St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-10-01
WHERE COTTON MONEY! GOES.
Many Solid Improvements ana =
Rise in Wages Result From
High Prices.

With about $3.50 O00, 900 more to its
credit than in any previous year in its
history, the south finds it necessary
to pause and think awhile before going
on with its development. This esti-
mate is based on the increase Of reve-
nue. from cotton, to say nothing of the
increased yields of grain, hay, cane,
etc., as we'll as the interests Of stock
raising, which is growing as no other
industry of this section. The increase
in the price of cotton alone gives sur
plus of SIS each to the sixteen millions
of inhabitants of the eleven cotton
growing states. This is no small item
in the way of extra change" especially
when we consider that only small
percentage of three or four OF the
states inhabitants are engaged in cot
ton raising. 1t therefore follows that
the real surplus is far in excess of the
amount named when we consider only
actual growers.
The result of this state of affairs is
plainly apparent on all sides, and the
observant stranger may note the chan
ges for the better. New dwellings, new
barns, new stores and new public
buildings are a feature in the rural
districts, and are resulting in much
good wherever they have been estab-
lished. There is also an increasing in
terest in the construction of good
roads and the extension Of tho rural
free delivery of mails and the improve
ment of the rural telephone service. It
is significant indication that the
more man has the more he wants.
When awakened to the condition Of his
existence, he moves around to seek out
new ways Of Improvement.
The trend Of these Improvements,
while directed considerably to public
utilities. is more largely devoted to ad-
vancing agricultural methods. The
clearing Of the fields so as tot. OF
the working of improved implenle( 10
one feature of the advancement no.
Then there is the mapping out of t. /
farm, in which Investigation and rot
tation are given attention. On many
southern farms different characters OF
soils are found, and farmers are con-
sidering the adaptability of the soil to
the crop intended. This means at least
a partial solution to the restoration
problem, as many of the so-calleG
WORKOUT fields still contain much of
the fundamental elements Of fertility
necessary to the successful culture Of
certain, crops. One of the difficulties
of the situation is Just how to deter
mine what crop to plant on each plot.
There are Just Two ways to take-one
is chemical analysis OF the soil; the
other, experimentation, Is equally sat
isfactory. This forms one of the most
fascinating details Of diversified agri-
culture, and, while it may have had
its origin in medieval times, 1t has
been practised only of late years in the
south. We now see mapped farms
showing the terracing. Indicating the
lay of the land and distribution of va
rious crops
Another effect of the increase in the
medium is the increase IN
the price offered TO labor, which is now
20 to Is per cent above the price given
last season. Despite the extra induce
ments extended to farm workers, there
is now an unparalleled scarcity OF help
The world is calculating on bumper
crop of cotton from the south this year.
and no doubt every effort will be put
forth by growers to increase the pro-
duction, but it is now generally-rec-
ognized fact that it takes a joint CO.
operative movement between propitious
seasons and IL months of unceasing Ia
Dor to accomplish such result.
Just how far this movement will be
continued 1t is impossible to say, but
a proverb has been gaining ground in
the cotton belt the last three or four
years: 1.-The less cotton you have, the
more money you have" It is, Of course,
foolish to say that there is not world
of profit in cotton when anywhere from
$40 to 500 worth is grown on an acre,
but It can be truthfully said there are
other branches of agriculture that are
paving cutie as handsome dividends as
cotton farming, with less outlay in the
way of labor and incidental expenses.
Included under this head are hay farm
ing and stock raising, which require
little labor. The one
drawback to livestock farming is the
lack of fences, but this is being rapidly
overcome.
The financial condition of the south
is such as to render it almast entirely
and the increasing ten
dency to grow home products needed
[nsures continuance Of such a state
Of affairs; so it is hard to see why the
country should not enjoy many more
years Of unexampled prosperity. This
becomes doubly probable when we con-
slider the variety Of products grown
and the enlarged knowledge that is
formed by q closer acquaintance with |
and rotation.-Georgta
letter to Country Gentleman.
Dress Of Hindoo Women.
There has been no change in Indian
dress for 1000 yeara All |