Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-07-09
ATTENTION TO SMALL THINGS THE
SECRET Of SUCCESS.

If you will allow me the use of briel
space in the columns of the Farmer and
Planter will make few hints upon mat
tiers relating to farming.
fully believe that too much cannot be
said IN favor of subsoiling our lands and
protecting them against the washing rains
that bear so rudely away from the soil the
elements essential to its productiveness.-
These matters, together with rotation of
crops, drainage of wet lands, are receiving,
I am glad to see, due consideration at your
hands. The ravages occasioned by their
neglect throughout the South are too appa-
rent to be mistaken, and all except the vol
UNFAIRLY benighted and those into whose
mind no light can shine, are now convinced
of what ought to be done to render their
land productive and their homes permanent.
But there are other things to be attended to
besides these fundamental principles of sue
cessful farming. There are many triAes,
so considered, that make the profit or loss
of the huSbandman and in the observance
of these lies the good management of the
farmer, or in their neglect the secret of his
failure. In the first place, it is matter of
moment for most of us, who cultivate diver
si6ed crops, to ask ourselves, if We have our
stables, granaries, and out buildings proper
ly located and conveniently constructed.-
Are the stalls and troughs for our horses so
constructed as to be comfortable, and to
prevent waste of food dove use chopped
fodder, corn or meal do we vary the food
or continue the same? do we make thorough
use of the curry-comb morning and night
is our stock in good condition in the time of
laying by our crop? Have we good collars
and traces for our horses, or do we use
grape vines and hickory withes have we
good ploughs, harrows, hoes and every kind
of implement necessary to facilitate and
save labor, and do we suffer these to lie out
in night dews and rains, or have we place
for each one beneath shelter, and do we
take care that each is stored in its place
when not in use
Do we feed our mich cows night and
morning upon peas, turnips or meal, or do
we suffer them to 60 only with what they
can pick up in the range, and then complain
that we are without butter and milk, and
that our cows, miserable mixers, are dry
ihe greater part of the year?
Have we set apart piece of land, and
MANFRED it well, to be sown in ruta baga
turnips' If not is 1t not time to do it i'm
mediatelv?
Do we, as matter of grace, feed our
cows on decaying cabbage leaves, and ex-
pect to have butter fit to be used ?
Z These are but few of the many ques-
tons that farmers might ask themselves
with profit, but win forbear pressing more
upon the mind of the reader lest he fail to
heed any OF them. 1t is very general fault
among the best managers that small things
are passed by as too Insignificant to deserve
attention.
This is great mistake, and never shall
we be thrifty, independent good-living
people, until we change our habits in this
respect. The triAing occurrences of every
day life make up the sum of human happi-
ness or misery so do the details ofplan-
t;no and farming, constitute the gain or loss.
Vast crops of rice may be made and hand
same prices realized--bales of cotton may
he heaped on bales, till Ossa be piled upon
poI;on and if the little conveniences and
deI;caoies of everyday life are not at COM
mand, we fail to secure the object OF allo
sxertions.-Cor. Of S. c. Planter.