The log cabin Democrat., 1916-12-28
L.COT10N CROP
IN 1917 A GAMBLE
FEED and FOOD FIRST
Z. S. Director Warns Arkansas Far
mers of Danger of Putting Whole
Trust in Cotton.
By w. c. Lassetter, Acting Director
Cooperative Extension Work.

| by w. L. LaSSetter, Acting Director
Cooperative Extension Work.
A wrong impression of the pur-
poses of the second safe farming
campaign has seemed to have gained
headway in some places in Arkansas
and this should be corrected This
campaign is not a campaign for back
yard gardens or an effort to cut the
cotton acreage in the state In fact,
the agricultural forces engaged in
this campaign to a man all believe
| that every farmer should grow all the
cotton he can and do SO according ID
sound business principles. We are
advocating, however, the independ-
ent Arkansas farmer and | believe
that such farmer can only be the
one who will raise his own feed and
food Stutfs to be consumed on the
place so that he can sell his cotton
at the best time and get the best
price. We want our people to use
their cotton money to buy better live
stock, more home comforts and to
educate the children instead of
swapping good cotton dollars with
the northern farmer for his feed and
food products. To be most prosper
Gus our people must raise their own
feed and food at home, sell their cot
ton for just as much as they can get
for it and keep the money in Arkan-
sas. After years of experience we have
found that when cotton is high, ev-
erything else is high and consequent
y we are not getting very far as we
are not Independent of the northern
farmer. Every farmer shold be deter
mined to start the new year right
and avoid gambling on 1917 prices.
Cotton when produced must be held
or sold and cannot be consumed.
These other food and feed products
needed on every farm must be con-
sumed and it matters little how
high the prices go so long as every
farmer has produced an abundance
of these products for his own use.
1t is imperative that the farmer
make of himself as successful
sells him the goods and deals in his
products. He should bear in mind,
therefore, the following facts with
reference to good business:
The profits from a business are in
creased by reducing the cost of op-
Grating the business and by increas-
ing the cash income from the busi-
ness. Producing at home the corn,
oats, hay and other feed stuffs, the
meat, lard, milk, butter, eggs and
materially reduces the cost of making
the cotton crop. These things, there
fore, enable the farmer TO secure
greater profits from his cotton pro-
duction. To increase the cash in
come on the cotton farm it will be
necessary to provide other sources
of cash income and not depend on cot
ton by itself. Livestock, and all live
stock products are now unusually
high, and these offer a splendid field
for the progressive farmer. That
this fact is recognized by farmers
in Arkansas is evidenced by the fact
that over 1,500 head of breeding cat
tie, mostly registered, have been in
troduced into Arkansas ir the last
few months. Cattle, hogs, poultry,
mules and horses offed good suorces
of income for the cotton farmer who
will use them as a side line to his
business of cotton farming.
So much of the success Of the farm
depends upon the system of manage
ment that the college of agriculture
of the University of Arkansas be-
lieves that every farmer should start
the year 1917 with the following
New Years resolutions, not to be
broken, but to be lived up to strictly
throughout the year.
| hereby resolve to grow sufficient
corn to do me twelve months.
/ hereby resolve to grow sufficient
oats to last twelve months.
l hereby resolve to grow sufficient
hay to provide amply for my stock
for twelve months.
| hereby resolve to provide a gar
den that will furnish fresh vegeta
bles twelve months in the year.
| hereby resolve to keep sufficient
livestock to furnish milk and butter
and meat and lard for the family.
| hereby resolve to keep sufficient
poultry to furnish chickens and eggs
for the family and perhaps a few to
sell.
Above | hereby resolve to manage
my farm this year so that at least
portion of it will be richer next
year than it is this.
With this creed borne in mind any
good cotton grower can feel safe IN