Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-10-26
GOOD FARMING.

Agricultural Society 10 furnish for publication
their views on What should be The elements of
Good Forming" made through their Chairman
the following sensible report, which we copy
from the Sentinel.
To the above query, your committee respect
fully submit the following report:
1t may be laid down as standing rule, and
as \ guide to direct our exertions, that all good
farming, the whole of that process by which bad
land is to be converted into good, or, land natu-
rally good, and productive to be continued in
that state, is contained in the following opera
tions of husbandry:
l. To carry off all stagnant and superfuous
water, by judicious draining.
q To return through the medium of Manure,
the strength and fertility which has been extract
ed from the land BY cropping
3. To eradicate all noxious weeds, grass, &c !,
that the strength Of the manure may be thrown
into the crops and not into the weeds.
The present annual meeting of this Society
seems TO your committee very appropriate
time for review of the past operations of the
farm, and devising plans for the future Every
one who has not yet reached the highest summit
of agricultural skill and perfection, will doubt
that desirable accomplishment and the direction
of such to some points in practice, may possibly
be OF value. The great secret of success in all
kinds of business-the reason why one man be.
comes rich, while another remains poor-is en-
ergy and management.
While the one is regretting and repininng over
his difficulties and troubles, the other, by energy
and management, surlnounts every obstacle.
Regrets and repining will not surmoun: Difficult
ties or make money. The man shows his skill
pre-eminently, who, instead of repining at diff
culties, surmounts them who, by superior man.
agement keeps pace with his energetic and thrift
ty neighbors.
Hence the great Importance of understanding
the best application of means. Your commit
tee will venture to suggest few particulars in
which we think many of our farmers might
make more or less Improvement. Some Of
them decidedly do so. .One of the first of these
is, a neat and judicious laying out of the farms
for economy in farming; for convenience of
each crop may occupy as nearly as possible its
rotation A farm so laid out that cattle and 9TH
er stock may obtain water of themselves, may
save whole weeks of labor in driving them to
labor by weIl.arranged, and well laid out farm,
can hardly be estimated in the mulifarious ope-
ratiops constantly taking place. Many farmers
err by attempting to do too much-the conse-
quencg Is; -uyEry ytH1rg nurrfed ana everything
is.behind hand, and in the end disappointment
ail,,ses onr eanas,i think unpeces:
saiy TO 60 into minute examination or ar the
various items of good and bad management, but
will merely call few things TO remembrance
The loss Of shucks, straw, and other food OF
cattle, sheep, &c, by their exposure in the open
fields to cold winds in winter, causing con-
sumption of nearly double the amount needed
for them in warm places, would in single sea-
son be enough to erect good and cheap shelters,
TO say nothing of the improved condition of the
animals, and security from loss by death. A
great saving would usually result by taking
pains to select fair animals 10 breed FROM
fine and handsome animal is as easily raised as
bad and ugly one, and consequently, commands
at least double price in market. A similar ad-
vantage would result from selection of seed.
Many days labor may annually be avoided, by
procuring the best tools, particularly the most
in use A vast amount of valuable time, and
some frctling may be saved by having place
for every thing, and every thing in its place. 1t
is of vital importance to adhere strictly to this
rule And it is highly Important that every
thing be done at the right season. few days
delay not unfrequently results in great losses.
Sometime the entire profits Of the crops, or their
amount over and above the cost of raising, are
lost by replanting and planting out of season. To
prevent confusion and embarrassment, every
Thing should be before the eye of the farmer at
once, that nothing may be neglected; and those
who cannot think of but one thing at time
should have memorandum book constantly in
his pocket for noting down and for reference
ut all times. Everything small or great, whether
important or unimportant-it is by attention to
those things, and many Others that some farm
ers are enabled 10 obtain large profits from their
farms-while others, with equally as good lands,
and with rs much capital ut the beginning, make
but scanty living, and are ever on the drag
Your committee does not intend, nor would they
attempt TO give specific or exact directions in
detail for the cultivation of every crop, and for
every department of farm management.
We are we'll aware that almost every section
of country must practice modes in some degree
peculiar to themselves, owing to the variation
of climate, soil, and various other consldera-
tons. At the same time, the general principles
of agricultural practice are everywhere the
same; and these, with various notifications,
which they may assume under different degrees
of civilization or different degrees of improve
ment must and will decide its success. We may
learn much from those who cultivate better, and
sometimes from those who do not manage and
cultivate as we'll as ourselves. There is little
hope for anything, so far as great Improvement
is concerned for the man who implicitly follows
any guide whatever. He must exercise his own
experience, reason, observation and judgment IN
the application of rules which may be laid down
by these.
The farmers whole business, so far as culti-
vation is concerned lies with his SOIL and upon
the soil, and the skill and intelligence with which
he manages it, must depend his saccess.
Your COMMITTEES trusts that it is not now worry
extensively held, that little or no Intelligence IS
necessary to conduct rightly, the operations OF
agriculture; though we fear the supposltion Is
too frequently INDUCED, that circumstances 10
which farmers are placed, are unfaVoraole 70
mental energy and the culture OF the mind
True, it is admitted that severe bodily iaDof Is
preiudical to the exercise of the mental iacui.
ties but we are confident that the organs OF
both mind and body are developed and strength
ened by due degree of bodily exercise. Hence
the circumstances calculated to improve the con-
dirion of the farmer are those which call into
action the intellectual and physical powers with
which he is naturally endowed.
But there are now, fortunately, many farmers
in our country whose labors are not so constant
as to interfere with the Improvement of their
minds. Many, indeed, are thinking and reading
men; and we are forced to conclude that it is
more from lack of inclination than the existence
of real obstacles, that the class is not more nu
merous.
The long winter evenings, and stormy days
afford many hours of leisure, during which q