St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-06-02
FARMER AND PLANTER
RETROSPECTIVE.

Looking Backward Over . Gloomy Year
with Suggestions for the Future.
The farmers Of the southern country
began the past year full of hope and
energy. In looking back upon its
gloomy close. they find it equal TO
none in its record of disaster and
blighted hopes
With the experience so fresh and
terrible in its results before them, will
they persist in planting cotton at
price now far below the cost of pro-
duction. and which will go still lower
under the financial pressure which is
upon the country and the evident in
crease of the western states in its pro-
duction? The impoverished cotton
lands present y distressing appearance
when, within reasonable calculation,
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 Of
cotton planted does not decrease, and
as the lands become worn. greater
number of acres are planted to produce
. 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-
tion is greater than the actual market
value the inevitable is before the pro-
ducer. i. 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 as to admit . reasona-
BILE profit? Is the present situation
such as that there is . chance of escape
for q cotton planter. not too heavily in
volved with debt? The last question is
not hard to answer. There is hope
for him who will turn from the folly of
his ways" Let him make his supplies
at home, raise thoroughbred cattle and
hogs; the very best always pay. If he
is not able to begin with purebred
stock, let him start with purebred
male on h4 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 are handsome and easily
milked, and are, 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 flesh while
milking, and as a natural result will
convert al 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 are 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 rs much grain as he can pre-
pare the land to sow. and when he does
this-produces his necessary supplies
at home and plants cotton only as
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 planting OF cotton
will never enable a man to pay his
debts. 1t means in the end finapcial
ruin, 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 profit
in producing. xie Farmer.