The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-02-13
Prepare fer Spring.

| It viii soon be time for the farmers to
commence their Spring campaign on good
| old mother earth-a campaign always re-
newed with each revolving year, and al
most invariably with fruisfully compensat-
! ing results. Las. season. n this region, il
is true. some Of our crops We're o partial
failure, and It may possibly DC 70 again.
But il is not probable that two seasons Of
shor. crops Will succeed each other in the
same locality. The resul. Of these short
crops is, that several articles Of farm pro-
ductions ARE now, not higher than they have
been before, but much higher than is usual
IN this country. Corn, cats hay and pork
are now selling il the markets at prices
which prove that the stoeil on hand, il not
absolutely insufficient, IS, al least, so
short as to afford no prospect of a sur
plus. Perhaps, and probably, the waste of
war and the large number of our agricul-
tural population in the army, have united
ly produced a result, which. from whatev-
er cause, undoubtedly exists.
If there were large surplus Of corn, oats,
&C., on hand, ii would be less important to
the country whether this years crop should
prove abundant. AS matters are. however,
it S plain that another failure in these sta
pies will very seriously affect the welfare
and cramp the energies of the whole people.
Such being the case, we are all interested
in the coming harvests. It is plain that
there is no danger of their proving too ex-
uberant-that, let all plant and SOW as much
IS they can, and the season prove as favor
able as could be wished, the total crop will
not be likely to exceed our wants, or the
price sink below compromising rate.
Self interest, as well as public duty, unite
n stimulating our whole agricultural pop
ulation to put forth their utmost ener-
gies towards preparing 70 SOW and plant
this Spring as largely as possible. Oats
should be sown abndantly. Those who
can get early and good crops Of this army
necessity, Will undoubtedly be able to OBJ
tain very high price for them. Corn in
this vicinity, and wherever il is q staple
crop, should he planted as extensively as
possible. And Spring Wheat should be
sown with no sparing hand wherever it is
usually grown. Every effort should be
made, and every idle hand should be en-
ployed IN this direction, not solely on the
ground Of private interest, and because it |
IS likely TO pay better than in ordinary
times, but also on the higher principle of
patriotism and public duty.
We refer to the matter now for the pur-
pose Of calling attention to what is, in fact,
a national necessity, and to encourage time
ly and general preparation for the future.
If our farmers will every where do all they |
can towards planting in the Spring, when
labor will be comparatively scarce, We
think they may safely assure themselves
of abundant assistance in the harvest. A
large number of soldiers in the field will be
and return to their homes by
that time, and they will be ready to assist
in gathering the crops they cannot aid in
planting. We want a good harvest the
coming season. We cannot have it unless
the seed be put into the ground in due sea-
Son. Let us all plant, then, in the Spring
as much as we can, remembering that Prov
idence smiles upon the true laborer, and,
in the proper season crowns his hopes with