The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-03-03
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
I.se sEsT AaoNEv onos.

E004RD8S 5efasI
II = usually. the case, when you are
soas0ning with = southern farmer and |
trying TO show that cotton, 1T present.
prices, does mot pay, that he replies by
aslking the question: What else can
raise that win give mo ready money
in the fail?' When it requires prac-
stica1ly all that he gets for his cotton
money CROP
We have, In several articles, urged
the Adyisahility. of . change in our sys-
tom Of almost totsA dependence upon
cotton, and . resort to . system OF
combined stock raising and cotton
farming, whereby larger yield of
cotton may be produced upon a smaller
area, by using larger quantities of ma
nurc, made from the keeping of stock,
and ut much less cost per pound.
To say that there is no profit in stock
raising in this country: that we can
not compete, SO far as the supplying of
our home demand is concerned, with
the rich virgin corn lands of the west,
is . mere assertion. and is not true. As
we'll, and perhaps with more truth,
might we say. that with the present
rate of production per acre, we can not
thcrrich 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 $12. 20
per acre. After deducting feed Of the
horse, labor, tools and fertilizers, this
must necessarily leave very little, if
any. ready money. Twenty-Five acres
of land, we believe, is considered q one
horse crop of cotton. To each horse
will be required at least two good
hands to properly cultivate this num-
Der of acres. A simple calculation will
show that there will be but little left
for the farmer after all expenses are
paid.
The eight bales of cotton, now requir-
ing twenty-five acres for its produc-
ton, should be grown upon eight acres
to be profitable. 1t is of no use to say
that it can not be done. 1t has been
done, and it can he done again, If you
will bring your lands up to a proper
state of fertility by the mixed system
of stock ra Using and cotton.
We assert, without fear of successful
contradictions. that there is more profit
to-day in raising pork than there is in
cotton. Let suppose. for instance,
that any of our farmers should de-
vote twenty-five acres-a one-horse
crop-to raising hogs, and should
set ten acres in clover and
grass. and the remaining fifteen acres
In corn ana pe1Ss OF OeCtcf SCll$S ln corn
and sofa beans. We know from expert
cI.ce that one acre OF land set in clover
and that none of the bcst-will MAIN
tain five hogs in full growth, without
| any other feed, from the LIST Of April to
the LIST of September So that tho 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 900 pounds
each, and worth, at present prices
$500: sum of money equal to twenty
six bales of cotton, at present prices.
| as against eight bales of cotton. as at
present grown upon twenty-five acres
Hero is a wide margin for any over,
estimation I may have made. The
brood sows toraise this mum Der of pigs,
as we also know from experience, may
| be wintered upon turniI,s, beets and
| potatoes. and kept in better condition
| than on grain. In fact, their keep will
cost very little, as they are good scav-
| engers and will eat much that other
| wise would go to waste on the farm.
We hope our farmers will think Seri-
| ously about this stock question, with
| view to making 1T part of
their farming operations. and not
dismiss the whole thing from their
| minds unprofi table, without giving
|
| sition that proposes to bring about an
| improvement in the present system de-
| serves.
You can not point to single country
| or section. either in the present or asst
history of the world-and this is cover
ing good deal of space and time
| where the farmers have been perma-
ncntly prosperous when engaged in
| the growing of special crop.
| The one-crop idea has, sooner or
| later, resulted in disa ster. either
from ovcr-production, followed by
low prices. or from a gradual impover-
| ishment Of the soil which necessarily
follows, when no rotation of crops or
stock raising is practiced. In proof OF
| this fact, we may cite you to the pres
| cnt condition of our southern cotton
farmers, the tobacco regions of North
Carolina and Virginia. and to the
wheat growers of the great northwest.
| where. from over production, the price
| of wheat has fallen lower this season
! than ever before in the history of this
| country.-Rowland Black, in York
Vile IS c. Enquirer.
THE FERTILiZER INDUSTRY.
! It 10 an IndispeDsabl bile Adjunct to Success
| full Farming.
| l hesitate about discussing the ncccs-
sity of the fertilizer industry, but there
! may be some who, while admitting the
| general proposition that a restitution