The Van Buren press., 1896-02-22

adequate returns for its production.
The mutterings of storm are disturb
ing the country, and unsettling all
business calculations. The prudent
man will trim his sails to meet it. With
the commerce of the country interrupted
by war-and war may come-cotton
would be unsaleable except at nominal
prices. Every consideration, then, of
patriotism, of self interest and of
prudence dictates that you adhere
strictly to the rule of diminished
acreage. Earnest men are earnestly
working to lead you and guide you into
prosperity. Do not let them labor in
vain, but chee1fully and hopefully
respond to their appeal -
Fortunately for Arkansas, our people
do not have to resort to doubtful expert
ments in order to utilize their surplus
lands heretofore planted in cotton.
The potato, both sweet and Irish, is a
more profitable crop in Arkansas than
cotton ever was, if planted in sufficient
quantities to obtain cheap freight rates.
1t is not enough to raise car loads. To
get the best results, each shipping point
should grow train loads for early North
ern markets, and the second crop for all
markets. Also onions and the berry
crop pay handsome profits, while the
Arkansas melon has become famous in
the markets. For those not so near to
transportation, be assured, Arkansas is
without doubt one of the leading hay
and oats states in the Union, and as a
corn growing state she cannot be beat.
You say you can t sell your corn at
remunerative prices, and it is we'll it is
or perhaps. for no farmer ought to sell
his corn at any price. The thing to do
is to feed it to hogs and cattle. Fat
stock are saleable every month in the
year at fair prices. Besides, they keep
the store account down.
In conclusion we desire to say to every
bales or 900 bales, see to it first that
your place is self sustaining and we
mean by this to be sure to grow on the
farm an abundance of corn, meat, hay,
oats, peas, potatoes, etc. for all the
people on the place, both white and
colored. If the tenant will not produce
these articles sell them to him, and you
keep the money in your own pocket in
place of sending it out of the country.
When you have done this, or provided
for it, grow what cotton you can.
If every farmer or planter in the
cotton growing districts will make this
his rule of action, and live up to it con
scientiously, it will accomplish the
results we SO much desire, of making
us all prosperous and happy, whether
our cotton, which will be surplus
crop, sells for a high or low price.
We would urge you again, and again,
to make sure first of cheap home
grown living for all the people, and all
the animals on the place, and then
make what cotton you can.
Press this idea on your neighbors and
friends; talk it in season and out of
season, at home and abroad influence
your papers to write it up, and keep it
before the public-at least until after
this year 8 cotton crop is planted. Get
up small fund and have this address
with such other suggestions
as you may think proper, and send it to
farmers in your own section. You have
their addresses we have not.
Remember, this is purely labor of
love for the benefit of all, and if every
farmer will participate, and lend
helping hand, by COO operating in a
united and vigorous effort to reduce the
size of the cotton crop, and increase the
home supply of corn, immense benefit
to all is obliged to be the result
w. Ct. VINCENHELLER,
j. H. Hicks,
O. P. ROBERTSON.