The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-01-14
A gric ult ural.
Method in Farming.

One of the greatest disadvantages of slave labo
to the agricultural interests of the South was tn
loose and slip-shod manner of cultivating tn,
soil. The owner of plantation would entrus
1t to his overseer with instructions to feed an(
clothe the negroes from the products of the soil
and to save certain surplus of tobacco and cot
ton for his (the proprietor's) use This opera
ton being repeated year after year finally ex
hausted the soil Little or no effort was made
| towards the improvement of the land, fertilizers
| being used with reference only to the immediate
crops to which they were applied; neither was
there any adequate action taken to ascertain the
probable proftableness of other than the few
stsple crops of tobacco, cotton, wheat and corn.
Even these staples were not rendered as lucrative
as they might have been by the employment of
machinery. These we say were evils incident to
slavery; but now that it no longer exists, new
and better order of things should be introduced.
We must have system in our farm operations
We must divide our plantations into fields of
such size that We can conveniently cultivate them
saving machinery and implements to the greatest
possible extent, and we must make agriculture
science.
Every farmer should be educated for his work;
he should understand the natural sciences and
apply them to his daily operations. He should
study the nature of his soil, understand the pecu-
liarities Of his climate, and adapt his crops to
these peculiarities and characteristics There is
such thing as scientific Acknowledgements than
that, it is the only profitable agriculture We
do not mean by this theoretical farming but we
mean common sense and the plain truths of
natural science applied to the practical operations
of the farm by those whose education has been
two-fold, viz: that derived from books, and that
derived from experience.
Another essential to successful farming in our
present condition-indeed under any circum-
stances, but especially now when we are under
going metamorphosis in our system of labor,
cropping, &C., is well kept record of everything
done and attempted on the farm each year. We
know of nothing more useful-in fact more in
dispensable, than this daily record of work, the
state of the weather. the condition of the crops,
&c With such diary, it is easy each season
to avoid the errors and mistakes of the previous
year, to guard against insects and diseases, and
to determine what crops are the most profitable
and desirable We must also adopt and adhere
closely to the rotation system of cropping if we
would improve our lands; indeed, if we would
save them from absolute and entire exhaustion.
d1ae ahoge hp be dfn Faar
us in agriculture in consequence of the system
WHICH tney auOpC; anu Willie VIC Ny Ho uicdHo
counsel an imitation of that race, either socially,
morally Or politically, we may with profit turn to
account what of good we find amongst them with
out adopting the greater mass of evil which
abounds in them
In the management of our labor there must
also be more system. 1t will not do to hire labor
by the year, giving a certain amount of money
with board, and the employer paying for all the
lost time. Here the Northern plan will have to
be adopted, of paying certain per diem, the
Iaborer paying his own board, and being paid
only when he works. This may be, and doubt
less is, repulsive to the Southern gentleman who
has been in the habit of feeding and clothing his
negroes, and taking in return such labor as they
may choose to render. But we must remember
that if the relations which the negro sustained to
us have changed, those we bore to him are no
longer binding upon us; and as this change is
not due to our acts, we are not responsible Tor
any i'll results to the negro.
There are many other matters which will re
quire close attention, by which expenses may be
reduced and profits enhanced, that can only be
done by adopting and closely following regular
system in all our farm operations, and we urge
this course upon all who desire a competency, or
hope to realize independence from the profits OF
.or;oulturo - PicLm0uI Fy1n,er