The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-09-09
M NE I'M ar mr. AARXEW re

great American humorist, said N a speech before
the representatives Of the Associated Press that
everybody thought they could write a play, run
hotel or edit newspaper" He might have en-
iarged his list by adding become successful
farmer To put seed in the ground and see it
grow seems so easy that almost every one mag
ines himself capable of doing 1t successfully But
we know that farming, that is successful farm
ing, is both science and business One can
make Just as complete failure of farming as he
can OF practicfng law, running hotel or edit
ing newspaper. 1t would be worse than useless
TO encourage the Back to the Soil" movement II
II is not planned and executed in way that is
likely to be successful The natural yearning to
get back to the soil" that comes to most neonle
causes sucn movement to appeal to those who
are well qualified as well as to those who ara
poorly qualified successfully to do their mart az
cuitivators OF the SOIL To go back to the soil
is 10 the man OF ordinary means and under ordi.
nary circumstances something like pioneering
and not every man. by any means, is capable Of
pecoming successful pioneer. To undertake in.
oiscr1mnateiy. unscientifcally and without proper
metnod and organization, to get people back to
the SOIL Will result in more of failures than suc
cesses; IN more of injury than of good Buf thia
WORK can be accomplished in way that win ho
ootn enective and successful and which will in
crease the proportion of producers as compared
Win consumers All that is necessary for the
accomplishment of this result is that the same fore
sight and organization should be adopted IN start
ing the business of farming as is adopted in The
inauguration of any other business enterprise :,
men OF means. who also have the disnos;tior e.
neip tneir Fellow men. would realize that thew
could make good paying investment. as well 90
reneve distress and suffering by helping others
10 return to the soil in the right way the "bac 70
the soll' movement would then give promise :,
accomplishing all that its enthusiasts have cIo,,,
co ior IT. Such a movement must of course ~
under taken on bushes basis: upon a nIsn urh,ss
VIII promise not only profitable return ~, 49,
investment. but result In giving good bomes 80
steady employment to many people who need ho.s
1t is easy enough to say to the poor of tbe,ar..
cities that they should Ego back IN tbs
sou but for the successful accomplishment OF
sucn result money, and considerable money. is
required One cannot expect to make living on.
lew hundred dollars invested in a farm and thu.
machinery necessary for its cultivation. any more
'nan one can expect to make living on the same
amount invested in any other business. So. In
.ne nrst place. 1t requires money or credit To
guy farm, and money credit to secure neces
sary implements. machinery, horses cows. etc. to
successfully conduct it. 1t will take from FIVE tn
one hundred and sixty acres according To the char.
acter OF the soil and the methods of its cu,tvato
70 support family. You cannot expect largo ~
turns from poor farm, or from good farm noor.
y cuitivated You cannot expect to receive . re-
turn rom a farming investment ont Of au NJ
portion to the value OF the Investment .rd ~.
'apor expended thereon. The dificulty IN this
proposition begins at o2cc. Many of those whom