Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-03-24

stock upon the farm rather than purchase and
cay when he had to promise payment out OF crop
which had not as yet been made have been watching
this phase Of country life in the South tor and
have come to the Conclusion that the advance system
lust as great mistake the part oil the merchant it
on the part Of the farmer for the following reasons
First the merchant takes great risks. which OF course
he tries to cover by increased charges But though
these charles are increased the staples of life not
such arles as high percentage OF proht will adhere to-
and the merchant practically trading gold Tor promise
to pay If the crop fails he obliged to and carry
and carry and possibly ultimately as IN thousands OF
cases. be obliged to take the farm for whchhe hasno
and which under boil weevi condians is Improbable
upon a tenant system
Under cash system there will be great reduction in the
sales Of staple foods such bacon potatoes beans
lard vegetables canned goods, hay corn etc. all articles
that carry low profits The farmer rarely hoarder OF
money and if he saves two hundred dollars more by
producing all his food supplies home he has that much
more to spend when his crop made. and it is cash
Under cash system the farmer will buy with his sur
plus more dry goods clothing shoes furniture ETC., tor his
family better teams, farm implements, wagons, bugges,
etc. on which hek is much greater proht tor the mer-
chants than on the staple articles Of food The merchant
can turn his money thirty days instead OF year len
per cent clear profit turned monthly better than l1O
per cent gain received annually Some OF the farmer S
increased income into permanent Improvement to en-
able the farmer to produce and spend more an
nualy.
Again there is something about raising cotton, tobacco
etc., to pay debt that the vitality OF armer and at
tc.e the quality OF his tiage 1t really lowers the grade
Of farming II upon the other hand the merchants will
Join with us urging farmers raise all their food sup
plies and try to prodcce by better taGe double the
per acre they now produce the result affects the
merchants will be this All business will be a
cash basis and the volume will be three four times
large from the farmers alone The advent OF more money
will bring diversified industries the farmers and
venuaIly will attract manufactures to the market towns
If there idle faras in the county instead OF calling
n 4 J.
grafton call meetings the farmers who know
the country and loyal to it to universally adopt the toll
lowing plan First provide their food supplies from
the farm Second double the prodnct every
acre under cultivation and let each worker on the farm
BY the use of better and TOOLS till three times as
many acres as present. not in the but in a
variety Of diversified and profitable crops. his would
cause an immediate demand for land and would
vide the money pay for it. This makes on
the farm more than times the industrial he now
49, and gives him love OF the farm. This better than
leave him in Encouragement aad secure immigrants to
come and buy him out.
should not speak SO positively only have observed
for quarter Of century that where the Southern mer-
chants have changed from advance system to cash
system they have prospered very much more than IN
former years and the number Of failures immensely less
OF course it is meant that there should be credits
but practically there should be necessity tor them until
the crop actually ready for the harvest then trade be-
comes cash transaction Or better STILL the farmer
get his money from the bank and pay cash in all cases, il
there is lack Of ready money.
The advance system bears down upon the cotton farmer
with special hardship. His crop either sold at or
is forced to the gin and the warehouse
loans If the cotton farmer not forced to sell to raise
money or pay debts he will his crop his farm and
market at his leisure which in the interest OF all parties
1t appears to me. therefore, that the farmer will i'm.
measuraby gain when he produces what he has hitherto
bought in the way Of living He is not compelled to sell
his crop Immediately the harvest. When he does sell
he trades cash The greater amount he has
is very helpful the family but the stimulus to his sell
respect is perhaps the important item to be con
sdered The merchant prospers by the greater volume
business and by the quick OF his money seems
to me that these points should be urged upon all the peo
S. A. KNAPP,
Special Agent Farmers Cooperative Demonstration Work