The Colfax chronicle., 1903-07-04
FARMER AND PLANTER.
ECONOMY VS.. srINGINEsS.
The Former IL often Considered as
synonomous with the Latter. Bat
IN Really Not Related.

1ncTe Is no business, rs 1dr II
known, that is carried on with so lit
tie regard for the principles of econ
omy as farming, though considera-
BILE progress has been made in this
feature of the business in recent
years. But it is fact, even at this
day, that there are enough leaks on
an average farm in the south to con-
vert a respectable possible profit into
a disreputable certain loss. Many
farmers dispute this doctrine, and as
proof alleged that they can not be
more economical. as they live on tie
cheapest of food, dress plainly, and
deny themselves all of the ordinary
comforts of life. They can't even e.,
to a farmers institute, because they
would lose two whole days from
work. and in many cases would have
to spend as much as $l.75 in cash. fll
of this merely shows that they do
not know what the word economy
means. They confound it with stingi-
ness, and consider that the miser Is
the champion economist. True farm
economy means the best possible use
of every resource and every product
of the farm. 1t Is not economy to
burn up large rick Of wheat straw
so the ground it occupies nHy be
planted in cotton. The straw In
worth more as cattle feed and stable
bedding than the cotton that could lie
grown on forty times as much land
as the rick occupied. II is not erono-
my to grow . crop of corn and har.
vest only the ears, for the stalks and
blades are worth more than half as
much as the grain as a feed for live
stock. 1t is not economy to leave
implements in the weather to rust
and warp and rot, when by proper
housing they might be made to last
four times as long, and do better
work. 1t is not economy to feed ,ut
hay to cattle and corn to hogs on the
ground, and often in mud, for large
pert of is is wasted. 1t is not economy
to grow a lot of feed and have no
stock to consume it. 1t is not ecOu-
omy to deny ones self and family any
good thing, because it costs dollar
or two, for the waste of every side,
If utilized, would pay for these things
and many more. 1t was not economy
on the part of farmers some years
ago, who saved nothing of their cot
ton crops except the lint, throwing
the seed in piles to rot. II Is not
economy to deny ones self any means
of gaining agricultural knowledge,
such as farmers institutes, farmers
associations, agricultural
books and agricultural papers, and
short and long courses at our A. and
NJ. colleges, for the knowledge thus
gained would enable them to reform
their methods and inspire them with |
y spirit of emulation that would en-
able them to prosper as they lever |
did before. by learning how others do |
things well that he has been doing |
badly heretofore. If planting. culti-
vating. harvesting and utilizing crops |
ire done judiciously. arranging TO |
save all the products that can be put |
10 use. and put them to the best use
possible. farming would become more |
attractive because more profitable. A
few years after the civil war the writ
sr began farming on raw prairie land,
md knowing that sirups and molasses
we're scarce and dear, planted ten
'cres of sorghum and made with his I
)wn hands a wooden cane mill and an
All the sirup was sold
1t good price at the evaporation
But the yield per :cre was not sat
sfactory on account of lack of power
n the mill. The skimmings and the
of the evaporator and the
Utensils were saved, and the result
vas. 2S4 gallons of prime vinegar was
made from this waste and sold in the
own of Hampstead for cash enough
o pay for a good iron cane mill, and
hus a good profit was made from sir
Up for several years. For ever bar
el Of sirup made there was about
ourteen gallons of vinegar, then
ycrth go cents per gallon-quite an
tenn TO come from what was before
wasted.-Texas Farm and