St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1896-02-01
FARMER AND PLANTER.
TO MAKE FARMING PAY.
An Old Cotton Planter Gives Few Points
in II Exneriaucn

| in Old Cotton Planter Gives Few Points
| in II Experiences.
How to make farming pay next year
s matter OF great Importance to every
,itizen of Texas, for it has long since
been conceded that agriculture is
she foundation of all wealth. That
government which fosters and protects
her agriculturists always increases the
prosperity of her citizens. And that
Individual who can give the wisest
touncil in times of uncertainty, like
present, may be considered the greatest
loenefactor. The writer does not as
pire to become SO great wisacre But
perhaps it may be in his power to use
MS pen in tracing dimly the lines that
| nay afterWard be more plainly marked
,ut by some other more capable person,
which shall point out the dangers that
confront us.
The old year is nearing its end, and
The new year of 1896 will be soon ush-
.red in upon US. The old has surely
furnished us some practical data to
guide our footsteps for the incoming
new year, and at the outset we believe
many will join us in stating that the
essons we have had presented for our
consideration during the past two
7ears are valuable only in proportion
is we use and wisely appropriate them.
The first lesson taught us is that cot
ION is no longer king. A nine and a
lalf million bale crop only brings four,
cents, while six and a-half million
bales insures seven and a-half cents,
The former is unremunerative and ru-
nous to the farmer, because be-
ow cost of production, while the
after :. is fairly remunerative. Two
Ind half billion American corn
srop in 1894 brought an average
IT 42 cents in the Chicago market,
n our local markets SO cents, while the
big corn crop of 1895, estimated rough
y at three to three and a half bfffion
bushels, only sells in our local markets
Tor Is to 1819 cents. So we see if II
.ents per bushe1 is about an average
price it costs farmer to raise it in
Texas, then there is little. or no profit
Tor the surplus he sells. The same
conditions apply to our oat and hay
srops. 1t is true that our large oat
srop was this year so seriously dam
iged by an unusually wet season, that
It is hardly possible to make correct
estimate for the probable average price
It would have brought under more
favorable circumstances. The ques-
lion naturally arises, what course must
III
'-he best prices for our farm prod
lcts? Every farmer must see that
our safety is to be found only in plant
ng those crops thatgrow best with us,
,ne-third of the acreage in cotton, one
third in corn, and one-third in other
srops, such as oats, hay, sorghum, etc.
With such staple products for our stiff,
black lands, little greater diversiica-
lion might be practiced proftably on
ihe sandy lands, like Denton, Wise and
,ther counties. Potatoes. melons and
goober peas might be extensively raised
N such sandy land districts. We must
lot abandon the wise course we have
begun in raising more corn and sor-
ghum to raise and fatten more hogs,
remembering that with deep water at
Galveston we have shorter route to
;he en- markets of the world,
essening the freight charges, and at
;he same time increasing the demand
ior our surplus corn and hog products.
According to late estimate, there are
n Texas but $4,000 renter farmers,
while there are 265, 900 owning their
sarms. Under such favora BILE condition
here is no real cause why the very
best plan may not be. practiced more
generally on business principles. 1t
S not only foolish, but suicidal, to rush
oeu-mell into raising all cotton in 1896.
Such a course would insure three-cent
cotton, and ruin and starvation staring
rs in the face, when under our present
regime plenty and abundance doth
abound. God has given Texas the most
fertile soil, and if wisely used will sure
y bring a greater prosperity to her
people than any land in the habitable
Farm and Ranch.