The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-04-22
AgrlGultnral..
From the Plough, the Loom, and the Anvil.
THE ADVANTAGES OF SYSTEM IN
FARMING OPERATIONS.

all the works of creation. Throughout
natures wide domain, every tree, or plant,
or flower, when INSTRUCTED by external
causes, exhibits the most perfect order in
lis development. The combinations, also,
formed in natures laboratory, all unite
with mathematical exactness. The crys.
tai, whatever shape it assumes, is perfect,
each angle is always alike. The air we
breathe is a compound, one element of
which is fatal TO animal life when in a
separate state, and yet it combines with
the other in such proportions, as to be
come AZ indispensable requisite of our
existence. The instinct, of the various
animals and insects, leads them to
observe the ~strictest system in all their
labors. And thus all the works of God
are regulated by fixed and settled laws.
And the farmer, being conversant with
the works of nature, ought to be a dill
gent student Of her operations, and from
them 10 learn the importance of system
in all his labors. Agriculture cannot be
successfully pursued, without thought, re-
f~iec,ion, observation and comparison.-
From these source, that knowledge is to
be derived, in part, which is to guide the
practical farmer in his Iabors. Books and
periodicals are indispensable, if he would
attain TO eminence in his profession
But the knowledge thus obtained, must
be digested by reflection, improved, and
so reduced TO system by experiment and
observation, as TO render it available in
the labor of the farm. The man that
labors at random, labors to but little pur-
pase. lie may possess knowledge, but
unless that knowledge be Systematically
applied, it will be Of but little use. What
a spectacle do farms and farming opera.
tlons often present, where nc system is
observed ! Chaos appears to have assum-
ed control, and uafed's chance world to
be realized in miniature.
The thorough, systematic farmer, will
undertake no more business than he can
successfully manage. His plans are all
matured by reflection, before the time ar
rives for their execution. Business there
fora invites, rather than drives him.
Whatever is undertaken, is done in such
a manner as to secure the best results
He is not, by want of forethought so in
volved in business, that much of his work
will be but half performed, and his farm
ing interests thereby suffer, and the pro
fits of his labor lost. Having a place for
everything and everything in its place,
his time is not wasted in searching for his
tools when needed, nor in m~ending bro
ken ones when business hurries. lie set
ties in his mind before hand what fields
to plant, what to sow with the ditieren,
kinds Of grain, when and where to apply
manure, and other fertilizers. Hence his
labors are so directed that his ground is
prepared in the proper time, and in the
best manner for the various crops. And
when the time for their cultivation arrives,
he is ready to engage in it without hurry
or distraction and able to perform the
work well. And then his harvest ; how
different from that of his neighbor, whose
land is but half cultivated, and this al
the wrong time His adherence TO sys.
tenn enables him to gather and house his
crops i'm nrnrnr o-Ls.. They are not
left in the field until half wasted by rains
and the various animals and insects that
are eager to destroy them.
The man Of system will cultivate his
crops in such rotation as TO improve, rath,
er than exhaust his land. Experiment
and observation will guide to such a course
as is best calculated to bring all the fer.
tilizing properties of the soil into such a
state as to be available in producing crops
without exhausting its fertility. la this
way, land may be cultivated from year to
year, and still retain its productiveness. -
II properly fed and managed, the effects
will be as apparent as they are in the ami,
NAL creation, but if overworkad at ran
dom, Ike the wornout beast, it fails, and
refuse to yield its increase.
The importance Of system is also ap.
parent in the management Of stock. Most
kinds of stock, in order to be a source Of
profit, need constant attention, especially
in winter. An animal that is well housed,
properly and regularly fed, and its wants
supplied, will thrive on much less food
than it will take to keep one alive, that is
fed at irregular intervals, sometimes even
surfeiting, and then left to half starve for
a time, and this too without shelter in the
most inclement weather, when they most
heed care. If their food niIst all be
burned up in the stomach, to produce an
imal heat, to sustain the system, they cam
not thrive, but must constantly deterio
rate. Many farmers waste feed enough
to half keep their stock, by throwing it
out at random, without proper managers
and racks to keep it from being trodden
under foot and destroyed. Ard by such
a process the manure that should be hus.
b.nded to enrich their grounds for future
crops, becomes almost a dead loss. Ma
nure needs care and attention, in order to
retain It's value, as well as the animal that
produces it. Men who despise all i'm.
provement, and especially book Jarming,
often err on this subject. With them the
product OF the barnyard is manure, il all
its fertilizlng properties have been leached
out and eyaporated many a load is
drawn TO the field hat is as worthless as
the sand in the street. Thus while sys.
tsmatic farmers grow rich, their lands
grow poor, their crops fail, and they spend