Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-11-22
EXTRACT FROM Horace GREELEY's

EXTRACT FROM Horace GREELEY's
ADDREss.-Mr. Greeley lately delivered
an address before the Erie Co. Agri-
cultural Society at Buffalo. He is a
close observer of farming. His late
European travels render his advice to
American farmers most important. We
copy part of the address:
The truth which l am most anxious
to impress is, that no poor man can af-
ford to be a poor farmer. When have
recommended agricultural implements,
have often been told, "this extensive
farming will do wei enough for rich
people, but we, who are in moderate
circumstances can't afford it." Now it
is not ornamental farming that recon-
mend, but profitable farming. 1t is true
that the amount of mans capital must
fix the limit of his business; in agricul-
ture as in every thing else. But, how
ever poor you may be, you can afford
to cultivate land well, if you can afford
to cultivate it at all. 1t may be out of
your power to keep a large farm in a
high state of cultivation, but you should
sell part of it. and cultivate small
one. If you are poor man. you can
not afford to raise small crops; you can
not afford to accept half crop from
land capable of yielding a whole one.
If you are poor man, you cannot at
ford to fence two arces to secure the
crops you ought to grow on one; you
cannot afford to pay or lose the interest
on the cost of 100 acres of land to get
the crops that will grow on so acres
No man can afford to raise 90 bushels
of corn per acre, not even if the land
were given him, for 90 bushels per acre
will not pay the cost OF the miserable
cultivation that produces it.
No poor man can afford to cultivate
his land in such manner as will cause
it to deterioate IN value. Good farm
ing improves the value of land-and
the farmer, who manages his farm SO as
to get the largest crop it is capable of
yielding, increases its value every year.
Ne farmer can afford to produce
weeds; they grow, 10 be sure, without
cultivation; they spring up spontaneous
ly on all land, and especially rich land;
but though they cost no toll, farmer
can't afford to raise them; the same
element that feeds them, woald with
proper cultivation, nourish crop, and
no farmer can afford to expend on
weeds the natural wealth which was be-
slowed by providence to fill his grana-
ries. l am accustomed, my friends, to
estimate the Christianity of localities
through which 1 pass, by the absence
of weeds on or about the farms. When
1 see one covered with gigantic growth
of weeds, 1 take it for granted that the
owner is heather, a heratic, or an in
fdel; a christian he cannot be, or he
: would not allow the heritage which God
t gave him to dress and keep, to be so de-
: formed and profaned. And to make ar
e application Of the above remark, l mus
e say, there is much missionary ground
n between New York and Buffalo. Ma
ri.are has been bountiful to you, bu'
i there is great need of better cultivation
: To prevent weeds is equivalent to en-
It riching your lshd with manure, for tc
: retain it in the element Of which crop:
It are formed is as profitable as to bring
: them there. It is better that weed.
+ should not grow at ali; but when thel
Il exist, and you undertake to destro,
It them, it is economy to gather them VI
e and carry them into yoEr barn yards
i and convert them into manure. Yo'
will in this manner restore to your farm
J. the fertility of which the weeds ha'
n drained it.
h Farmers cannot afford to grow Gro