The Monticellonian., 1894-10-26
are out of the ques ton.

are out ot tue quest UOn.
 Mir. Chairman. we have ever conteuded this is where we are tending with our reckless method Of farming; we are becoming more ard more dependent. It IS sad to contemplate, that in country so richly blessed by nature as ours that such should be the case. We are no pessimi>f and are slow to believe that people so widely noted for their intellect will pur- sue this reckless course, un il their last ray of hope is gone It is an uncertain business to depend on one crop where others can be grown. We would deem it bad policy for our farmers to attempt to raise cotton at z and cents. or even more and risk the fuctua- tions of the markets, to buy their mules, horses, corn, meat, lard, etc. We have arrived at these conclusions rom past observations and experiences. In q country so well blessed by nature as to soil and climate, favoring so many varieties Of crops, we cannot see any grave objections as to the possibility of diversity. We will admit tbat cotton is better adapted 10 cur climate and soil than any crop We can raise. and we will ad- init fur ther, for sake of argument, that il is he most essential crop, because it is ready cash at all times, and again, it is king of pro- duets. We should feel proud, in- deed, that we are blessed with soil and climate capable of pro ducing such q crop. How can We begin to diversity? IS a question we often hear propounded. We cannot secure any credit, unless #e agree aplant largely ofcotton. We are aware of these difficulties. and again there is mere or less Iiiskand uncertainty, in the change of auy business, hence the change should be male gradually, aud un- less one had plenty of means at his disposal it is impossible to be gin otherwise. Cotton is a very ex- pensiye crop, and when any one eurtails tbeir cotton acreage they al once cuftail their expense ae. count, and that k what is needed. 1t Is our ex- pense account that is ruining Us. and | is the buying ofthese very essential products of the farm, such as earnmeal, meat, lard, syr- up, etc, that rus 1t up so high.
 How should we diversify is an other question we often hear. Cut down your cotton acreage and substitute Il with peas, potatoes. sorghum, peanuts, melons, oats, mjIlei, etc, aud raise horses, mules, sheep, cattle, hogs to consume these crops and make your farms self sustaining Several times, since we came to Arkansas, we have known meat to raise in price m1til=it took two pounds of cotton to buy one pound ot lard. Such is the case at present. Let us sup pose n little for sake of argument. Suppose we had cut down our cotton acreage last spring and e;s- pended part ot the tune and means on other crops, can't you easily see where we conld have been benefited: We would have gotten more for our cotton in the first place; in the second place we would have been far better equip.. ped in the making ofanother cro t.. And, again, how much dc you sup pose it would have saved to the country? How much do you sup pose the merchants of Monticello eXPend for such supplies, as the tarmer would raise? We have been reliably informed that it will ex- ceed 200,000 this year. It is true that some of this has been sold out of the county, but the most of it| has been sold to Drew County farmers to make 5c cotton, to say nothing of what is expended year. ly for horses and mules, the fgues are astounding! Brothers, do you wonder at the pressure that is up