The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1917-02-10
FOOD, FEED AND FERTILITY.
Farmers Must Produce These Three
Things to Remain Prosperous.

Food, feed and fertility are the
| foundation of safe farming, accord
ing to the United States Department
of Agriculture. A circular sent to
| farmers, bankers and business men
in cotton territory by the chief OF the
Office of extension work in the south
says: LET us feed the people, feed
the live stock, and feed the SOIL.
When we have done these three
things, then raise such acreage IN
money crops as we have the labor 20
tend"
The circular points out that tne
true value of cotton to the farmer IS
to great extent the amount OF 1000
and feed it will purchase. The price
of cotton has risen, it is true, but SO
has the retail price OF, all other farm
produce. .sBy growing all cotton,
saws the author, land exchanging 1t
for living you are simply swapping
high-priced product produced ny
vour labor for high priced product
produced by the labor OF the otner
fellow. When you follow safe farm
ing, however, you produce your own
food and feed at cost and sell your
cotton for the other fellows dollars.
Safe farming is defined in the cir
cular as including these items:
/. A home garden for every tam
ily on the farm, from one-tentn 10
one-fourth acre, well located, Weii
titled, and tended as carefully as any
other crop on the farm, planted IN
rotation to time the vegetable crops
so as to have continual supply for
the family table as many days IN the
wear as possible. To this should be
added one-fourth of an acre OF Pc
tatoes, either Irish or sweet, or both,
to be used as food for the family.
2. Enough corn on each farm TO
last the family and the live stock for
one wear, with a little excess for
safety.
8. Sufficient oats and other small
grain to supplement the corn as 1000
for one year with certainty. Inese
small grains conserve the soil IN WIN
ter and provide summer grazing for
live stock.
a. Hay and forage crops to sup
ply the live stock on the farm for one
year, with little excess for safety.
The legumes, Thich add fertility to
the soil and sFoduce the best hay
should not be forgotten.
5. The necessary meat, eggs, ana
milk for the family. The meat should
BE procured by increased attention TO
poultry and hogs because of the
rapidity with which these can be pro-
duced. Every family should have at
least two cows, so that one can be III
milk all the time. A sufficient num-
Der Of brood sows should be kept 20
produce the pork for the family, with
some excess for sale The average
number Of poultry per farm should be
gradually increased to at least 5o.
There should be eggs and poultry TOR
the home table, with sufficient ex-
cess for sale. The live stock on the
farm should be gradually increased
so as to consume the otherwise vast
ed products and make productive the
nnproductiye and untillable lands.
s. Cotton for the main money
crop after the living has been amply
provided for. 81
Z. The salt of the surplus pro
ducts Of the ga, den, the orchard, the
poultry, the live stock, and the feed
crops to cover the necessary running
expenses Of the farm, leaving the cot
ton as the real cash crop.
The present prices of cotton, says
the circular, should not be permitted
to tempt any farmer to depart from
this program. 1t is the only safe plan
to follow, no matter what the price OF
cotton may be.