The times., 1899-01-27

CnrsOnizinE the Farms.
A Southern writer on economics advises
the farmers of the South 10 "Carsonize"
their farms. This process is not in any
respect like that lately known Hobson-
izing being much more sensible and
profitable. The term is derived from the
name of one Carson, a farmer who has, it
appears, made his farm yield him between
twelve and fifteen per cent on his invest
ment during the past year. In the face of
all the things which are said to the effect
that farming does not pay, this fact is
interesting
1t is true that TO a certain extent,
farming has ceased to pay. owing TO the
constantly fuctuating values in CONNER
cial life. In some parts of the coun-
try farming is less profitable than it
used TO be. owing to a variety of causes.
Here, perhaps, the competition of the
great Western farms has made it impos-
sible 10 raise wheat, corn, or sheep with
any profit; there. it has become difficult
10 secure efficient labor: in some other
place the land is actually worn out But
after all, there is no real reason why
farming should be less profitable to the
individual farmer now than it has been in
the past.
The method which this writer on eco
nomics has dubbed "Carsonizing'' is moth
ing more or less than variety of crops.
As most people know. the small farmer
of the South has been devoting himself
mainly to the cultivation of cotton. In
many cases he has obtained land either
by rent or on deferred payments. paying
his debt to the landlord in cotton instead OF
money. This way of living results in his
being perpetually involved in debt, part
of his crop going 10 the owner of the
ground, and the rest to pay bills at the
country store. AS this store is the only
place at which the tenants for miles
around can trade, the merchant has things
very much his own way. The outcome of
it all is that the small farmer, and his
wife, and his children. are working most
OF their time for mere living wages some
times without even the chance of educa-
tion.
The trouble on the abandoned farms of
New England is somewhat different The
New Englander has been crowded out of
the grain and cattle business by the West
ern men, who can supply the markets of
Boston and the smaller cities more cheaply
than the farmer who lives within a hun
dred miles. In addition to this. these
same Western farms are managed largely
by New England men who have gone West
TO take the chance of making money.
Time was when the country boy could go
n he ftf mn With
a fair chance of rising to a position of
good wages and some responsibility; but
the influx of foreign immigration has
changed all that New England farms
have thus been drained OF their young
blood for generation or more. and as
the old residents patherically say. there
is nothing 10 keep the young folks at
home" Villages which had once social
life of their own. with some educational
advantages, are now half deserted. The
country academy has been replaced by
the high school. The soil. never very
fertile, is worn out, and cannot compare
in productiveness with the rich earth of
the South and West
Yet there are many New England vii
lages in which farmers make a fair living:
but they do not succeed in this by per
sistently raising corn when corn is not in
demand. They raise their own fruit. and
vegetables, and cattle. They never spend
their scanty little store of money for
bacon. They dispense with the middle
man, and eat the product of their own
labor without being taxed for It, They
must depend on the country store for
clothing -four, sugar small luxuries, and
tools; but there many farmers who
are also blacksmiths or shoemakers, and
there is not much sale for ready-made
clothing in these supporting little
towns When the farmer can buy a thing
cheaper than he can make It. he does So
but he looks carefully after his dollars
This style of living is not luxurious. but
il is independent, and there is no earthly
reason why the mortgage ridden farmer
of the South and West should not adopt
1t to some extent. 1t is not much trouble
to raise ones own chickens, hogs, Vege-
tables. and fruit, and il saves great
( deal of money. The farmer may not have
twelve per cent OF cash return on his in
/ vestment at the end of the year but he
Will have had more comfort in that year
than usual, and that is something.