Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-08-26

Mr.. w. Il, Collins OF Issaauena coun-
ty, Miss, writes the Practical Farmer
as follows on the above subject:
The rapid exhaustion of the soil fol-
lowing the system of successive cotton
crops for 40 or 50 years, Is so manifest
in tine annual" decreasing yield OF cot
ton that farm owners cannot fail to
note Il.
The high price of cotton for many
years led many to commit the error Of
succeeding crops of cotton on the same
field, until the yield does not average
above onc-fourth that OF former years
Southern agriculture Is badly behind
modern progress venture the asser-
ton that no agricultural community In
the world Is as badly provided with
proper drainage as the farms of the
South today Yet our people have
made more paying crops. and have re-
celved more cash for them. than any
other community or branch Of this in
dustrv.
The change In values. beginning in
1873 and eliminating in 1891, found US
totally urprepared FOR the very thing
! that we had expected. 49, va ample
warnings from the beginning. We are
now forced to meet the situation as
| best we can, and am pleased TO note
/ that our people are doing this very
/ thing--a fact that Is verv encouraging
and fraught with magnificent promises
/ OF good to come. Cotton has always
| found ready sale at really better prices
/ than any other crop of such magnitude.
| and the future Us obscured by no dark
and omlnous clouds, that cover the
i grain markets.
Cotton Ia stir king. but with powers
mora limited. The farmer out Of debt
today Is on the high road to compe-
tence. The gold standard has no ter
rors for him. What the southern far
mar must do now Is to grow cotton as
surplus crop only: he must produce
everything on the place that will save
the money necessary to purchase such
things from Others. The despised small
things must now assume the import
ance they are entitled to. The planters
Of this section have heretofore scorned
the little things $50 called) and knew
nothing smaller than a bale of cotton
The seed, now so important a part OIL
given to the tenants, who sold them ant
lived on the proceeds during the win
ter,
Last year the scarcity Of money com
PEELED everyone to avail themselves %
every resource, and cotton seed formed
the principal OF these-they discovered
suddenly that each years profit on tn,
cotton crop had been absolutely givei
away.
A plantation Of 400 acres in cottol
would give away annually to the ne
groes from $500 to $1,000 worth of cottol
seed. This has been stopped. Hol
raising has commenced ON very nearl,
every plantation In the country. AM
while It is impossible for this {
amount to much until better prepare,
to care for such stock, It is beginning
and will improve as VIC understand tn
business better.
Hay Fields Cmeadows) and pasture
have increased to such an extent tina
the home market Is well supplied wit
good homegrown hay produced at
cost OF about $3.50 per acre. wher
farmers are making hay for sale.
has Melted them from IS TO IS per acr,
There has sprung up an inquiry 10
: graes and clover seed. which promise
, a good market in the years to com,
Corn has been planted in sufficien
quantity for all home consumption, an
, with favorable season a surplus I
/, help out those in need. More swes
: potatoes viii be grown than ever be
lore. More fine vegetable gardens ma