The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-11-07
FARMER AND PLANTER.
DlvERsIFIcArIoN.

the South.
We have all heard the old adape of
placing too many eggs in one basket,
and in no case is this more applicable
than to the farmer who devotes his
whole energies to the production of
one crop. Our farming community is
beginning to realize this, as is evil
denced by the increased inquiries as
to the adaptability Of certain crops to
their section. In no section is the
farmers choice in this direction DO un-
limited as in this southland of ours
The true policy should be the produc-
ton OF possible home supplies. pur-
chasing only those it is impossible to
raise, giving in exchange our surplus
/ A list of the plants that should be
included in this diversification is hard
ly necessary, but the mention of few
may serve to turn the attention of
some of our readers to the subject.
And first of all, no system of farming
Is complete without it's due pro rata
OF live stock. including cattle, sheep,
hogs and fowls. They serve double
purpose, as being not only a source of
revenue from their sale, but in being
the manufacturers of the cheapest and
best fertilizer in the world. If we will
stock our farm properly we will soon
cut down, to large extent, our fer
tilizer bill. Again, the intr oduction
of this stock upon our far ms will soon
force the otherwise unwilling owner
to diversity his crops, for he will soon
be confronted with the necessity of
feeding those animals This in its
turn will bring attention to the grasses
those friends of ours against whom
we have been waging such q bitter war
OF determination. There are no finer
Rrasslands in the world, nor does
any country possess a greater list of
highly-nutritious native grasses than
we. Add to these few of the domes-
tic grasses for winter pasturage, and
there is no reason why our stock
should not be fat all the year round.
We can not pass over this subject
without calling attention to some of
the statements in regard to alfalfa on
our alluvial lands. At recent meet
ing of agriculturists it was stated by
. gentleman of perfect reliability that
he had raised 5000 pounds of pork on
one acre of this plant. Another stated
that on ten acres he had made enough
hay to feed 81 head of mules the entire
year and pasture 20 hogs This plant
ut the experiment station at Audubon
park has gwen ten cuttings of hay of
over ~ tons each per acre in one
year.
Another item to which we might pay
more attention is poultry, especially
chickens. 1t is estimated that it costs
about one dollar a year to feed hen.
This hen should lay at least 200 eggs
In that time. 1t is well-known fact
there is ready sale in any of our
large cities for fresh eggs at from Is
to 20 cents a dozen. In fact, we have
been told by prominent hotel-keep-
er that he would willingly contract
for eggs for the whole year at the
highest of the above figures. if guar
anteed fresh. At the same time re-
ferred to above. it was stated by a
gentleman that the products of his
poultry-yard were worth from four to
i've dollars a month to his own Ia
BILE. Without taking into considera-
ton the product from surplus fowls,
these facts alone should lead us to
give more attention to poultry.
The hog is the best boarder a farm
can have. He not only pays literally
for his board. but he is willing and
anxious to gather his food for himself.
1t has been repeatedly stated in pub
lie meetings that pork can be raised in
this country for one-half a cent a
pound gross. This not only proves the
hog liberal boarder. but also proves
beyond doubt the ability of our soils
to produce an abundance of feed in
great variety.
In advocating diversifcation of
crops, we are frequently met with the
argument that, with one or two excep-
tions, there is no sale for our prod
ucts. While in Lafayette, last Janu-
airy, we were told that there were
thousands of bushels of corn uncath-
cred.because of lack of market; vet
the neighboring city of Alexan-
dria has already contracted for hun
dreds of barrels of meal and carloads
OF meat. oats, corn and hay for this
year. Why is this? Last fall we went
to merchant with load of corn in
the ear, and offered to sell it to him.
His answer was: i do not want it.
And as we were receiving this reply,
mis- dray came from the steamboat
landing loaded with sacks of Kansas
and Missouri corn. We returned home
with our corn, boughta shelter, shelled
1t, and sold it to the same merchant
at 40 cents a bushel the following day.
With corn-meal selling at 81. rs to So,
and hominy at So barrel. there is no
reason for corn to rot in the fields. If
the facilities are lacking for convert
Ing it into this merchantable form,
then let our farmers form a company
and erect their own machinery. 1t is
comparatively inexpensive, and few
dollars contributed by each farmer in
a nelghborhood will create good mar
ket for all its products.
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