The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-12-30
AND PLANTER.
SOME ECONOMIC CROPS.
FARMERS should Pay More Attention
40 Crops that Make Heavy Re-
utrns With Little Labor.

upon the prosperity of the farmers.
The prosperity of the farmer depends
upon the-same conditions that render
the merchants prosperous. If the
merchant succeeds, he must sell his
goods for more than they cost him,
and in making up the cost he must
not only add the freight and carriage
to his invoice, but he must allow for
rents, clerk hire, insurance, taxes, etc.
So likewise with the farmer, in order
to prosper he must manage to sell his
cotton and other produce for more
than it cost him to make them, and
in counting up the cost he must add
for wear and tear of implements, wa
gons, machinery, labor. repairs, inter-
'est ON his investment, fuel consumed.
living, etc. There was Dutchman
once upon a time who was notorious
for selling his goods below cost, and
when questioned about it, and asked
why he did SO, his reply was that he
made money by it, because he sold so
many. Therefore, if we make any
money by selling our cotton for less
than cost, we must be sure and sell
stacks of it. But the Dutchman failed.
But l only make these preliminary
remarks TO draw attention to whot
] am sure we should devote more OF
our land to than we do now, and that
is to the cultivation of what we will
designate as economic crops, /. e.,
those crops that make heavy yields
with but little labor, and those that
remain long in use from one planting.
and to be more specific, l will say that
i refer to such things as alfalfa Tor
lucerne, which is one and the same),
red clover, orchard grass, red-top
grass, rye grass, meadow oat grass.
ETC., as some of the long-standing or
perennial crops, and beggar-weed, Au-
stralian salt bark and burr clover as
ANIMALS, and lastly but not least, ruta-
bagas, mangel-wurzels, parsnips and
carrots as heavy producers, with very
little labor.
l will not undertake to discuss each
of these crops separately at this time
for your valuable columns are too well
filled TO admit of it. j can only pay
my respects to one or two of them for
the present, taking up lucerne first.
As forage and greenfield plant
consider this unsurpassed by any of
our hardy perennials. ! am satisfied
it win grow profitably in every south
err state, and on any land that will
make corn or oats. When once planted
IL remains on the ground many years.
never encroaching, but remains first
where you plant it, and Ii you ever get
tired of it You can easily destroy it
with pillow, and your land is better
than ever. Its roots penetrate in many
instances over ten feet deep, subsoil-
ing, perishing, and enriching the soil.
From three to five cuttings may be
made from it annually; it is ever
green, not growing much of course
during extreme cold weather. 1t grows
about three feet high, stands erect, a
beautiful light-green, luxuriant plant.
1t is in its best stage for hay when
the most of it is in full bloom. The
hay is the equal of any to be found
among all the plant family. 1t is the
first thing to give your horses or cat
tie green food toward the spring
months. When fed to cows green OF
dry. il imparts rich yellow color and
fine flavor to the butter. Plant it any
where you please without regard to
soil. having an eye to convenience. The
better the soil the better the crop.
~ Tho Won xx-ba, xbe
ground can be worked. September
and October are the best months in
which to plant, and February, March
and April next. Prepare land by
thoroughly breaking as deep as prac-
ticable, harrow until fine and even, lay
off rows with narrow short scooter Il
to IS inches apart, in which drill. Il
pounds seed per acre, covering very
lightly. and your work is done.
Small paintings in the town garden
may be put in with pointed garden
hoe. Large paintings may be put in
with seed drill which opens burrows
sows seeds and covers all at one CD.
Grafton. Neither sun, drought nor cold
hurts it except when young. l plant
ed two rows year ago on naked clay
land with hard-pan clay subsoil as
a test. 1t survived the past fearfully
severe winter and Notwithstanding
the unprecedented hot summer sue
ceeding, / have cut in three times
and it is now ready to cut again. Blu
this is enough for lucerne for the
rresent Let us saw q word or so be-
fore we quit about rutabagas.
This is one of the crops that give:
an incense yield from very little labor
and is most desirable product fol
the table and for stock during the win
ter months 1t is also a profitable