The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-05-13
LAURENS. 3. c.. May 18, 1908.
Farmers Opportunities.

Farmers Opportunities.
THE ADVERTISER has repeatedly said
that numbers of thrifty farmers are
saving money now. The intelligent,
Industrious farmers, as g class, are
making more Roadway than the mem
bers of any other profession In this
part Of the country. They are taking
care OF their lands, improving them
steadily and at the same time produce
ing larger crops each year. However.
the production of cotton, corn and
other grains does not exhaust the OPP
portunities of Laurens farmers.
There never has been q time when q
Laurens farmer could not raise q few
beeves and sell them at a profit. Ten
or twelve years ago, there IA a profit
Beef can be produced at as small cost,
or eve smaller, now than then. The
use of cotton seed hulls and meal has
been introduced generally add the peo-
pie understand more about grass grow
ing. Twelve years ago bsef sold here
at from six to ten cents the pound. Ten
cents was the price for the best steake.
Now the price is from ten to fifteen
cents the pound. In other words, the
price Of beef has increased at least 25
to so per cent. and the cost, to the
farmer, Of producing beef has GER
tainly not increased at all. Twenty-Five
per cent profit net yer the cost Of pro-
duction is as much as one may as a
rule expect in anything.
Nevertheless, butchers in this town,
have actually not been able lately to
buy beeves in the county to supply the
local market and Laurens people have
been eating Western beef. This has
not been wholly due to q failure of
Laurens farmers to raise beeves. Many
farmers have found it profitable to sell
their beeves elsewhere. 1t seems plain
though that not enough beef is raised
In the county. Good profits are sure.
The producer is not dependent on the
local market-although the prices are
now high and promises to continue
high. Beef, like cotton, can always
find a buyer anywhere in the world.
For the last few years the prices have
been tending constantly to taller fig
ures.
Three or four years ago ''spring
chickens brought 12t to Is cents here.
Sometimes, very early in the season, a
few people gave 20 cents, but the price
soon dropped. This year spring chick
ems are bringing 25 cents and perhaps
80 has been offered occasionally. The
price viii probably drop later but it
will not drop to 12t. In short, the price
of this fowl has increased at least 33t
per cent. Nor is the producer de-
pendent on this market. In Augusta
and Columbia, Savannah and Charles
ton, chickens will bring 25 cents on the
average the year round-perhaps 30.
We believe that q farmer after study
ing the business and mastering it,
could raise and sell 10, 900 chickens in
a year with lees labor, on smaller CAPT
tai and at larger profit than he can
raise and sell fifty or ffty,ive bales OF
cotton at 8 cents the pound. The pos.
sibility of cotton dropping from 10
cents, the prevailing price to 5 cent?, =
80 per ce~nt--always exists. There is nc
possibility of the price Of spring
chickens dropping from % cents to 10.
Meanwhile, there is as much money In
eggs as in chickens.
The Laurens farmer who does not
make a living and accumulate some
thing would not make a living or ac-
cumulate in any trade or profession.
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