The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-03-08
5or the farmers.
improvement 6fVEz

tlhlS Is q SUBJECT which should De caFeit
studied by every farmer 1t IS great mist
to suppose that the occupa.i3n. of ;tt2 agrcu
rist is unattended with seveYe mental exerc
! There is, PERHAPS. 10 profession that reqtl
more profound study than that OF the fan1
4 ASIDE from other objects that induce d1
thought, and along stretch on the imagnatl
powers. the subject uadegse consideration, to
properly understood, requires several s sesrs
study and close observation. Tie man yyiie
familiarly acquainted with the nature of differ
kinds of soils, and understands the principles
on which the growth aud maturity Of plants,
and other vegetables depend, can convert the
sterile sand-knoli into the verdant meadow or
waving field of grain and in reality, cause the
desert to- bloom as the rose" Such a man is Il
benefit, rot only to himself and the immediate
neighborhood in which he resides, but to the
whole world.
Whenever field of grain or any other pro-
ducts of the farm are harvested, a portion of
the ingredients of the soil, which fec that crop
and supported its growth, is taken from the
! land. Those ingredients should be replaced be-
fore the same of a similar kind Of crop is raised
on the same ground. 1t is quite too common a
fault, even with farmers who wish to be called
scientific, tosteduce the soil to state of com
parative bareanness, by constant succession OF
those crops for which there is the least possible
!, outlay, and which they can most readily "turn
{ to money" Although for a few years. a farmer
BY this exhausting mode of farming, lie will at
length see its evil effects in the scattering stalks
and small light heads of grain which greet his
vision in harvest time. lie will soon be con-
yinced that proper expense for fertilizers is a
profitable outlay. The soil needs rest and nour-
ishment as much as man or beast. Although
farmers are more careful to preserve the soil in
its natural condition, than in years gone by
still they are too prone to study present conve-
niehce and availability, rather than principles or
durable benefit A man who understands moth
ing of the physiology Of the human system,
would hardly be considered as proper man to
employ as physician, either to prescribe rules
for the preservation of health or for the removal
of disease. No more should man who under
stands nothing of the nature of the soil, or OF
vegetable physiology, be considered proper
man to till the land.
The useful and necessary lessons in the sscence
of agriculture, are too generally neglected du-
riny the early education Of the youth of this
country, leaving them to be learned by expe-
rience This is manifestly an error. Why
should not the fuEds of the State Governments
be applied to the distribution of agricultural edu
cation, as we'll as to assist students of the pro,
fession to become lawyers! Agriculture is the
most important profession; and on that all must
depend for existence
Why not study the improvement Of the soil
during the "seed time oflite," as well as English
grammar, or arithmetic? It is an old maxim
and true one, that those ideas imbibcl in youth,
are very likely to attend us to old age. If wrong
ideas are continually instllled ito the minds of
youth, in regard to the manner Of farming, they
will be very likely always to be poor farmers.
1t is very ga.ifying to the agricultural COM
,nuuity to see that some Of our most distinguish
ed statesmen, and among them the Executive of
the General Government, are interested enough
in their prosperity, to support the establishment
Of an Agricul,u,a Bureau at the expense Of the
Government But ~ hop liat t':"y will >oon
begin to act in the m#''e?, Is their talk can do
Us but little gool.--Do'iay Nc~%PaQ7.