The Mena weekly star., 1921-03-17
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS

Editor of The Star, Mena, Ark.
 Dear Sir-The discussions in The Star of possible substitutes for cotton, have been very interesting, but am surprised that no one suggests the raising or making of those things which the merchants have to buy, and which can be produced here in Polk county. The list is long one.
 Shell beans, both tepary, pinto and California pinto have already proved themselves here; so have the table varieties of cowpeas, white, blackeyed, cream, sugar crowder and lady peas. Some of the colored butter beans are known to yield well. Experiment on a small scale in ordinary field culture for the true navy beans and large white butter beans might prove worth while.
 Onion sets can be raised profitably
 here, for three ladies near Wickes have raised them, in marketable quan- titles.
 The finest quality of sorghum can be made here and it usually brings good prices. But a system of market ing will have to be worked out, by which spoiled goods can be traded back to the original producer, and that person have to bear the loss. The importance of this was impressed on me, by my husbands heavy losses one year. Lee bought large quantities of molasses that year from samples and didn't inspect each bucket. Sew eral farmers showed fine samples and then delivered moiasses that soon soured. We have not bought in large quantities since, but it seems like a
 way could be found that would be fair
 to all parties.
 Large sums are sent out of the county each year for table potatoes that could be raised here. If Mrs. Ed Clinton of Grannis, can keep her table
 supplied the year around with home grown potatoes, it seems to me that a
 lot of men ought to be able to raise | for market.
 A good many ladies have thoroly proved that winter cabbage can be raised here most winters, yet ! dent
 know of any effort to supply the mar
 kets after the spring and summer
 crop is gone.
 It is almost impossible for mer- chants in these little towns to keep
 home grown turnips, beets or carrots yet all can easily be grown here. So can winter radishes and lettuce, yet in
 all the years I have been with Lee in our stores, we have been able to buy them but a few times. It seems to
 me that they could be profitably added
 to the butter and eggs sold from house
 to house every Saturday
 Farm papers complain about the difference in price between the live
 hog and the retail price of smoked
 meat. If there is any real unfair
 ness then would it not be profitable for the farmers to supply the retail demand for smoked meat. But one thing sure, if they seriously try tc
 compete with packer meat, they will
 need good hogs, intelligent, manage
 ment and varied diet. They can't dc
 it with range hogs, corn and mast.
 Last year we were able to buy some nice large peanuts, suitable for our retail trade, but it was seldom anything in that line was offered but | the hay goober, which is fine in it's
 place, but don't fill the bill for re- tail trade.
 Large quantities of tomato catsuT
 and pepper sauce are used, yet mosl of it is shipped in.
 Am glad a cannery is to be estab. lished on large scale at last. Seems | to me like the men have taken long time to think 1t over before acting.
 Now what is to hinder having {