Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-02-20


whith~r are We Tcndins.
[Ths quantityof guano import
ed into the United States may be
set down at about 100000 tons
annually; this, at $50 a tun.
(which is about the price demand.
ed.) will take out Of our country
Sill, 100000 for imported man
ures, more than equal to half the
average amount Of all the grain
We export.--Erckange.1
Such statements as the above,
naturally lead the thinking mind
to the query-Whither are we
tending? The fact is a startling
one. Eleven million dollars ex-
pended for one variety of import
ed manure in a single season.
and, it must be remembered, the
use thereof is almost wholly con-
fined to the Atlantic States
The figures speak we'll for the
liberality Of American farmers,
but each one is a volume Of in
vective against their waste
When we consider the compare
lively small area of soil to which
the bulk Of this importation is
applied. and that, at no very dis
tant period, the country now US
ing this enriching material was as
fertile as any under the sun, and,
furthermore, that the same pro-
cesses which gave to sterility the
"Garden Of our Country" are
still in vogue throughout the
length and breadth Of the land,
the matter assumes an impor.
lance which places almost every
other question connected with the
farming interest in secondary
position.
The charge that the American
pslate was wonderfully pleased
with anything bearing a foreigi
impress--that the people were
aping transatlantic customs and
manners, and that we would pay
a higher price for articles from
abroad no better in themselve:
than home productions-but Civ
ing the premium to the European
stamp-has been often brought
to our doors, and to a greater Of
less degree, we have been com
PEELED to plead guilty. This, how
ever, has been the phase OF cit,
life, but egriculturists are fast be
coming resties TO the folly. w,
use the term foliy, for the law o
necessity need not have the re
hottest connection with such trans
actions. II the farmers by thi
expenditure, are pouring a stream
Of fertility through the land, they
are also, by refusing to care 70
the sources OF the many riyulet'
on their own possessions, ever,
year permitting rivers Of the wat
e:s of life to be lost. Not on,
flrmer in ten collects the manur'
that he might, and not one 10 fil
ty gives to this product the car
and attention he should. Agri
culturists toll with all the energ,
possessed by them-work is mad
the equivalent Of profitable
crop, and the only means by whicI
such labor can be made to pay
saving everything that will enricI
and invigorote the soil--is over
looked, almost altogether.
franklin left a record Of life
long experience penny save
is as good as a penny earned
we must husband instead Of Ia,
ish, must accumulate rather tina
expend, or American farmers wi
never obtain a competence, an
the final issue will terminate i
bankruptcy.
II nm improper and wasteii
system Of agriculture imposes q
annual tax OF eleven million do
lars for the supply Of food to in
poverisRed land in only a porto
Of the Union, TO what immonsit
viii this sum grow when the OF
tire country needs supplies con
mcnsnmte with its extent Of sul
face? Where farming is conduc
cd asst ought to be, the product
Of the soil may be made to o,
hibit an annual increase, and tia
too, without going abroad 10 see
for the pabulum on which veget,
ton is to grow and flourish. b.
how is this to be accomplished
First-Eyery individual i
commencing farming life Shout
know that good culture benefit
land, and that its opposite hs
precisely the contrary effect
and not only should he be awal
Of this fact, but his example an
influence should be promotive
the right end.
iSecond-A careful husban,
ing and generous application
the manures made upon his ow
l. L