Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-06-05
Agricultural
From The Sosfke,a Piaster.
ECONOMY.

agriculture in the South. That our coun-
try enjoys the most unr.yaled aJvan,a-
yes for the prosecution of agricultural
pursuits, is undenied, and undenable
that The Improvements 10 this ar, have not
kept even pace with other departments Of
science, is universally admitted. The in.
qurlng mind, which seeks for reasons for
every fact, has been engaged in the ex-
planation Of this phenomenon. Some
have declared that the light Of science
was wanting TO the pursuit of agriculture;
some have attributed the stationary char.
acter of this pursuit 10 the existence ola
slave population, &c. &c.
That the science of agriculture is in its
nature one ofihe most complex and intri-
cate, little consideration must satisfy
tho most careless observer; aud the fac,
that a season is required to Test an expert
ment, proves that experience, which is
the foundation Of true knowledge, Is more
difficult OF attainment in This than in any
other art. But this is irus Of agriculture
every where, and only accounts for the
retarded progress Of the art when consid.
cred in relation 10 the world generaliy.-
X has been asserted, however, that 10 the
southern part of the United States, the
portion OF the whole globe perhaps best
adapted TO the pursuit Of agriculture, an.
provement laOguishes most. Whilst We
are moi prepared to admit ths charge TO
its fullest extent, we will confess that ap-
rlculiural improvements encounter aecu.
lar difficulties in their progress through
the Southern States; not, as some ina.
CINE, for wart of knowledge OF The scien.
ufc discoveries in agriculture, for they,
we believe, in truth, are very lew, and
are as well known to the enlightened far.
mers OF the South as to any other potion
Of this Union. Bot the fact is. that
amongst the highly favored, wealthy far
mers OF the South, state OF financial en-
barvassment prevails, that offers an insu-
perabe bar 10 agricultural improvement.
1t is not uncommon to find Southern
farmer with real estate and negroes worth
fifty thousand dollars, sadly embarrassed
with debt Of twenty thousand. Our
Northern friends vii wonder how q man
wNh fifty thousand dollars worth OF pro
perry can be seriously embarrassed wi,h
a debt Of twenty thousand, but South
ern man will readily understand the feel
ings and sentiments which make il go dis.
tasteful to part with that peculiar kind Of
property in which large portion of our
funds is vested. But unless he sell 81,
slaves, The farmer cannot part with ga
acre OF his ground, which lie, in bis opin
ion, hardly sufficient 10 keep them en-
ployed. Thus it is, that the debt is not
only retained, but perhaps from the same
cause from which It originated, il is ia
creased, and 10 provide for the interest
alone, absorbs all the funds and muck of
the time Of the improvdent farmer. I,
were bootless 10 look to the origin OF this
state Of things; II could perhaps be traced
to the fact Of expensive habits derived
from wealthy ancestry, Wills, the enor.
nous profits that justified them in former
years, has altogether ceased in later
times for whilst there is 10 difficulty In
expanding Your expenses in prosperity
the contraction in adversely is not out,
so easy. Be lha, as il may, the fact OF
very general peeuniary embsrrassmen,
amongst even the wealthy portion OF the
agricultural community in The South. "a
not TO be denied and this circumstance
alone, when fully considered, will be
eound sufficient 10 account for the re,sr-
ded state OF agricultural improvement 10
the South. Money is the grea, lever
VITA which the world is both raised and
lowered, and we know of no improvement,
that can be effected without it. Suggest
to farmer a system Of cultivation by
which his exhausted fields may be rested
and restored he is fully aware of IL, but
he tells you that the corn from that field
is devoted to tho liquidation Of debt al
ready incurred; prove to him that il he
IS deprived of this resource for a year or
two, il will only be 10 double the product
in after time; he knows IL; but even
with the yield Of that field, he fears thu,
his income for the year will fall shor, Of
his expenses. He hopes that il will bs.
better after while, but his wear, he
must make every thing tell.s Show
him valuable labor.saying machine. an
investment in which would be- eouiyalen,
TO an interest Of fifty per cent, his answer
Is, my dear sir, am borrower. no, am
investor of money" and so he IS. poor
fellow. Il is moi the want Of scientific
knowledge that keeps tina, mans fields
poor, and induces the most skinuine sys.
TEN Of cultivation, bul il is the want Of
pecuniRry means.
What is The remedy for this state Of
things !! We answer emphat:cally, re-
trencAmeai and economy. Begin with
yourself; curiall your individual expen.
ses, go through every member of YOUR
household, cut down and pare Off every
where; teach your children tina, the con.
yenlences and elegances purchased OF the
milliner and the merces may be substi.
luted, IN great measure, by their own
handicrait. Your own part is nothing
but to deprive those you love OF that 10
which they have been accustomed. Il wa
know, bitter pill; but il mus, be taken
In the great fall OF agricultural products
there IS no help for il,
DO not tell Us that you already prae.
use economy to lis fullest extent. NV