The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-12-31
Short Crops Due to Poor Methods
Not to Providence.

! No factor influences the yield OF
farm crops of any country so much
as the climatic c6nditions under
which they must be grown. The COM
mon belief that Providence, or luck,
controls the outcome of our field
crops has been too general in the past.
! Agricultural statistics show great
variations in the yield of crops from
one season to another, and there can
be no disputing the fact that weather
conditions largely cause this varia-
ton.
We wish to make the point that
these differences have been too great,
and could have been largely avoided
by giving attention to few of the de-
tails now being taught in our better
methods of farming.
| We would impress upon our people
that Providence should not be blamed
for failing to do that which we
should have done, and which was en-
. tirely in our power to do 1t has been
true Ii farming, as in other vocations
of life, that whey We have done our
part well the results that follow will
not be bad enough to warrant the
blaming of some one else for the fail
ure.
n A few of the essential points to be
e observed in overcoming the unfavor-
: able conditions 4 which crops are al
y ways more u. subject are as fol
= lows:
e l. Complete and suffrient drainage
l. of lands where there is heavy rain
S fall, and WI re there is any tendency
to accuI too much water in the
soil. IT i'll prevent waite soggine
in wind = d VIII allow early and
l. thorough preharatidloin the fail and
# spring.
a 2. Deeper plowipg and subsoiline
S will help take off surplus water when
= too WI, and serve as a reservoir fol
storing water for the plants use in
dry I father
g. when the soil is prepared early
4 it warns up sooner, and helps the
d young plant to a vigorous start, and
d the crop will be very much easier te
n cultivate.
e & Frequent and shallow cultivation
J. viii preserve moisture, and protec'
II tA plant roots from injury which car
T. nat be done by the deepe methods o
e Culture.
# 3. Growing of such crops as fill oul
e soils. with humuS, and give them ar
A. kcpportunity to collect fertility from
II 1.-THE air and other sources to store il
e the soil for use by the following
If crops: Legumes- beans, pea
nuts, etc, are best for this purpose. L
we will add to our lands besides these
q humus making crops all the stable ma
e nure that we can obtain, the result:
" will be much more satisfactory.
6. Good seed of some early ma
turing variety, of cotton, and one tina
is known to be adapted to local condi
tions, will greatly increase the yielt
q and prevent many disappointments
2 We know that uniform type and pro
ductiveness can be had in nearly al
plants by proper attention to seed sc
lection.
s. 7. Study the peculiar nature, need
Id and adaptation of your soils. Apply t
them the principles that experienc
and common sense, as well as science
have shown to be necessary to secur
maximum results from their cultivs
Etion. Do not try to grow cotton o
q lands specially adapted to corn @
Ia other crops Find what elements ar
"a deficient in your soils. Plant such a
will aid nature in restoring these eli
ments, for chat is the cheapest wa
:. to get them.
- When we realize that agriculture |
its broadest sense is governed b
sound underlying principles whicl
when carried out, will greatly reduc
e. all element of doubt or chance in II
De final results, regardless of outside col
~ ditions, we will be getting up on
plane worthy of the great calling "
tn represent as agriculturists.
ar On the other hand, if we continu
the haphazard. careless methods s
common among us, and do not gi,
our profession the attention and stud
.. it deserves, we will continue to hay
u short crops in unfavorable seasons.
~ Some will still attribute their IA
ure to Providence and the weathe
when in reality the fault is large
due to their neglect of plain duty
themselves and their country.
nc L. E. PERRIN,
- - U. 8. District. Agent. for s. W. L
s :, Dessuap. La.