The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-03-30
Words for The Season.

The agricultural campaign of 1854
opens under some disadvantages. La
borers are scarce and high. About half a
million of farm laboreys have gone TO
the army In this agricultural class has
exhibited a most creditable pat io.ism
In some sections, especially of thorough
going Union localities, nearly oil the
farmers sons of suitable age have en-
listed.
The loss of this immense laboring force
is apparent when the fact is given that it
is equivalent to about 500, 100000 bush
els of corn per annum; for q single man
can tend % acres on an average of the
country, though 80 is the assignment to
each laborer on the praries.
This diminution OF labor is in part
supplied by contrabands ana emigrants,
and largely by the greatly increased ap
plication of machinery. 1t is true that
corn is still cultivated without much in
creased advantage from this source, but
its application to other productions has
supplied the deficiency OF many laEorcrs.
1t therefore, would well become the far
mers to consider it n patriotic duty to
bring AL the force possible into the Geld.
This patriotism IS rendered especially
agreeable from the fact that = better
prospect Tor profit never WAS presented
To the kings OF the soil We uoald
suggest that the sturdy daughters Of TIE
farmers wocId lose no caste or health by
contributing what they can TO fsrm labor
during the coming season We also sug
gest that these sons who aEe 1t the
academy or college he called bone TIL
after harvest ST least They need ret
dislike to lose the halfyear in their regi-
lar course because the health OF half Of
them absolutely requires it, and also let
it he remembered that most Of them are
under twenty years OF age, and any time
this side of % is early enough TO com
plete ones education. The best period
for study is between % and 50 years of
age. In fun compensation for the high
price of labor are the extraordinary prices
of most productions. Corn, oats and
potatoes have commanded more than
double the usual rates, and all kinds of
stock bring prices hitherto unknown.
The farmer cannot miss in planting any
thing for which his soil is best adapted.
White beans are profitable. and there Is
plenty of land that will Weld more of
this than Of any other crop. Onions are
much needed in the army. Hay com
nands an enormous price. though in view
of the probably speedy close Of the re
bellion we would not recommend an in
crease of meadows. Sorghum yields .
net profit per acre of from $50 70 Sl0o.
The close of the war. Some farmers
may exclaim. viii not that event bring
a general collapse of prices, and our pro
auctions at high cost be n drug in the
market at any price? Have no fear on
that score. What if the war close on the
4th of July? The next excitement will
be the rush of business and speculation
to the South. and IN consequence of the
speedy uplifting of all departments of
business and industry over so vast IN OK I
tent of hitherto neglected and slavery
cursed country. the prices OF az ag1icul- +
tural productions will continue cood Tor
Eve years at least.
Cotton and sugar viii occupy the at
tention of the farmers until it shall cease
to be more profitable than wheat, corn +
and stock. There need be no fear there
fore, about prices for half q decade TO +
come. So. we say TO the young and old,
male and female. pillow early. pillow late,
pillow deep and produce ..some thirty,
some sixty and some an hundred fold.
A gricuiture is ST the bottom of all bust
ness. and the condition of the country
after the war viii depend chiefly upon
the farmers.