The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-10-06
FARMER AN6PLANTER,
INTELLIGENT FARMING.

ACCOIn0AnyMh0U
Oh Lack of Proper Knowledge.
AS far rs have been able to Judge
from careful study of the experience
OF the men who have succeeded i
farming and those who have failed,
ma that the failures can be traced gen
orally to a lack of the proper knovvl
edge OF the principles underlying tn
profession.
1here are certain laws connecte,
WIN farming that must be understood
before one can ever hope to succeed.
Ferhaps it is not too much to asser
1nat many OF those characteristics tina,
ntted the Romans for conquering the
world and perfecting their celebrated
| Jurisprudence, were acquired, or at al
] events, nourished and matured nv
their skill, foresight and pcrseverine
INDUSTRY, SO needful for the intelligent
| ana successful cultivation of their soil,
!here is no occupation in life that in.
voives such a combination of circun-
stances and sciences as farming; and
| YET the men who know least about
these and their relations to acri-
culture are those upon whom the worl d
depends for support.
The evils that hinder the farmer from
rising at present, I know to be numer-
Gus, and will take the most cultivated
brain to correct them
Cne evil Is the great need of diversi-
ned farming, that effort which will in
crease the productive capacity of the
SOL; that which will render fruitful
the barren places; that which will
level the hill, terrace our mountains
and cover them with VINEYARDS. and
our valleys with golden harvest.
Inc greatest evil among our farmers
Is the idea that they can not raise their
own supplies at home. and that cotton
IS INC only paying crop. L believe if
we mad one or two model farms, con-
STfI
TO demonstrate to the people the falsi-
W OF these ideas, VIC would soon al
ieVlte an oppressed people from a
burden that now forces them to the
wall.
Strange to say, but from all appear
ahces there are but few farmers who
apparently seem to be awake on these
burning questions of to-day. |
The masses of farmers do not see,n
TO realize that i'll buying their supplies
rom broad that the men who act as
Inlddlemen are getting vastly rich on
Inc profit that they themselves ought
10 nave. The great reason for this is
.laI Tue farmers, the most of them do
aot know how to sell their produce.
N the hrst place, they do not under
'ta no their market They are in need
u knowledge as regards the prepara-
ION OF their produce for the market.
ma therefore they are compelled to
'oss A"r IL. The consequence is
nat these middlemen buy and
tore away all the produce they
se'' ana wait until the !
armers are in need of the same again.
nus they resell to the very farmers at
per cent ranging all the way from l !
YER cent. to 400 per cent.-a far greater
mount than any planter can make
"a :e1 the present system of farming.
% illustrate just what I mean will
ay: II a farmer can buy a mule or a t
ofse Tor 500 and does not do so, but T
uys IL IRON the stable, which is the
'edlum' for Sl26, to be paid in eight S
aonths' on this trade he pays t
w per cent. If he can grow !.
igs and kill his own meat at ! per i
ent., and does not do SO, but $
uys OF merchants at per cent.
nd pays the bill in nine months. he II
"ys 4oO per cent. on the purchase. c
gain, II he can raise Il bushel of corn r
'r 10 cents, and does not do so, but Il
oyS of the merchant for S1.o5 per II
nshel. and pays the bill in tbrea \
ohths from time of credit, he paws
W per cent. on this bargain. Let Us
e now TINS interest compares with the q,
'e1est OF business pursuits. such as | n,
MIXERS merchants. spectators, ETC. &c
commercial circles interest ranges g.
ON per cent on bonds up to per re
NJ. ana per cent, and good fl
numerical paper 10 per cent. -
10 on certain kinds of loans r.
per cent. on dollar. These On
ties are considered ruinous to such q a,
slncss, but they do not at all com ~
re with the interest of the farmers.
Ia until the farmers are able to dis ~;
inmate between these interests they T.
all ever remain behind. There is no
ison In the wide world for one set Of
n 90 borrow money at Is per cent
q another set pay 500 per cent. on a i'm
Jar. 1hlS is enough to cause utter col
lure TO silver miners of Nevada with ! SUI
advantage of free coinage. much gr'
S the farmers. the
Depression is felt everywhere on ac- ces
mt OF the manner of farming: and nil
farmers, we need never hone to have ito
Sc conditions changed so long as the lisl
&c or cotton is below the cost of pro-
't1on, and our s1nol<ehouses and corn.
Is are in the far west.
'e should reduce our number IF ST,
IS and cultivate that which is plant son
more thoroughly, fertilized more
noantiy. and make as much fertil- in ,
as we possibly can at home There ~
but few farmers who seem to real
that they can make better and
G effectlve fertilizer than that thew 80;
from the nercha hts, which | 4,s
proves to be more detri-
tai than profitable. know
actual experience that you can, oro
'slng the same complement of fer at
or on one and 4 half acres. that s1de
use on three acres COW, ,,,,,.