The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-12-31
Agricultural Policy of ths South.

The opinion here given of the proper course
to be pursued by Southern nd-holders may
ruffie the pride Of some, and may conflict with
the ideas of others, to the policy to be pursued
in the material reconstruction of the South, but
the writer as one of the sufferers himself trusts
he may be excused for the utterance of honest
opinions dictated by the deplorable condition to
which the planting. States have been reduced, not
only by the ravages of war, but also by the in
dustrial paralysis in which they have been held
since their subjection.
That the entire agricultural system of fourteen
States has been partially, or completely over
thrown, and that another, more in accordance
with their future condition is to be adopted 1T Is
mere folly to deny, and the sooner we make up
our minds to accept the situation, and make the
best of it, the better for all.
Under the new system, the first, and most OBJ
vious change to be made is in the extent of landed
estates These in most instances are far too large
and though it may wound the honorable pride OF
the holder to ALLEVIATE even portion OF his an
cestral acres he had better part with that portion
by his own act than to lose the whole under the
hammer of the sheriff. To sell part to obtain
capi,al wherewith to cultivate the remainder, is
obviously the true policy; but can this be done? !?
Can it be of general application? We fear not,
for where all are sellers, where are the buyers to
cannot get them at the North or abroad, for
neither capital nor labor will seek country whose
political status IS undefned. Falling then, In
this. what is the next best course to pursue
| Why clearly to reduce the number of cultivated
acres to an extent proportioned to the diminished
labor and increase the moving and grazing land
The system of enclosures should be done away
with entirely, and every man be compelled to
take care of his own stock, but if this be too alb
rupt a change we should at least get rid of the
cross-fencing by keeping the grazing lands in &
permanent pasture, and this, by the way makes
the best grazing. The older the sod the richer
the grass, is in Europe an agricultural maxim
Another thing to be done is to aim at create
diversity of production. Southern agriculture
has been too long running in one groove
Why should we confne ourselves to four ol
five staples when we might have a dozen! LIE
us by stringent legislation get rid OF the thous
ands Of useless ours which infest the land, ant
we will produce more and better wool and NUT
ton than the Northern States. The whole o
our middle region, along the Blue Ridge Is tn
best dairy region on the continent. Most OF tn
Northern States, including Wisconsin, are be
coming large growers of hops, at remuneratint
prices and vet there are hundreds OF gardens II
Virginia and Maryland in which hop vines hav
been fiourishing from colinial times to the pres
ent. without care or attention. But the grea
necessity of the moment is labor, and we shoul
seek to obtain it through Legislative action. N
matter how great the debt of the States may be
they should, as Maryland has recently done
make liberal appropriation for the introduetlo
of foreign labor. State Bureaus should be es
tablished for the express purpose, and capable
we'll paid agents sent abroad to demonstrate tn
immigrant by the Southern States with thel
L. Ic olo
schoolhouses and churches already built, an
proximity to the seaboard and large growing maj
kets. The small rill diverted Southward trol
the great tide of immigration flowing to the will
lands of the West, will soon swell into grea
: stream of humanity, which will restore us
more than our prosperity.-Turf Field an
FdrDl