The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-11-26

farmer, or that those fanc;ful theories, when
exploded by practical test, have not served
as beacons to the agriculturist. These
theories may not have accomplished the
desired end, at the time Of the experiment,
for the want of practical mind, to apply
correct elementary principles, but they es-
tahli>hcd fact not known before in acri-
culture. The failure awakened spirit of
inquiry, opened the way for another expert
me"t, which under the guidance of a prac-
teal head succeeded. knowledge in any
Of the avccations Of life, is gained by expert
ments which have time and again failed
1t IS impossible for mau to make improve
m.nts Of value in the arts or business of
life, unless he is directed in his investiga-
tons by the knowledge Of others, or what
is laid down in books. The manufactur-
er, the mechanic, the artisan, all depend
"non the experiments of persons long since
PASSED from the stage Of action.
To understand and perfect themselves in
their various professions, they call in science
to their aid and with it as their hand maid,
they now propeI the engine sixty miles per
hour, when Fulton thought it might attain
six. Your cotton is now ginmcd at the
rate of five and six bales per day, when it
was thought one hundred pounds of lint
might be obtained. Science and mechan-
icaI ingenuity now aids you in cutting
your wheat at the rate Of twenty acres per
day; when onc-fourtl Of an acre was reear-
dcd as the work of the sickel. 1t threshcs
four hundred bushels Of wheat per dav,
when ten bushels was the task under the
old system. Iii q word, science las Sc
sinplitied labor, that aborcr now per-
forms the task of ten and twenty laborers
in the same time. Yet with all this light.
there are some men who seem to take
pride in refusing to call to their aid science,
or even to consult an agricultural journal.
They point TO their fathers success, and
arc content to follow along in the same old
beaten path-forgetting that the face of
the soil and the wants of the age have
completely undergone change since their
ancestors first commenced cutting down
the sturdy oak. Show mo man who will
not adopt the Improvements of the age in
agriculture, in implements, in seed, or in
his stocks OF horses, hogs, cows and sheep,
and will show you u man who will alwavs
be behind his neighbors. Then say, away
with this idle defamation about "book
farming" Take an agricultural journal,
consult men Of scientific and practical at
talnments, and go to making experiments
on small scale. II you succeed or fail,
let your neighbors know it. Your success
will be theirs and your prosperity will be
your country's. When you have done this
you will have done your duty to yourself and
your country, and will be worthy the name
of a patriot.
Having prepared the minds of our people
by Sill stantial education, we now proceed
to the question, what are the best means of
improving and increasing our agricultural
resources?
maintain this proposition, that no reform
can ever take place in our agriculture un.
Ill the farmers Of the country raise every
article Of food necessary for consumption,
and manufacture at home, the actual nec-
essaries, such as farming implements, cloth
ing and shoeing for the plantation. This
never can be done, AS long as we devote
the whole available labor of our planta.
''"ns to the almost exclusive production Of
our great staple. cotton, to the neglect of
other commodities which our soil is cana
hle of producing in great abundance. Our
present system is, to cut down our forest
and run it in cotton as long rs it will repay
tor the labor expended. Then cut down
more forest, plant in cotton, plough it up
hill and down hill, and when it fails to give
support, leave it. like Shakspeare's
Seventh Age Of Man-"without eyes, with
out nose, without teetb," with bald pate
and furrowed cheek, and like old age turned
ont to grass; then sci: the carcass for what
y"u can realize, and migrate to the South
west in quest of another victim. This
ru'nous system has entailed upon US an ex.
haus'ed soil, and dependence upon Ken
tucky and Tennessee for our mules horses
and hogs, and upon the Northern States
for all our necessaries, from the clothing
and shoeing of our negroes, down to our
wl,eel-barrows, .corn.brooms and axe han.
dies. Some may say this picture is over.
drawn, but in answer, would ask every
candied man to look around in his own
neigbborhood, and see il there are not some
farmers pursuing this very policy. The
evidence is all over the State, and it is use.
less for us to close our eyes to the fact
though painful tile sight may be.
To correct these evils. and atom tl,ese