The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-05-19
FARMER AND PLANTER.
RETROSPECTIVE.

SrSs
Locking ss.ekWard Over q Gloomy Year
with Suggestions for the Future.
The farmers of the southern country
began the past year full of hope and
energy. In looking baek Upon its
gloomy close, they hnd it equal 10
hone in its record Of disaster and
blighted hopes:
with the Experience SO fresh and
terrible in it's results before them, will
they persist in planting cotton at a
price now far below the cost Of pro-
duction, and wl,icl, .~iN 90 still lower
under tile financial pressure which is
upon the country and the evident in
duction? The impoverished cotton
lands present a distressing appearene mes
when. within reasonable calculatio ion;
we can expect still lower prices
during the coming fall for the
staple. Many articles have been print
ed on the necessity of every farm pro-
ducing its supplies. The. acreage IF
cotton planted tlSes not decrease, and
as the lands become worn. a greater
number of acres are planted to produce
a certain amount of cotton. The close
OF each year finds the cotton planter
deeper in debt than the preceding one:
The cost of production is not consid:
cred and the losses are laid to the over
production. When the cost of produc-
ton is greater than the actual market
value the inevitable is before the pro-
Queer, j. e.. he will have the assistance
of the sheriff Of his county in winding
up his business.
The following questions should pre-
sent themselves to the cotton planter:
Can lessen the cost of production to
such an extent rs to admit tsas6na:
bic profit? Is the present situation
such as that there is q chance of esca pc
for cotton plan ter, not too heavily in
volved with debit The last question is
hot hard to answer. There is hope
for him who will turn from the folly of
his ways" Let him make his snpplies
at home, raise thorcughbred cattle and
hogs; tie very best always pay. If he
is not able to begin with purebred
stock, let him start with a purebred
male on his common stock. The male is
considered by the best breeders at least
one-half of the herd. Let him select
breed of cattle that there will be
sale for. But little is known at pres
ent to southern farmers of the great
profit there is in breeding Guernsey
cattle, either for sale OR for domestic
use. They arc handsome and easily
milked, and nre, beyond doubt, the
COWS for profit and for the family.
Their flow of milk is generous and the
cream thick, abundant, very rich and
quick rising. They are good feeders
and not inclined to take on hesh while
milking, and as a natural result will
convert all their feed into milk and
Cream. The butter is golden, and
holds its color through the entire win
ter. The bulls are gentle and hand
some; their calves arc large and hardy
from birth, mature rapidly and are fast
breeders.
The progressive farmer will improve
his stock, and breed those classes that
will be most profitable to him. He
will plant as much grain a 8 he can pre-
pare the land to sow, and when he does
this-rroduces his necessary supplies
|. at home and plants cotton only as a
surplus crop, he will be free from much
of the drudgery that the farmer now
has to undergo. and will once more see
pleasure in life on the farm. Heavy
grain crops mean more cattle and hogs,
and the successful handling of them
means improved land and successful
farming. Heavy p1a nting of cotton
will never enable Il man to pay his
debts. 1t means in the end financial
ruin, a short road to poverty. Let US
then during the present year steer
clear of the error of the past, and plant
that only which we know there is prof,
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