The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-05-30


rain, to procure an amszing yield, it is by
3 no means surprising to find that habit Of
: nlovenliness has become almost universal
! among our farmers, as well in regard to tie
planting and sowing rs in the culture and
/ harvesting Of their crops. A love Of the
soil il natural to man, and blended with this
instructive affection is the desire of owner
\ ship-a desire that owing TO the admirable
land system Of our government is most easi-
IL grati6ed. A year Of prosperity with our
farmers is usually wound up with mv ed. ..a!-
@tion of . quarter section, more Of less, of
adjoining land, and as the area q his pos
ScssionS grows broader, year by year, very
riculturist to extend tho area Of his cult.
waited also A large share of time, labor
and capital u annually given to these ex-
s4ensions, while, as the area increases, less
Tabor in proportion IS devoted to the Guilt
walton of each acre Of the enlarged farm
Ordinarily, this system, If not the best, is
highly satisfactory in its results, in proof
Aof which, may be cited the fact, that as a
class, our farmers are growing in independ-
ence and fortune quite as rapidly as any
49, ----;c- - .h~ h..-:.-- .s---..1,initv.
olicA PoA..~As Y. $50 ~sAoAAseoo
But in unfayorablc seasons, such for exam.
FOR two or three years-when the winters
are long and, when the springs are too cold
sor too wet for safe planting, when pr0tract-
ed drouths in summer dry up the hopes Of
the farmer as he secs his crop succumb to
the whitening, pasching in6uence-in such
sseasons the system shows its weak points in
\ most unmistakable manner, and calls for
reform in way that ought to be needed.
Wedo not, by any means, intend to as,
scrt that husbandry can be made entirely in
dependent of meteorological influences. To
do SO, were to betray an ignorance Of the
whole subject that would at once prove US
untitled for the task Of treating of it at al.
We know, from painful experience, how the
cold Of winter, the drought of sommer, the
piercing winds ami biting frosts Of early
spring, and the fierce tornado that some
times sweeps across field just ready for
the harvest-how all these and other natu-
raj causes affect the labors and prospects of
the farmer. But after making all reasona-
BILE allowances for what is beyond the con-
troll Of man, there is left a wide margin
within witch, the rlDhlr win depend entire
" upon the degree of careful industry and
enlig htened skill that may be brought into
requisition.
Of all the sciences, that of Agriculture
presents its claims to our regard in the most
pressing and urgent manner. 1t is not only
important in that it supplies the necessaries
of life, but because it is also at the basis of
all our prosperity, both national and indi-
yidual. just ut this moment how many
men, Of the most widely various pursuits,
are studying with extreme interest the re-
port that daily come up from our principle
agricultural districts? We often hear Wall
Street spoken Of as the great money regu-
lator Of the nation. 1t is not so. You sir,
and you, who hold the pillow, who look after
your herds and toeks, who apply the reye-
lations of science to the arts of husbandry
You are the true money regulators of the
world. Wall Street deals out its boarded
wealth freely, or puts its double locks upon
il, just as you bid. Not Wall street alone,
but every money centre in the country,
every branch of commerce, every banker
and broker, every railroad director, every
real-cstate operator, every merchant, every
manufacturer, every ship owner-eyerybody
in fact, whose occupation or pursuit in life,
involves the handling Of considerable sums
of money, is awaiting now with feverish
anxiety the developments which the season
is about to bring forth as the surplus Of ag-
ricultural products in the country-for on
that question hinges the extent OF their bu-
:siness-the prosperity OF disaster that the
year may be expected to carry IN ITS tram.
How was Water Street conyulsed, but
day or two since, when the Grain Circular
Of an .estimable Produce and Commission
House Of this city, giving indications of
small surplus and of poor prospects for the
present seasons crop, made its appearance
in the public prints! and how the contagion
- e. nr.l- epraaI from,
Change to the counting rooms of our banks,
our merchants, our manufacturers, and our
railroads! And this is but a sample, in
small way, Of what is going on at every
oommercinl centre of the country. Does
not the science Of Agriculture, therefore,
commend itself to our consideration with
the most pressing urgency? and are not the
interests which it involves vital to the pro-
gress and prosperity of the world?
What is most needed among the farmers
of the Northwest, is correct appreciation
Of the nobleness of their calling. This is
an Indispensable basis for any true improve
ment in the art of husbandry. That there
are, here and there, men engaged in this
occupation, who have this appreciation, and
who are laboring with q most commendable
zeal to inspire others with it, We are happy
to know, But the feeling ought to be uni
versal--the whole lump should be lsavened.
Agricultural science is daily increasing the
number Of its votaries, but there is less of
it on the farm than in the closet, and the
laboratory Of the student. The preiudices
which formerly prevailed against the de-
auctions of science, are rapidly passing
away, but the temptation to go on In the
Old way, is so strong, that but u small num-
Der gain the mastery over it.
AS We said in the outset, our soil is so
rich, and profitable yield is generally SO
certain, even under the most slovenly and
careless culture, that the farmer extends his
operations over the widest possible area,
adding new fields yearly to his farm already
too large that out Of the proceeds he may
go on indefinitely increasing his estate
Viewed in an economical light, this practice
is in unwise one: considered with reference
to its effects upon the progress of Agricul-
tural Science, it is bad; and taken in con-
nection with the intimate relation which
agriculture holds to the general prosperity,
it IS fraught with the utmost danger. Bet
ter culture and smaller farms, we are con-
vincsd, is the true policy. 1t is better for
the masses, iuasmuch as its tendency is to
increase the number Of landed proprietors-
better for individuals, because it viii ineyi-
tally result IN larger returns and more Ger
tain crops.
There are some facts in practical agricul-
ture, the knowledge of which has been OBJ
tanned through the experiment and observa-
ton. that ought never to be lost sight Of.
Throughout the Northwest experience is
uniform that early sowing for winter wheat
is generally successful, while late sowing is
alW.ysE uncertain. Perhaps no fact is bet
terknown among our farmers than this, yet
how small the number who reap any adyan-
taee from the knowledge. If circumstances
are entirely favorable to sowing early, it is
done; if not, not. If the market price of
any surplus product which the farmer may
happen q have on hand is temporarily high
at the time his winter wheat ought to be
sowed, Oh 60 his teams and hands to market,
leaving the putting in Of his next years
crops to the future day, risking the uncer-
tainty in very small one. We are told By
the FARMERS from middle and Southern
Illinois, that nearly all the early sowing Of
wheat ist fall gives promise At the present
time If a good yield, while nearly oil the