The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1898-1913, 1902-04-30
Thoughts for Farmers.
FROM COTTON TO CATTLE.

FROM COTTON TO CATTLE.
Poor crops, low priced cotton and
the oyerfowing OF bottom lands are
causing many farmers to turn their
attention to cattle. 1t is wise corr
clusion they have reached and they
should wisely make the change.
Such a change is IL revolution and it
cannot be accomplished III II day.
rhe first of April in q certain town in
the upcountry a man was inqulrlnS
for one or two good milch COWS. lie
said he knew where there were some
young ones with first calves, but
they were so poor that they could
hardly stand up. The owner Of these
heifers was not ready to go into the
cattle business. If one wishes to
raise fat cattle for beef he should Sc
cure thoroughbred bull OF one OF
the large breeds. He should then
keep only as many cattle as he can
feed well through the wiater and up
to the first of May. The cheapest
roughage for cattle is hay made from
pea vines and sorghum, unless ono
has a meadow well set in good grass
that requires no reseeding. Ii one
has no winter pasture it will require
about two tons of hay to feed two
or three year old cow six months.
That hay will be worth about $50,
but the manure, il properly cared
for, will be equal to ton OF the best
commercial fertilizer. IL q farmer
| wishes to raise milch cows he should
get the Jerseys or Guernseys. The
Holstein is better suited for those
who sell the milk as they give more
than the other two breeds. Get the
best breeds. Do not attempt to win
ter more than you can feed well. DO
not oyercrowd your summer pasture.
Work at this business by degrees.
THE FARMERS ARE UNITED ON COTTON.
Reports from various counties OF
the State indicate that farmers are
buying much more commercial fertil-
izer than they inten1sa To dn. The
meaning Of that is that they are go-
ing to increase the cotton area. There
is no combination on the part OF far
mers, but there is sort OF teiepathic
com munication and transmission Of
ipformation-a kind OF wireless In
tercourse which brings them to act
with unanimity when it comes to
cotton. All the cotton farmers are
doing lust what the farmers Of this
State are. They figure 1t out that it
is cheaper to make 9 cent cotton and
buy flour, bacon and corn from the
West. Let the farmers stick to their
plan Of raising more corn and hay
than usual, even il cotton should 60
to IL cents. Look at the condition
today, More than half the farm ami
mails of the State are not properly
fed. Empty cribs mock their owners
as the wind whistles through the
cracks. Cattle are in poor condition.
The only hope is to raise an abund-
ance Of grain and hay. A farmer OF
the State said few days ago that he
sowed five acres Of land last October
liz oats, applying about $50 pounds
of commercial fertilizer TO the acre.
He expected to make $50 bushels o.
oats on the lot. The frosts, freezes
~ and hoods which lasted continuously
. ..res irCL:hs, killed the oats. Abou
Itne Grs. Of April his foreman sal
that he would like to plant that &
!. acre lot In cotton for he could max
three bales with the addition OF lit
20 Ser,,lizer. At s cents that cotton
would have brought $l20. The cos
would have been $75; leaving s45 ant
!. the seed net. The owner OF the lan(
said "No, let it alone. 1t is moi
washing. Sow a bushel Of peas tt
: the acre about May 20 70 June l
You can save ten tons OF hay worth
in the barn $3.50, at a cost Of S3O
That would give o net profit OF Sl2O
The land would be in better. condi
l., ton than if planted in cotton.
Another interesting hay problem
is proposed for those farmers who
think that cotton is the only thing
worth planting. Suppose a farmeI
has a ten-acre lot which under favor
able conditions would make 10 bale
of cotton worth at cents 500. Tn
,. seed at present prices would be $40
The cost Of making and marketing
the crop would be 5 cents poun(
- which would leave net profit o
1925. The cost Of pea crop on TN
same land would be about 700 inciud
ing baling. Land that would make
bale of cotton to the acre would max
/ "a tons of pea vine hay, or % tons OF
the 10 acres, worth $l5 ton or $32'
lr net profit. Let the farmers OF tn
State think on these problems.
FARMERS ARE CONSUMERS NOT PRO
y DUCERs.
Won will be convinced that farmer
are consumers if you will take you
stand any day at the county seat {
l railway station. Ycu will obserI
scores of empty wagons rattling int
III: town. II anything is brought fc
sale it is a little wood or a few egg
or fowls, the latter raised by the w
ou men. They haul out guano, ho1
bscoa, clothing, agricultural lmpl
ments, shipped cabbage, eann
; goods. seed potatoes, the "chelnie-u ~
,ure.' glucose syrup, corn n'et
hsv. rocking chairs and baby ca
riases. They expect few bales
cotton in the fall to pay for the
supplies. 1t is rare thing to see
nj farmer bring in something to 81
every time he comes to town. IN
will never be able to assert their Inc
Or nendence until they become p'odr
ers instead Of consumers. Let the
raise to sell. Owing to the mul
nIication of towns there is a pret
fair market in reach Of nearly eve
. farmer. BY making cotton the 81