The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-10-21
FARMERAND PLANTER.
Ideas Gathered During an Extern
sfvc Tour Among the SOUTH
ern Farmers.

farmers we have been impressed with
the outlook of cheer that largely pre-
walls.
The crops are very different in the
promise and yield. Where rains have
come in time, quantity to suit, the
promise is for fair yield of cotton.
But much the larger part of the cot
ton crop is damaged beyond hope
Some came up too late, some has never
come up. Much of the older cotton is
very small. The rust is doing great
damage. The hollis are opening ahead
of time, consequently the lint is in
ferior. At this writing, middle OF Au-
gust, the condition IS such that no
well-founded estimate can be made.
One thing is certain, there is no pros
pect of a large yield. Very many are
laying-by the cotton for the second
time on account of the grass. Boil
worms are doing much damage. On
many thousands of acres one picking
will get most of the crop, unless a sec
ond crop is made. We think it safe
to say that large crop is not now in
sight or prospect.
what Shall the Farmers Dot
With all the lights before us we say
be very slow selling. A rush will
create false impression. A small
crop does not cause an immediate rise
in price. Heavy receipts will depress
the market. Hold on until you can see
what the crop will be. There is moth
ing to risk in doing SO. AS long as we
have the cotton in hand we are all
right. 1t is when we have neither cot
ton nor money that we are in trouble.
There is no better collateral than cot
ton if you need collateral. But if we
have been wise and avoided debt we do
not need any.
The manufacturer takes twelve
months to spin up a crop. We should
be twelve months in selling crop.
But some may say we must sell to pay
our obligations. That depends very
much on circumstances. If our crop
is short we must get good price or
suffer. The better price we get the
more of our debts we can pay.
We hope the most of us have not
mortgaged the present crop, that it is
our cotton; if SO, hold it. We will
have plenty of time to sell next spring
and summer.
Another Thing to DO.
Organize and build cotton factories
in every county where cotton isgrown.
Keep your cotton until your factory
starts and then get the added value of
the thread and cloth to increase your
profits. This can be done. Nobody
will be hurt by doing this. Every one
will be helped by it.
Add the spinning and weaving value
to your cotton and you will be able
to pay debts, lift mortgages, live well
and be happy. If you are in debt you
can not hope to pay out with cotton at
five cents. But spin that cotton and
make it worth fifteen to eighteen
cents and you will be able to do pay.
ing. Weave that cotton into cloths
worth from tbirty-six to seventy-two
cents per pound and you can pay
more debts, lift more mortgages, pay
cash as you go and begin to live.
Southern Buoyancy.
1t is wonderful to sec now hopeful
and expectant the southern character
is. In spite of all the rain of last fall
and winter, and the severe cold of Feb
ruary, and the dry weather that has
so largely prevailed, the average south
erner looks at the growing fields OF
August and the whitening harvest OF
September and October and feels
cbeered. He expects to do great dea
better next year.
But it is better and wiser to begir
to do better right now. Make this
present crop worth more before you
let it GO, and try to make another
Hold up your head, be cheerful ane
hopeful, but build . foundation fol-
hope to stand upon. Study how t.
say, 'ssee what have DONE" rather
than "what / am going to do"
Work Together.
The first and most important step il
to organize clubs. 1t matters not b,
what name you call Them. Get to
gethcr and work together. BY so do
ing you can accomplish very man.
things that individual Efforts can ney
er do.
You buy cheaper, you sell better
and above all, you make 1t fashionabl
to live within your meaEs and pay a
you go.
Perhaps the greatest drawback upo
farming as a life occupation is tn
loneliness that comes from isolation
which results from owning larg
farms. This is more hurtful in tn
south because we own larger farm
than do the farmers in other countries
And this very fact emphasizes the ne
cessity for any kind of an organization
that win bring farmers together TO
consultation and social intercourse