St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-03-17
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THE BEST MONEY CROP.

A Few TheaEhts for Intelllgent Fsrmsrs
70 Ponder.
1t is usually the case, when you are
reasoning with southern farmer and
trying to show that cotton, at present
prices, does not pay, that he replies by
asking the question:: what else can
raise that will give me ready money
IN the fall?' When it requires prac-
tcally all that he gets for his cotton
to produce it, it is certainly . poor
money crop.
We have. in several articles. urged
the advisability of a change in our sys-
TEN OF almost total dependence upon
cotton, and resort to n system of
combined stock raising and cotton
farming. whereby a larger yield of
cotton may be produced upon a smaller
area, by using larger quantities of ma
nnre, made from the keeping of stock,
and at much less cost per pound.
To say that there is no profit in stock
raising in this country: that we can
not compete. 50 far as the supplying Of
our home demand is concerned, with
the rich virgin corn lands Of the west,
Is a mere assertion, and is not true As
well. and perhaps with more truth.
might we say. that with the present
rate OF production per acre, we can not
compete, in the raising of cotton, with
the rich lands Of the Mississippi bot
toms and the fertile prairies OF Texas.
The United States census shows that
the average yield of cotton in this state
is about $50 pounds of lint per acre;
that is. three acres are required to pro-
duce one bale of cotton. At present
prices this gives a gross income, in
Guiding the sale Of the seed, Of &12. 20
per acre. After deducting feed of the
horse, labor. tools and fertilizers. this
must necessarily leave very little. il
any. ready money. Twenty-Five acres
of land. we believe. is considered one
horse crop of cotton. To each horse
will be required at least two good
hands to properly cultivate thi. num-
Der of acres. A simple calculation will
show that there will be but little left
for the farmer after all expenses are
paid.
The eight bales Of cotton. now requir-
ing twenty-five acres for its produc-
ton. should be grown upon eight acres
to be profita bile. 1t is of no use to say
that it can not be done. It has been
done. and it can he done again. il YOU
will bring your lands up to a proper
state Of fertility by the mixed system
OF stock raising and cotton.
We assert. without fear of successful
contradiction. that there is more profit
to-day in raising pork than there is in
cotton. Let us suppose, for instance,
that any of ont farmers should de-
vote twenty-five acrcs-a one-horse
crop-to raising hogs, and should
set ten acres in clover and
grass. and the remaining fifteen acres
in corn and peas, or better still, in corn
and sofa beans. We know from expert |
ence that one acre OF land set in clover
and that none of the best-will main
tain five hogs in full growth. without
any other feed, from the LIST of April to |
the LIST OF September. So that the ten |
acres of clover will support fifty pigs |
for six months of their life. and the |
fifteen acres of corn and peas will fat
ten them. We believe that the labor /
OF one man and one horse will grow |
and fatten fifty hogs per year on this
plan, that should average 200 pounds
each, and worth. at present prices.
$500; a sum of money equal to twenty
SIX bales of cotton. at present prices.
as against eight bales of cotton. as at
present Eravn upon twenty-five acres
Here4s 4 Hfie margin for any over.
eitiQeti9n + may have made. The
bfouI tk1ise this num her of Mrs
! HeNlSbXd0W from experience. NAV
d wintered upon. tnrnips, beets and
eStatoes. s2kqk better condition
an on grain. In fact, their keep will
est xsry 4&lae q they are good scav-
at much that other
Vs. IN iste on the farm.
fU06oj 0olO4Jplhers will think seri.
0tSq stock question. with
, view to making 1t part of
t4eiK farming, operations. and not
dismiss f6f whole thing from their
minds Is Mhprofta BILE. without giving
Il that consideration which any propo-
,ltioTsthat proposes to bring about an
in the present system de-
serves.
You can not point TO a single country
Or section. either in the present or past
history of the world-and this is cover
ing good deal of space and time
where the farmers have been perma-
1ently prosperous when engaged in
he growing of special crop.
The one-crop idea has, sooner or
alter, resulted IN disaster. either
rom over-production. followed BY
ow prices. or from gradual impover-
shment of the soil which necessarily
when no rotation of crops or
took raising is practiced. In proof of
his fact. we may cite you to the pres
mt condition of our southern cotton
armers. the tobacco regions of North .
'arolina and Virginia, and to the
wheat growers Of the great northwest. =.
where. from over production. the price ,
4 wheat has fallen lower this season
han ever before in the history of this
ountry. Black, in York
lille Is. c. Enquirer.
THE FERTILIZER INDUSTRY. n
/ b N Indlsrensable Adjunct to Success I
fal Farming.
hesitate about discussing the neces-
ity OF the fertilizer industry. but there !.
Inv be some who, while admitting the !.
eneral proposition that restitution
the elements of plant food should /.