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Story
November 21, 1889
The Columbia Banner
Magnolia, Columbia County, Arkansas
What is this article about?
In a dialogue from the Southern Planter, a farmer named Zeb laments his poverty and debt from cotton farming in rural America, ignoring diversification like gardens, livestock, and varied crops, as pointed out by another farmer.
Clipping
OCR Quality
85%
Good
Full Text
The following article was published in the Southern Planter, but will bear repetition. A farmer tells us that the other day he found a brother farmer in a mighty bad way. He said that he had actually come to the conclusion that a man could not make a living by farming in this country, and if he could find anybody to give his land to, he was going to hunt a new country. I was sorry for him, for he looked powerfully down in the mouth.
Said I, Zeb, have you tried to make a living farming!
"Have I tried?" he said, with a look that indicated that I was a fool or an ignoramus.
"Why, I have worked myself and my folks nearly to death, and we have been getting poorer and poorer every year."
"That is strange," said I; "some people do make a living right here in this country."
He replied, as he stooped to get a chip to whittle: "I carried my cotton to town the other day, and when I went to square up I was left in debt for meat and bread and guano for last year. We all worked hard and have nothing left, and we are always in debt. This is no country for a poor white man."
His voice trembled and he seemed in a power of trouble. It made me feel real sorry, for he was a hard working fellow.
Said I, "how do you manage, Zeb? Do you have a good garden and plenty of vegetables in their season?"
Looking down at his feet, he replied: "Do you reckon I ain't got nothing to do but paddle around in a blame old garden? I tell you it is all I can do to tend my crop."
"Well" said I "you have been living at the same place fifteen years; reckon you have lots of fruits of different sorts to eat in summer and fall, and to put up for winter?"
"I reckon I ain't. I need my land for my crop."
"So you raise plenty of Irish and sweet potatoes, don't you"
"Plenty while they last, and that ain't long," he replied.
"Do you keep cows to give you milk and butter?"
"Sometimes we do and sometimes we don't."
"Does your wife raise many turkeys and chickens and such like?"
"How can she, when she has to help me with my crop?"
"Do you make plenty of corn and oats for your own use?"
"Of course I don't when I am obliged to plant a big crop of cotton to pay for my lime and for guano."
Several fellows who were sitting round on the goods boxes said: "That's what's the matter with Hannah!"
Said I, Zeb, have you tried to make a living farming!
"Have I tried?" he said, with a look that indicated that I was a fool or an ignoramus.
"Why, I have worked myself and my folks nearly to death, and we have been getting poorer and poorer every year."
"That is strange," said I; "some people do make a living right here in this country."
He replied, as he stooped to get a chip to whittle: "I carried my cotton to town the other day, and when I went to square up I was left in debt for meat and bread and guano for last year. We all worked hard and have nothing left, and we are always in debt. This is no country for a poor white man."
His voice trembled and he seemed in a power of trouble. It made me feel real sorry, for he was a hard working fellow.
Said I, "how do you manage, Zeb? Do you have a good garden and plenty of vegetables in their season?"
Looking down at his feet, he replied: "Do you reckon I ain't got nothing to do but paddle around in a blame old garden? I tell you it is all I can do to tend my crop."
"Well" said I "you have been living at the same place fifteen years; reckon you have lots of fruits of different sorts to eat in summer and fall, and to put up for winter?"
"I reckon I ain't. I need my land for my crop."
"So you raise plenty of Irish and sweet potatoes, don't you"
"Plenty while they last, and that ain't long," he replied.
"Do you keep cows to give you milk and butter?"
"Sometimes we do and sometimes we don't."
"Does your wife raise many turkeys and chickens and such like?"
"How can she, when she has to help me with my crop?"
"Do you make plenty of corn and oats for your own use?"
"Of course I don't when I am obliged to plant a big crop of cotton to pay for my lime and for guano."
Several fellows who were sitting round on the goods boxes said: "That's what's the matter with Hannah!"
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Farming Hardship
Cotton Dependency
Agricultural Debt
Farm Diversification
What entities or persons were involved?
Zeb
Where did it happen?
This Country
Story Details
Key Persons
Zeb
Location
This Country
Event Date
The Other Day
Story Details
A farmer named Zeb complains to the narrator about failing to make a living from farming due to focusing solely on cotton crops, leading to debt for essentials and fertilizer, while neglecting gardens, fruits, potatoes, cows, poultry, and other self-sufficient practices; the narrator questions his methods, highlighting the oversight.