The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-05-16
From the Aratof
A Little Farm well Tillei.

1
A friend having called our attention
to the Importance Of inpressing upon
the minds If our farmers The necessity
of culli,ating less land and working
and manuring it better. we present the
following extract from Mr.. Sleeper's
Address. as we'll calculated 10 con-
vince them Of the Importance Of tho
rough culture:
The greatest obstacle to the improve
ment u Agriculture is the propensity
OF the farmer, the mania | might well
call il. to own more land than he can
till 10 advantage. And it is thus that
We see scattered over the country large
tracts Of sterile, unproductive land.
which, under good cultivation, would
yield bountiful and valuable crops.
Not eiliy the dictates Of sound philo-
sophy, but numerous facts. drawn from
experience, are constantly and loudly
calling upon the farmer, from every
quarter. TO occupy a snail Farm and
cultivate it well. wish that this adj.
munition could be numbered ints the
ears Of the agricultural population vt
the country, until complete reyolu-
tlon should be produced in the farming
system.
This great truth is already begin
ning TO be understood in other coun>
tries. and is attended with correspond.
Ing advantages. The densest popula-
lion nf Europe may be found in tlan-
ders and Lombardy, where the land is
divided into small farms, aud being
thoroughly titled, produces abundant
food for the inhabitants. And the ex-
perience Of quarter of q century in
France, proves that, by the occupation
Of the country under small working
farmers, the land is producing one third
more food. aud supporting papula.
tinn one third greater, than when Il
was possessed IL large masses.
The law is uni,ersal--it applies to
every couniry-that the secret of ag-
riculture consists in the thorough cul-
tiyatiun Of small piece oi groInd,
which, well manured and well worked,
yields up its treasures in proiligal pro.
fusion. la almost every part OF our
country. nne capital error runs through
the whole system 81 farming. A great
deal of money is invested in land, and
a very little money employed in its
cultivation. And il is sad 10 see the
owner of large farm pride himself on
the number of acres winch he possess-
es, aud undertake TO cultivate the soil
without sufficient means. Such man
has been happily compared to mer-
chant, who rxpentls all his capital in
building for his own use large roemy
store, and is afterwards seen gazing
with cumplacency on his bare walls
and empty shelves.
lie has chalked out TO himself hard
lot, aud voluntarily enters un state oi
servitule. worse than Egyptian bon.
dage. Ills work is never accom- plish.
ed. lie tolls III all hours, and yet is
never ahead uf his work. aud this work
is never hall done. lie has not time TO
accomplish any thing thoroughly. Ills
house j. out d repaIr--his barn dllapi-
dated-hls cattle poor--hls fences 10
ruins--his pastures Oyerrun with BUSH
es, and acres ol land, which. under pro.
per cultivation, might be made to yield
a rich harvest, are but little removed
lrom barrenness. perhaps dotted with
mullen. bur,lucks, thisties, Or filled with
snrrel, white weed, aud other noxious
plants. which raot cut the grass aud
eat up the life Of the soil, without al.
fording n0urishment TO man or beast.
. What a harrassed. unhappy being
/. must be the owner of such iariu! III,
has no time for recreation or mental
Improvement. lie is doomed 10 IL,
trcad-milI for life /; with his spirits de
pressed--despdndency stamped upoI
/, his liaggar,l lineanents, aud the wurn
ui ,lisconIen, gnawing at his heart. wit
J. him there are no pleasant association
with the past--ihe present IS full o
!, anxiety, care, aud hard labor and
:, dark cloud rests upon the future. VI
reminds me Of lland's touching " Son
Of the SHIRT" aud 1t may well be sai
: or sung Of him,
Mofk--work-workt
From weary chime 10 chime,
Mork-wofk--workl
4 A. prisoners work for efims--
y plow, and harrow, and hoe
Hoe, and harrow and plcwi
Til the heart is sick and the arm hsnumi
% And misery siampd on the brow.
Such 4 man has little reason 10 prid
: himself on bis extensive possessions