The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-10-21
A Letter From One Who Has Tried
DiyersiaGatiOn..

the we'll known diversifiers. Is worthy
the consideration Of our readers. we
believe he. advances soms excellent
suggestions relative tot overcoming
tho present industrial difficulties. We
shall be. lpleased to, publish other s
views on the subject:
"What is. the quickest and most
permanent remedy for the difficulty
which is now Worrying the farmer, a.
80 those who are directly and indl.
rectly dependentlupon, the farmer and
his product,
"I'hose who are ia q position to
know and who are making al effort t."
solve the problem,. predict = common
relief through system OF diversified
farming, They have undertaken to
place the matter in Il simple form, d.
reetly before the people, advising
as we'll as warming one and oil. They
mention several products, which are
we'll known sources TO prosperity, es.
pecially in country where there is
favorable, natural. conditions, such
as,climate,. SOIL. railroads and gener'
supply of fuel near at hand. Stock
raising and dairviug are, as has been
explained, q, combined source OF
wealth, especially in q country where
nature has provided so abundantly
with natural grass and plenty of wa
ter, mild winters, and o nearby mark.
Ell
"Then why should We hesitate to
put;into operation some branch of
this, growing industryt
"But, you say, blooded stock costs
money, and the source of immediate re.
lief is barred by the extent OF time re-
quired to produce results. But the
dairy business looks better. and
quicken returns could be secured, pro.
viding all you had to do was to get
the right kind of COWS and milk them
and turn your milk into money. But,
in order to realize directly from this
source. you need a creamery also at
hand. where you can take your milk
as soon as, you have milked it, and
make it up into butter, then you can
buy back your OWN butter instead of
buying. that which has been brought
from a distance.
"You. can plant your fruit trees and
while they are growing to maturity,
you can raise two crops of vegetables
each year, on the same land, and your
trees will make a more rapid growth
by the continuous cultivation, which
is required to produce your vegeta.
bles. All that is required to insure
success is good drainage and sufficient
fertilizing. There are number Of
vegetables which are adapted to this
climate and soil, as we'll as fruit,
which eau be produced abnndantly ON
almost any Of the better drained lands
of this locality.
Then, the only thing which would
seemingly stand in the way of success
from these industries, would be the
difficulty OF obtaining ready and
reliable market. This could only be
assured through systematic organi.
cation, which would provide q ready
home market for all possible products,
such as green vegetables, fruits of all
kinds, as we'll as your milk, which
you could market direct from the COW.
ssIn order 10 put these plans into
successful operation, it would be nec-
essary to build a creamery, which
would take your dairy product and
pay you cash for it each month,-or q
canning factory that would buy your
vegetables, fruits and berries, paving
q substantial cash price for them and
at the same time, furnish employment
for from forty to fifty people.
"Was it not these very industries,
combined with q favorable climate,
which has made California what it is;
land there no better than ours; no
nearer a natural market; no better
climate-sell for from $500 to 1900
per acre? Why these conditions? Elk.
tensive advertising, with push and On.
terprise, did the biggest part. Then,
why can't our land be made worth,
say, at least one.half as much?
There seems to be no visible reason
why it should not.
"Now let us think these matters oy.
er and put into execution, at least
some of these propositions. If there
is will we can provide the way.
Now is the time to get busy. You
can't afford to wait until you are