Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-02-20

absolute diversifying OF the crops on
oi,r Texas farms, as II Is plain that
as long as we permit the majority OF
our home supplies to be imported. es-
pecially those for which our climates
and soils are adapted, We are pursuing
a losing policy. The farms of Texas
are ctiVble OF producing the greater
part ot'our food necessities. and the
first and organic principle OF farming
being the capability of home support,
II follows that our failure to take adj
vantage Of this opportunity Is not tho
part OF wisdom or business Judgment.
We believe that instead OF importing
Texas should at every season of the
year export vegetables, pork product
and fruits In competition with like
products from states less favored in
natural adaptability for the cheap
raising of farm, orchard and garden
products. We believe that In the year
just passed there was not bushel of
surplus feed raised on the farms of
Texas and were more of II produced
and converted into all the year around
marketable fat live stock It would be
found to bc a profitable crop, as there
by we would keep at home the vast
sums of money now sent out of the
state for the product of natural farm
animals.
We consider II travesty on intelli-
gent farming that but one In every four
of the vast number OF cattle sent from
Texas to the markets OF the North
are fed before being shipped, and we
urge upon the farmers of Texas the
absolute necessity of devOtinR more
attention to the breeding and market
ing of cattle sheep and hogs. as II has
been established by incontrovertlhie
experience that successful farming lies
In this direction.
We view with satisfaction the OPEN
ing of deep water ports on our coast
permitting us to put our products OF
pasture and farm in competition with
those Of the states along the Atlantic
seaboard In supplying the export de-
mand, and we especially direct ntten-
ton to the recently created demand
for farm fed cattle for consumption In
the cities Of the old world. TO be sent
direct instead OF overland nearly half
the distance. II Is, perhaps, not amiss
to direct attention to the possibility
OF exporting through Texas ports other
food products such as transportable
vegetables and fruits OF which ut this
time we are largely importers.
We urge upon the farmers Of Texas
the announcement Of and cooperation
TO the extent of their ability with every
class of manufacturing as to this indus
try must we look for relief from the
expense incurred In paying freights
both ways and cost of converting our
raw material into finished products.
We believe that the evidence Of
friendly cooperative spirit on the part
OF our formers viii serve more than
any other thing to attract mnnufaf-
turing capital to Texas. We point for
example to the states of Georgln and
North Carolina. each Inferior In nat
ural resources to TeXns. and yet North
Carolina alone manufactures 10000
bales more cotton than is raised within
her limits.
We urge more concerted and friend
~ relation commercially between the
farmers OF Texas and believe that by
meeting and discussing plans for inan-
cial improvement good will result. We
cite the fact that every trade and
branch of business finds II necessary
TO organize for mutual advancement,
and farmers as business men should
meet in frequent council to discuss
means of improving their condition,
inasmuch that all agricultural knowl-
edge is relative and not positive ami
what applies to one climate and glil
oft-times proves a failure In another
We believe that the practical lnowl-
edge OF farming lies with the man en-
gagged In that pursuit. and that by
meeting and discussing rules and
methods more Information of real
value can be developed than through
all the theories ever adduced by UNI
practical advisers. Farmers insti-
tutes devoid OF political Significance
or utilization have proven successful
method Of intoxicating q desire to excel
and we heartily recommend their es-
Enlistment In every agricultural coun-
ty in Texas.
p. o. LIVELY,
IT. a. EVANS.