The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1902-05-29
FORSYTH MISSOURI a Yea
Profit ont of Loss.

The Republican thinks II worth whilc
10 reproduce the following article, con-
tanning much GOOD business sense from
the St. Louis Mirror Of recent date:
The humiliating hnrdships Of south
west Missourirand Northern Arkansas
farmers, who have been compelled 10
accept gifts Of food and money from the
the cities, will more than recompcnse
the suffering agrlculturists " they but
learn the lesson which the general
drought OF last year should teach them.
In region unprepared for irrigation,
no human foresight can iorestall the
destruction incident to n season OF with
ering weather, but there is n system OF
husbandry which will not only circum-
vent the dry blight Of rainlcss days, but
during times OF depressed markets, low
prices and oversupply, enable the wiso
husbandman TO keep his balance on tho
right side OF the profit and loss column.
Perhaps the farmer Of Missouri and Ar
kansas needed some such experience to
demonstrate the saluiary lesson that tho
ultimate southern states, the cotton belt,
had dinncd into them by successive
years OF 'cheap cotton" The remedy
is not n new ono, but II Is the first time
that the rich counties of Missouri and
Arkansas have suffered an acute attack
OF drought. diversified farming" has
become part OF the creed OF the Kan
sas Oklahoma, Indian Territory and
Texas ranchmnn, though II has required
years OF disappointment and suffering TO
destroy the traditions which he brought
from the eastern and southern states,
and force him at last into shrewd and
successful combat with the climatic
rigors OF his environment. That section
of the west which lies between the Ne
braska state line and the Rio Grande Is
not irrigated, 1t Is In the homo OF tho
'dry spoil" and Is yet handicapped with
Its early evil reputation. Last years
drought struck IL s.aggerer, but It's
farming population not only survived
the blow, but actually scored good pro-
fits on their crops. Corn was short but
they had Kafiir corn, sorghum, alfalfa
and cotton. These feed products will
grow anywhere, and for the large rails.
or Of wheat and corn they are the an
chors to windward which will enable
him to ride safely the storm OF demor-
allied markets and drought failures.
Cotton, for instance, though suffering
from las; years lack OF rain, brought so
good price that IL paid the raiser
The meal OF its seed enabled the own
ers OF cattle to hold their feeders and
fat,cn their young stock when the grass
was burned up and the corn gone. Tho
farmer who did not diversity was not
only compelled to let go OF poor condl-
toned live stock, but having failed with
his two staples, corn and wheat, he had
nothing left 10 tide himself and his fam
lily over the winter. The moral OF 1t all
is that In future, drought or no drought,
the agriculturlst who, like every deal
or In marketable products, cannot fore
cast the markets, must insure against
scarcity and depression in one or two
"spccialties" by supplementing them
with other crops that must prove both
a safeguard and source Of profit Sub.
ordinate lines Of specialties have car
riod many merchant through season
when staples were at discount and, in
the end, 1t is the application Of business
principles to the farm that must pro-
tect the intelligent, modern farmer from
precarious whims Of weather and spec.
ulator,