The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-05-15
FARMER AND PLANTER.
GETTING THERE.
Some Suggestions to Farmers Who Are q
the Ladders Foot.


some suggestions to Farmers Who Are at
the Ladders Foot.
This article is neither intended nor
expected to interest farmers who have
already achieved success unless 1T be to
pleasantly remind them of the means
by which they have reached the envi-
able position of successful farmer
one who owns. free of incumbrance, as
much good land as he can utilize, who
has his farm well improv ed, well
stocked and is out of debt. Nor to in
terest those who have inherited the
success which others have achieved.
There is a larger class of farmers we
hope to reach and benefit-who are at
the bottom of the ladder, with q foot
upon the first round and are anxiousiy
looking up. If any such have health,
common sense, no expensive or demon
alizing vices, and good wife, there is
no reason why he may not, within a
reasonable time, be numbered with
successful farmers. At the outset he
must realize that whoever obtains sue
cess in any honorable calling must pay
the market price, which is industry and
self-denial. He must work Industrious
iy, live plainly, spend judiciously and
plan wisely, and all with the main OBJ
Ject in view of owning home. II may
he well to rent land for a year or two
until he has time TO survey the pros
pect o'er," so that he win make no mis-
take in the selection of a permanent
home. In such cases great care should
be taken in the selection of land
lord. There are good and bad
landlords, and all means of inforna-
ton should be utilized before making
a choice. Having selected the right
sort of landlord, make arrangements to
remain as long as you please, for if you
are the right sort of tenant there will
be no trouble about it; your tenure will
depend upon your own volition. But
let your ambition reach beyond the
condition OF tenant. Lettenantry be
only a stepping-stone to the mastery
of home, held in fee simple to be be-
queathed to your children when the
proper time arrives. AS soon as the
way can be distinctly discerned, pur-
chase n piece of land. 1t need not be a
wide domain, but should be as much as
YOU need, and not an acre more. Ex-
cept for the purchase of home avoid
debt as You would the bubonic
plague. Having made purchase, and
a partial payment, when the struggle
begins in earnest; but there is an in
centive to labor and a joy in it the con-
firIned tenant can never know. From
this point the plan should involve in
dustry, self-denial and careful saving.
1t is better to live for time in tent
or dugout on your own land than in
six-room cottage on the land of an
other. Once the home is paid for, the
rest is easy. Just at this point may be
INDUCED the only extravaganza in the
entire process. When the last pay
ment is made and the mortgage can
celed, q feast, to which friends and
neighbors should be invited, with
music and merry-1naking may
very appropriately be enjoyed, for
it is time long to be remembered. In
improving farm adopt no temporary
malSeshifts. Build as If for posterity.
Let every post be set deeply and every
board nailed on to stay until it rots.
This should apply to every sort of
structure from chicken coop to a
barn, from wash-shed to modern
dwelling. This should be done not be-
cause it is the Eupopean plan, but be-
cause it is true economy. Some people
spend half of their lives making repairs
or suffering for want of them. A
good share of mechanical ingenuity is
a useful endowment. A man without
it may become good farmer, but with
it he would be a better one. One who
can do his own mending, his own
building, his own rough blacksmith
ing, mend his own harness or half-sole
his own boots, will be enabled thereby
to save many dollars and many days
time, which otherwise would be spent
or lost Then let the surplus earnings
be devoted to the Improvement of the
home, rather than the purchase of
more land; to the education of the chill
dren rather than providing for their
future physical needs. In this way one
can, with certainty. provide for a
smooth descent of the decliyity of life,
and q peceful rest at the foot, and his
children will rise up aud call him
blessed.-Texas Farm and Ranch.