Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-01
PROFITS OF AGRICULTURE AND REASONS
l02 ENGAGING IN 1T. -.

We often heRr Il said that This eonn,rr "a, revor
De restored to prosperity until its agricultural in
Iterests are made to flourish The remark Is az trpe
us trlte, YET we cannot see that Is being gene
rally acted upon by the masses Of the people.
Cnder the system OF slave labor ard cheap cotton.
no one was reekoned planter who did NOT contrnf
the labor of dozen or "A score Of hands 'r,e crl
tnre of cotton paid when the land was GOOD and
the farm hands numerous aud owned. notwitb-
standing the almost nominal price which the raw
Staple was sold by producers. Now with the Toss
OF slave labor, his come 10 our rel ef ois n, en
hancement in the price Of cotton; and IL Is really
questionable whether our people are alive to their
gums. Let US examine into the matter to see if
agricultural employments would not nav whether
viewed on their own merits at tiAe prisent lime or
10 comparison with such, occupations "a have more
in them of show and ecLdt than of real merit.
The best farmers with slave labor raised eight
naes OF cotton to the hand, besides a plenty OF
provisions for year ahead. In the meantime their
cattle increased in number their sheep multipled.
Ineir orchards grew, their vineyards 1ourished-
The cotton crop was all gain The best land yeId
ed n bale 10 the acre-1their poorest a tbirS ofa
bale, II, the farmer should now apply himself m
slduously to the work, he might be expected to do
as wei as one OF his negroes formerly did-with
the difference Ia his favor Of Gotten at ten ceutsa
pound and cotton at forty cents pound Shoald,
then, farmer himself work on bis plantation,
hituVut any ne ne nlRnI raise eight bales OF cot
ton, which would bring him IN at the close of the
year sixteen hundred dollars, and, in addition.
might, the same gear, raise all the provisions ne
cessary for his family If he has sons to help him,
his profits might be proportionaby increased. If
he hired help, the same result would follow A'e''
Nov what youngorhan can calculate, with any
certainty, on sncb success in any calling which be
may choose TO folow?, It is notorions that many
wig enter upon any Of The. professions or trades
make miserable failures; others barely obtain a
subsistence, and the fewcst possible reach elt.ier
the fortune or the renown which had attracted
them, through long life. i. ...... ..,-..
Weeueed enter on no argument to prove the re.
spectabhy OF the occupation of farming The
greatest poets ofancient and of modern times have
extolled the Occupation with rpens the great-
est of eartl heroes have illustrated it by lifetime
devotion to II; and mutithdes which no man can
number have found themselves advanced to fortune,
f not to fame. by the sure and spr0ftable returns
which this branch of industry has ever made in re-
turn for the labor bestowed. Health respectabiliy,
longevity, fortune, are the sure rewards Of aife
devoted to agricultural pursuits. -1ss1 Iss hes
If our Young men, and our old ones too, would
cease TO repne over past and -rreclaimabe losses,
think more of the advantages by which they are
still surrounded and hddess themselves Ia good
earnest TO the delightful task Of making The earth
bring forth her fruits inher season, we should see
smiles their faces and in the end prosperity and
happiness Macon Ga Telegraph ,--sf srf;y
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