The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1898-03-26


years, and will no doubt do SO again.
The products Of all human efforts
are gradually growing cheaper,
and will continue to do so al
long as there is universal progress
equally distributed. Inventive genius,
skill and knowledge are for naught.
unless it enables that which represents
past, present and future endeavor to
purchase more of the necessities and
Injuries of life. Wen the manufac-
turer fails to produce goods to compete
in the open markets at a profit progress
compels him to make room for some
one who can. The farmer who can not
produce crops to sell on the markets at
profit must give way to those who
can. 1t oats at 20 cents and cotton at
i've cents can not be grown at profit
they will go higher. 1t is folly to bur-
den ones mind with the possibilities of
future prices and seasons; they are be-
yond our vision. We should first pro-
duce everything consumed at home as
near as practical, then select those
staple crops and stock best suited to
our tastes and locality, and then
give the full swing of our attention to
producing the largest yields with the
least expense five will do this, prac-
tice economy, steer clear of debt, bad
trades and bad habits, we will be doing
business at the old stand when all the
other pursuits and avocations of man
have faded in the gloom. Many are
hammering at the mortgage, but it
will not be cracked. As rule, the
man who lives in community for
several years and can not get supplies
without a mortgage is beyond the help
OF legislation or advice. The farmers
troubles are not in his avocation or
legislation, but within himself. He
lacks not brains, but ambition. To con-
centrate his mind upon his business
he considers hardly worth his while.
AT any village post Office surrounded
by farms you will see 20 political pa
pers handed out to one devoted to agri-
culture. Texas is pre-eminently farm
and stock country, but has only about
q half dozen papers devoted to these
pursuits The average farmer takes
dozen days of recreation where the
business man takes one. At the coun-
ty fairs, picnics, reunions, circuses, po-
litical meetings, Christmas holidays,
camp meetings and first Mondays, we
find the farmer recreating. while the
merchant is sitting around on double
duty. Is it any wonder he makes dol.
lars while the farmer makes dimes?
1.-The laborer is worthy of his hire
Brethren, let us pick our fiints well he
fore we fret. c. Slaughter, in Texas
Farm and Ranch.
Raise Rice.
The low price of cotton is compelling
many farmers to plant far less acreage
OF that staple, and to substitute such
crops as will enable them to raise their
own living at home and be independent
of the merchant.
Among these crops besides corn, are
sweet potatoes, COW peas, sorghum and
ribbon cane and rice And it is the
last mentioned crop that would urge
the farmers of the coast region to try
the coming season. Select a moist
piece of land, open burrows or bitches
~ viz AO"CA Poit W lct Oll tuc water,
when dry enough pillow deep, pulverize
and harrow in your seed-about three
pecks to the acre, sown broadcast like
wheat or oats. When three or four
inches high stop up bitches to retain
water ON the field, but regular rainfall,
such as will make a great corn crop,
will make fair crop of rice. The time
49, &c Ir~k
April and May being considered the
best months. In four or five months
the crop can be cut. If there is only an
acre or two, with hand sickle or cradle.
In Louisiana self-binding harvesters
are used. Fer home use no machinery
is needed, and harvesting and hulling
may be done by hand with simple home
made tools, which may describe later.
Farm and Ranch.