERN FARM NOTES.

l. IAlAW1E LIN AM AlAAv = AAANs
SOUTHERN FARM NOTES..
4 Chapter on Various Topics Of Timely
Interest to Farmers.
It seems strange to me that more At
tention among horticulturists and
farmers in the Gulf states is not given
to apple culture, since they can be
raised so easily.and cheaply. Especial
1y do I refer to the late-maturing va
rieties, suitable for winter use and
keeping. am not "well up" in varie'
ties and their several individual nier-
its, but have observed enough to be
convinced that the Ben Davis and the
Shockley are grown satisfactorily in
the region named, and can be preserved
through the winter. We should, by
all means, encourage the planting OF
the best varieties of fall apples through
out the cotton states-such apples
as are most easily preserved through
the winter months. both for home use
and for market. These apples will
not only prove luxury to the men,
bers of the farmers family, but II any
considerable quantity be grown, q
great deal Of money might be made
from their sale.
Not one apple in thousand eaten
by our gulf states people during the
winter and early spring months Is OF
home production, but of northern and
western growth. This ought not to be
SO. Can we, rs a section, afford to buy
even apples from the north and west,
when we might raise them at home as
cheaply as they are grown elsewhere?
This is subject well worthy Of con-
sideration and discussion among south
ern farmers and fruit growers.
DON'T DRAIN THE BARN-YARD.
Rather, obstruct drainage by using
rails and logs in the yard and throw
ing up embankments. Maks every ef-
fort to retain the water where 1t falls
in the cow-lot or horsc-lot. Don't let
the rains wash out and carry away the
valuable substance in the manure.
This is an important matter. 1t is a
good plan to keep the yard we'll sup
piled, Uttered with absorbents in the
form ofleaves, straw and refuse hay and
chips, corn shucks, etc. Save the ma
nure and apply it judiciously to your
lands, and you will find in it satisfac-
tion and profit.
DIVERSIFIED AGRICULTURE.
To rest and strengthen and maintain
a healthful condition Of the mental
man, the mind needs diversity OF
thought and must have it. To develop
and maintain uniform healthy condi.
tion of the corporeal body, there must
needs be constant diversity of exer.
else. And to attain any high degree
of prosperity and wealth, as q farming
section, we must practice q diversified
agriculture. The one-crop system will,
if long pursued, in time bankrupt any
country or any people. In diversifying
our crops we are enabled to practice
intelligent and profitable systems Of
rotation Of crops. 1t is this intelligent
rotation that will maintain the fertili.
,ty and productiveness of our farms.
1t is better to trust the market with
several different crops than the one.
The one may bringa price not above the
cost of production, while it is not like
1y that this would prove so in the case
of two or more crops in the same sea
son. If one product is unusually low
in price, another may be higher in the
same ratio, and thus values and profits
may, when all the products are com
bined, average well for the grower and
seller. Several chances are better than
one chance. 1t is q reckless farmer
who will risk his fortune on one cror
alone. The true plan is to make, ae
nearly as possible, all ones supplies on
the farm, and besides, surplus ot
each or many crops to sell for cash.
tr SPARE THE BIRDS. el
If it were not for the birds, the
worms and bugs would destroy nearly
all our fruits. The birds consume some
fruits, Of course, and spoil good deal
that is not eaten entire, yet they dc
not average the great dcstructiveness
that they usually get credit for. They
have right to q certain share of the
crop by reason sof compensating serv
ices, for they save for the owner fal
more than he would otherwise get a,
his share If it were not for them; IL
many instances entire crops would bt
destroyed by insects, but for the serv
ices of the birds. sA
Spare the birds! Do not kill then
maliciously or wantonly or just fol
fun and recreation. They are created
by our Heavenly Father for .
useful purpose and serve a usefu
purpose in the economy Of nature
The birds are the farmers friends, ant
are human benefactors the world over
They were created for purpose, ant
they perform their natural mission
well and with profit to the agricul
turist. As the birds areudecreased, i,
the same ratio will the destructiv,
forces of insect life, that depredate up
on vegetation, be increased.
''BUYINa CORN"
In the south buying corn" by tn,
farmer to make a crop is becoming Il
be almost synonymous with inviting
bankruptcy. Buying cornl Buying
western cornl Buying corn to feet
mules and 'niggers" to make
six-cent cotton! What q commentary
upon southern agriculture! Wher'
is pride and Judgment, common
sense and experience? The amount O
corn--western corn-sold in the cottol
states annually, and bought by th'
farming class, is a reflection upon thu
intelligence Of our people. Wipe ou
this stain by raising every grain O
corn used in this fruitful southland.
HAY AND GRASS.
Some time ago the New York expert