The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-11-17
FARMER AND PLANTER.
SOUTHERN FARM NOTES.
A Chapter on VARIOUS Topics of Timely
Interest to Farmers

Chapter on VARIOUS Topics OF Tineiy |
Interest to Farmers
APPLES.
1t 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
ly do / refer to the late-maturing va
rieties, suitable for winter use and
keeping am not swell up" in varie-
ties and their several individual mer-
it's, but have observed enough to be
convinced that the Ben Davis and the
ShockIey 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 a luxury to the MEM
bers of the farmers family, but if any
considerable quantity be grown,
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, as 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 a 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 entertainments. MalSs every eff
fort to retain the water where it falls
in the cow-lot or horse-lot. Don't let
the rains wash out and carry away the
valuable substance in the manure.
This is an important matter. 1t is
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-
ton and profit
DIVERSIFIED AGRICULTURE.
To rest and strengthen and maintain
healthful condition of the mental
man, the mind needs diversity of
thought and must have it. To develop
and maintain uniform healthy condi-
ton of the corporeal body, there must
needs be a constant diversity of exer-
else. And to attain any high degree
of prosperity and wealth, as farming
section, we must practice a 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
| ly 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 profit:
| may, when all the products are com
bined, average well for the grower anf
seller. Several chances are better thar
one chance. 1t is a reckless farmer
who will risk his fortune on one crol
alone. The true plan is to make, al
nearly as possible, all ones supplies OF
the farm, and besides, a surplus o
each or many crops to sell for cash. -
s SPARE THE BIRDS.
II it were not for the birds, tn,
worms and bugs would destroy nearl.
all ouf. fruits. The birds consume som
fruits, of course, and spoil good dea
that is not eaten entire, yet they d
not average the great destructivenes
that they usually get credit for. The.
have right to a certain share of tn
crop by reason .of compromising serv
ices, for they save for the owner ia
more than he would otherwise get a
his share if it were not for them; j
many instances entire crops would b
destroyed by insects, but for the sery
ices of the birds. .t2tt ~ !
Spare the birds! Do nots kill ther
maliciously or wantonly or just fo
fun and recreation. They are create
! by our Heavenly Father for.
useful purpose and serve a usefr
purpose in the economy of nature
! The birds are the farmers friends, an
are human benefactors the world ovel
, They were created for a purpose, an
! they perform their natural missio
well and with profit to the agricu
! turist. As the birds areudecreased,
the same ratio will the destructiy
forces of insect life, that depredate VI
: on vegetation. be increased.
. s.BUYING CORN"
. In the south buying corn" by tt
farmer to make crop is becoming
be almost synonymous with invitin
bankruptcy. Buying corn! Buyin
, western corn! Buying corn to fee