The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-11-14
DAIRY COWS AND COTTON
A GREAT COMBINATION
By J. LUTHER JORDAN.

For years the agricultural colleges
experiment stations, farm papers and
lecturers, such as farm demonstrators
and extension department representa-
tlves, have been advising farmers OF
the Southern states to quit the old all.
cotton system of farming and follow
a plan of diversified farming, such as
they were willing to outline, and to
include more live stock. This advice
has had the effect, not by taking the
South by storm in this direction, but
by causing many individual farmers to
progress far more rapidly than they
could have done otherwise. While
various lines Of live stock husbandry-
dairying especially-have brought pros
perity to farmers in every Southern
state, and while many of these farmers
have realized the benefits gradually
and have been steadily increasing the
stock on their farms, many others still
cling to the old one-crop system, even
though conditions become less and less
encouraging. Many of them have the
one-crop system so firmly fixed in their
minds that they speak of going into
stock raising" as if it were new and
entirely separate business from farm
ing. They seem to think of giving up
their cotton crops and investing every
thing available in live stock, thereby
plunging themselves into an enterprise
of which they are totally ignorant and
meeting with no better income than
cotton growing has heretofore afforded.
OF course this policy is folly in most
cases. The average cotton farmer is
not good stockman to begin with,
and, furthermore, there is not any
reason why a man who grows live
stock, either as a dairyman or other
wise, should give up cotton. 1t must
be admitted that cotton is a great and
profitable staple crop, which, if handled
properly and given a fair chance, has
no equal in America. The combination
of dairy COW and cotton is one which
might be worked out on any cotton
farm to great advantage.
There are many instances in which
men with small farms, growing half a
bale of cotton or less per acre, have
introduced few good dairy COWS and
gradually built up a herd and main
tanned it by feed heretofore practically
wasted; and, at the same time, return
ing the barnyard manure to their
cotton land, have kept it from deterio-
rating and have increased the yield
from one-half to one or more bales per
acre. With plan like this the econ
omy alone would be a great saving if
no returns were received from the
COWS. But what of few good, thrifty
calves for sale, a wholesome supply of
milk and butter for the family, thriv-
ing bunch of pigs which have been fed
skim-milk, and, above all, a handsome
monthly check from nearby creamery
or milk handling concern? If this does
not tempt the ordinary cotton farmer
into diversification of crops, what will?
There are other advantages. Not
only would there be no necessity of
the cotton growing but corn
could be raised for the silo, hay and
other profitable feeds for the dairy
COW. Besides this, when farmer
observes field which has been ma
nured regularly each year producing
more than it ever did before, he has
a new interest in his surroundings and
his efforts are less annoying to him.
Other doubling ones will observe his
supremacy and the country at large
will be greatly improved. If the dairy
man is dairyman at heart he can
show his visitors that his cows have
paid him in dollars and cents, besides
the cotton-producing capacity
Of his farm.
A prominent farmer has said: "A
herd Of dairy cows on a cotton farm
affords wonderful possibilities for the
farmer who really likes cotton farm
Ing. 1t gives him ideal conditions for
variety of cotton, owing to
the soil being much improved and very
retentive of moisture. Besides, the
man with cows can produce cheaper
cotton than his less progressive neigh
Dor and larger margin of profit on
the product. Suffice it to say, he will
realize in most cases 100 per cent more
on his investment"
Labor has long been great factor in
cotton growing. II you can furnish
q man work fha voor round OF xyoga,