St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-06-21
FARMER AND PLANTER
SHOULD FARMERS ORGANIZE ,
A Question That Has Frequently
Been Answered, and Always
In the Attractive.

This question has been often an
swered 1t is always answered in
the affirmative. Every one is willing
to admit that they ought to be organ
lied. Then why are they not organ
ICED? No answer can be given to this
except that it is the force of habit
that prevents. They have been so
long pulling each man for himself
that they have learned to stand
alone. When the country was new
and the homes far apart there was
some excuse for this. But now many
changes have come. Population is get.
ting denser, and there is necessarily
more dependence upon one another.
Competition is sharper. Opposition is
felt more keenly. The struggle for
existence is getting keener. All other
trades have not only felt the need
for organization, but they have Or
ganized. And without intending it,
these organizations all work more or
less against the farmer. 5Self-preser-
walton and self-protection make this
result. f.--ss4sssgEE1 @
Manufacturers combine IN order to
sell their goods at higher figures.
Merchants combine so as to buy
cheaper from the farmer and at the
same time sell higher to the farmer.
Now there is but one remedy left
for the farmer, and that is to COM
bine to protect themselves both in
buying and selling. The question Of
selling did not use to formerly trou-
BILE the farmer. He was only con-
cerned to produce as much as posi-
BILE. But now the selling is as i'm
Fortant, if not more SO, than the pro-
duction. The truth that no man
iveth unto himself is getting more
and more apparent as the facilities
for trade increase. as. Ft
There are two great questions
which now confront the farmer.
First. How can produce the cheap
est and the best? Second. How can
I sell to the best advantage? In the
present complexed condition of affairs
no one man can sanely and satisfac-
torily answer these. True combined
intelligence all is needed to answer
and keep these questions answered
rightly. EE& #E
All great organizations are made
OF numerous smaller ones. So the
only effective way will be for the
farmers of each community to get
up small local clubs, and then these
clubs must keep in touch with each
other. In the local clubs they can
discusc the local conditions and
needs. They can decide what and
how much to plant SO as to avoid
crowding the market with any single
crop at any particular time. The
benefit of constant interchange of
ideas along these lines will be very
great, and grow as the thing is kept
up. Such clubs, when well conducted,
are real schools. Reading, hearing,
thought and discussion are the chief
sources of education. If to these
we add habit of close observation
we have all the elements Of uni
versity course. In addition to the in
formation gained from each other
we can secure the help of specialists
in any particular line we wish to in
vestigate. Professors, scientists and
experts in all the varied branches of
agriculture can be secured to give
lectures at such times as will suit the
convenience of neighborhood. Organ.
ize In your community at once and
trv it,-Southern Cultivator