The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1894-01-27
THE NOTION SECONDED.
GREENvILLE TINES

1
In its issue Of Jan. 9th the TIMES
handled planters without gloves. Yet
that article contained many whole
some truths. The question il now,
after four disastrous cotton crops,
are we in any condition to go ahead
even as farmers with little ar1. II is
useless to cry over SPILLED" milk. We
have failed to realize the changed con-
dition and prepare for II. and It isnow
too late, unless our creditors can
VERY along with us another twelve
months, that we may begin the little
"f' business. The price of cotton, low
as II is, cannot be charged with all
blame for the four years losses. The
truth IL our laud is "letting down" in
productivcness under the all cotton
system and eau no longer produce
tho fine yields of ten years ago. Low
price and still lower rate of product.
ion. are two parties In bankrupting
our people, that can not be overcome
In ono short IL months, but will re-
qulre four years at least, on little
II" or any other plan. Any land how
ever fertile, naturally, cannot survive
so or 40 clean crops, (by this mean
crops that require clean culture.
Rotation judiciously arranged, will
keep good soil In condition perpetually
Corn and cotton, our only crops, can
not be used In rotation to be of any
lasting benefit to the soil. This Delta
land, the most fertile, naturally can
be exhausted in few years under our
system Of planting. Toprove this ask
those who have opened fresh lands
within the last ten years, and compare
yield then aud now. Tue collapse In
yield seems to have been sudden and
radical. Possibly the earth under
goes chemical changes at certain pc
rods, which may account for some
OF our poor crops. Aside from theory
We have only the facts as we see or
know them, and II is these we must
endtavor to overcome. Ono fact 10
our lands are failing. They will no
longer grow the proverbial one bale
per acre. Unlcss II does this there IL no
money In cottoyat cents. Now to
begin farming with that little "f'' we
must commence at the stump and
build up. The basis Of agricultural
prosperity is grass and stock, that 10
the stump to start from. 1t 10 to
these we must look for restoration Of
fertility to exhausted soil. Red clover
is one OF the many plants, and by far
the most valuable soil renovator we
have. The common COW pea Is also
valuable for the purposc-any of the
bean pea or clover family are suitable
for this purpose. They are known 40
leguminous plants, and draw fertility
from the atmosphere. A field left In
clover for 5 years and then plowed
under will the following year grow
one bale Of cotton per acre easily.
We must give more attention to this
or be sadly left In the race for "livipg."
Again no land can or will produce
good crops, that Is not we'll drained.
This 10 no theory; 1t Is fact. 1t Is we'll
known that good drainage can
not be obtained In the Valley except
for about half the year. This fact has
been the cause mainly of the four
years Losses. Lcvee building, whatever
benefit IL may be to the country back
fromthe river has practically ruined the
land lying near them, as auy planter
will tell you, Il mean for.purpose Of
cultivatlon.) The drawback to cattle
aud hog raising on any extended
scale, such as would be necessary on
some Of our large plantations is the
annual danger from overfows, unex-
pected and therefore not prepared for.
Should such occur (and no one can
positively assert they will not, imagine
the loss. ThesDelta Is all right. 1t has
. grand future and we are satisfied of
this, and 1t hurts US to think we can
not hold our little until the advent of
this coming prosperity. 1t is coming
through work of the little ''f's'.
would like to write more, but this
Is already to long. With permission
Of the TIMES land If desired) would
like to carry the subject further, in ad-
ditional articles showing the advant-
age of small farms over the large plan
tations. LITTLE "f"