The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-15
enumeration and Farming

At this time it is rather difficult to iut-
press upon the public mind a full apprecia-
ton Of. the great changes that will have to
be made In our domestic and agricultural
economy to meet the new state of things
brought upon us and tits. furthermore, not
now within the power of the farming COM
mnnity to enter upon these changes with
much energy or to a great extent. Money
is wanted to make these changes suddenly,
and this our people have not got. We
must rest contented, therefore, with such
gradual adaptation Of tillage and economy
to the new era as an industrious and
sagacious people a accomplish under the
difficulties which best them.
1t is prudent, nevertheless, that the sub
iect should be we'll considered BY the farmer,
and that he should, as rapidly as possible,
conform to the practices and usages which,
under q system of free labor, can alone
assure profitable farming.
Every sensible man now admits the i'm
p~ortance of diminishing the area of land
cultivated as the true way to use free
labor, and to 80 improve the land as
to make it pay for the labor. To this
policy must be united a general system OF
| economy and saving-the bringing OF al
the offices, the barns, granaries, shelters,
| stables, farming implements, &c., as near
and convenient to the dwelling as possible
for protection, supervision, convenience,
and labor-saviDg.
The farmer, too, must study the habits
of the white laborer-his wants, and also
his wishes, sufficiently far to promote bis
contentment !; for you cannot keep labor.
ers who are Observation-Disclosures white
nor black. The matter Of feeding hands
is especially one of great consequence.
Although the negro has always had an
abundance, it must be remembered that
the white immigrant wants a different sort
Of food. He cannot at first eat corn
bread, and we must learn to give him his
dark flour bread, and accustom him as we
NAV to the food usual in this country. But
| a proper system of tillage and a proper IN
derstanding of the sort of food that suits
them will soon enable the farmer to feed
them at less cost than the negro. We all
know. that our old system was lavish and
extravaganza. The new will be far more
economical.
Then the matter of serving the meals
to laborers will become one of the most
important of all. On large farms for white
men there should be a common table, if
the farmer finds them. Rations will not
do save for those having families and
living apart from the others. Well-seated
at a table properly provided, the order
will be good and the eating reasonable in
proportion as order and decorum are pre-
served by liberal and wise regulations.
Small farmers must bring themselves to
allowing the white laborer to sit at their
own tables. 1t is the cheapest and least
laborious mode; any other is wasteful of
means and time. The farmer must eat
with his men, and come and 60 with them.
Lodgings should be comfortable and
convenient to the main dwelling. Every
man must concentrate his force, and save
time by shortening all distances and ex-
pediting all sorts of operations.
With all this, the farmer must get rid of
all useless animals and things. Broken
ploughs, parts of vehicles, old trumpery of
all sorts, are demoralizing; they are can
GERS that disease the perfect things-or,
rather, they are nuclei for the accumula-
ton of nuisances, and are ever inviting
destruction.
Get rid of all animals not absolutely ne
cessary. Feed what you have we'll; har-
ness your horses well; work them hu-
namely; keep vehicles and implements in
order; and thrift must follow. Such farm
ing, such economy, will suit immigrants,
and will in one year from this time not
want for labor.