The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-04-18
FARMER AND PLANTER.
SEASONABLE WORDS
For the Beginning of the Years Actua
Work In the Fields.

For the Beginning of the Years Actual
Work In the Fields.
In this month. except for unforeseen
delays, the main body of the cotton
crop throughout the south will be put
into the ground, and while most farm |
ers have decided on the number OF
acres they intend to plant, it is not too
late perhaps to utter a word of warn
ing to those who contemplate putting
In a large area at the expense OF the
more important provision crops. We
visedly, and as supporting this asser-
tion, we point to the general condition
of the farmers to-day, as compared
with what it was at this timo last year
and the year before. Then they were
hampered in their preparations for an
other crop by lack of sufficient sup
plies for man and beast; to-day the
barns and storehouse groan under the
accumulation of food of all kinds.
Though the profits on the past years
operations may not have reSchcd a
high figure, farmers, as rule, are now
resting secure, while in all other occu-
pations and professions there is a fe-
verish anxiety and apprehension. Hav-
ing taken no chances, they have forth
fled themselves against market fluctu-
ations, and thus their investment is
more certain than If placed in stock
companies and syndicates. no one
will deny that this is great and IA
vorable change, and yet there is dis
position, in some quarters, by reduc-
ing the provision crop and charging
on cotton, to cut off the only means
which will maintain us in our posi-
ton of assured security. The dispo-
sitiou to purchase mules and guano
is usually an indication of an in
creased cotton acreage. To those
men who have already invested in adj
ditional stock and fertilizers for the
purpose of planting largely in cotton,
we would urge the following reasons
why they should pause and reconsider
their plans: In the first place if each
farmer assists in keeping down the
cotton acreage, he, to that extent, in
creases the chances of profit for all.
On the other hand, if there is gen.
cral and large increase in cotton pro-
tuction, the individual farmers who
restrict their acreage to reasonable
bounds stand less chance of loss, should
the price fall below the cost of pro
duction, which it almost inevitably
will, than those who plant heavily In
the hope that by some means Proyi
dcnce will bless their lack of business
sagacity and save them from the con
sequences of their folly.
Another cogent reason for limitcd
cotton crop, and full, even super
abundant provision supply, is the un
settled condition of national affairs the
world over. Should the present dis
turbed relations between european
governments result in conflict, no one
can predict the extent to which, eithel
as to time or geographical boundary
hostilities might reach, still less coul(
we estimate the disastrous effects Il
our immediate agricultural interests
The mere rumor of war between Ger
many and England caused the pro
vision markets in Chicago to advance
several points, with a corresponding
depression in cotton prices at othe
places.
The following figures, taken iron
the report of the department of agri
culture, give comparative estimate o
the corn crop of the south for thrc
yeas: 1893, 435, IA 700 bushels; 1891
ass, 90: bushels; 1905, Coz Cos. 0l
bushels. The estimated grain crop c
the south for 1895, including corn, oat
and wheat, will make grand total c
over zoo, 600, 900 bushels.
As result of this large provisio
crop, and the better prices for cotto
following the reduced area for 1s9
everything has taken on brighte
aspect, and farmers all over til
country are in better condition tina
for years. Experience and commo
sense both urge the obvious concl'
sion, but will farmers profit by the o.
portunity which their vantage groun
gives them? WIN they raise the
bread and meat and cotton at prof
or will they simply plant cotton
order that others may reap the benefi
The coming month must answer the
questions. May the decision be sut
that the farmers will come out on Il
winning side, when the results a
summed up at the close of ls9e.-Sout
ern Cultivator. ~