The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-06-10

human muscle.
In considering whether we shall use
any particular machine, we must first
satisfy ourselves that it will do the
work it claims to do. Then we must
consider the cost of doing this work az
compared with the cost of doing the
same by human labor or with cheap
er machine. Then we must settle the
question of our skill in using it. Very
many excellent machines require a
higher degree of skill than the average
farm hand has. Hence there is often
disappointment and loss, the fault be-
ing in the laborer, and not in the i'm
plement.
After considering all these ques-
tions, we are still often puzzled to de-
eide which to do-use human muscle
and cheap tools or more machinery
and less muscle.
This question is largely one of ecou-
omy. Which can do the work cheaper?
AS a general proposition, machinery is
cheaper. Particularly is this true
where large crops of anyone kind are
considered. Machines do not eat; they
need no clothes or expensive houses.
While not at work they do not cost
anything. Human muscle and animal
muscle require to be kept up by con-
slant food and care. Improved ma
chinery does more work, and general
ly better work, and often cheaper
work.
We do not hesitate to use up-to-date
gins and presses. The cotton-planter
has almost entirely substituted hand
planting. The oil-mill has become
necessity. The travelling thresher and
cleaner are everywhere recognized and
welcomed. Little by little machinery
asserts its claims. The question real
~ is not shall we use machinery? but
how much shall we use it?
This is the age of improved machin-
cry. Inventive genius is active and
constantly offering new implements.
The up-to-date farmer must use up
to-date tools. The extensive use of
hay presses would revolutionize south
ern farming The horse-rake and
mower can hardly be done without.
Manufacturers, railroad men and
every other branch of industry keep
right up with every new Improvement
in their respective lines.
: Farmers must do the same.
The successful use of improved inn
plements requires a higher order of
intelligence than the average farm Ia
borer has.
So wherever we look w efind the
farmer needs more education. He
needs to know something of many
things, and much of one thing. He
needs special education about farming.
The schools should give him the
groundwork and the colleges the
higher training. We need educated
mer on the farms all over the south.
We should see that the coming genar-
alton are better prepared than the
present.
As those now running the farms can
not go to school, the best they can do
is to learn by reading and by coop
erative organizations.
Farmers Institutes should be or
ganized in every community.
BY reading southern farm journal
of high order you can keep up with
the rapid improvements in agricul-
tural lines of all sorts. We say south
ern journal because you need home
paper. Much that is good in northern
publications for that section is not at
all suited to southern farms.
We should try to find out what will
help us to make our farms pay better.
Experience compared with experience
is very helpful in this matter. Get to-
gether in the institutes and compare
plans and discuss methods. Find out
the best and pursue these.
In every community there are some
successful men. Almost every man
succeeds in some one thing. Talking
over these things together will be o
good schooling.
When the seasons are so different
from the ordinary, we need to think
and to study and to change our plans
to suit the changed conditions. Where
we have been blowing deep, we must
now pillow very shallow. Instead of the
two-horse pillow and subsoiler, we need
now use the harrow. Light, swift cul-
tivation will be in order this spring.
Repeated borrowings will hasten the
growth of the crops which have start
ed SO late and need to be pushed for
ward.-Southern Cultivator.