Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-10-23
AGRICULT URAL.
What Cam be Done With Our
Lands by Proper Culture.
EDITOR Mcmphis Appeal

Editors Memphis Appeal:
In the very few remarks which made
on last Saturday before the Agricultural
Society OF Shelby County, mentioned
ths fact that n. NJ. Cbesirs Of Maury
county, in this State, raised on two hun
dred acreE, 1000 bushels Of wheat. This
at two dollars per bushel, would have
brought $4,000, or forty dollars per acre.
This wheat did not require more than
one-tenth, or, at farthest, one-fiftb OF the
labor or expense that would have been
required to cultivate the same land IN
cotton. The land was of excellent
quality, but in my opinion the lands in
Shelby and Fayette counties, Tenn,
or DeSoto and Marshall counties,
Miss, will, with proper management,
yield as much wheat ss did that
Of Mai. Chesirs. I said further, and
now repeat it, that our relief from pres
ent and prospective evils must come
more through industrial than political
agencies. We must adopt system of
agriculture in which we can use ma
chinery snd improved implements OF
husbandry as substitutes for the present
costly and imperfect manual lSbOr. II
one half of our lands we're turned into
permanent pastures, upon which fccks
and herds of sheep, cattle and
horses would Craze, aud the other
half put under such cultiva-
ton as would make it yield more
than the whole now does, with One-half
the labor and expense, then the country
would begin to prosper and the Southern
cities to grow in wealth and increase in
population. Col. Alien Jones, an inteili-
gent planter at Greensboro, Ala, told
me that last year he raised and killed
- = de-
Capt. T. B. Smith, of Chiekasaw county,
Miss, an energetic farmer, Of fine prac-
tieal sense, raised last year enough pork
to supply his place, and this year will
have s considerable amount to sell, over
and above what he needs for his planta-
ton. I mention these facts and give the
names Of the parties TO show what can
be done in the South towards raising
meat. Memphis can and should become
leading market for pork, grain snd
-four, as well as cotton. Maury county,
in this State, is making rapid strides In
improvement, because her Intelligent
farmers take deep interest in their ag-
ricultaraI society. In proof Of the fact
that bsle Of cotton may be rsised on
an acre, fild in the Aberdeen Miss,
Examiner the following statement:
IAN old gentleman residing Ia the
Southern portion OF this county, by the
name Of VIM. Jones, planted forty acres
in cotton last year, working five hands,
and made but seven bales. This result
disgusted Mr.. Jones with freed labor,
and, in 1858, he undertook the culture OF
but ten acres Of cotton, which he ma
nured with stable wsste and dead leaves,
and the result has been, tnat without
other assistance than that of his SOU,
lad OF seventeen, he has made.s bale to
the acre, on his cotton land, and had
time enough to make an abundance Of
corn, groundpess, potatoes, etc., and has
raised bis meat.n
did not mean to say that the distin-
guished agrieUIturist to whom alluded
was entirely unknown, BECAUSE I sup
pose many know him well; but among
those Of whom / inquired none knew
where he lived, when, as 1 supposed, he
would be well known to dx who took an
interest in the Improvement OF ths eoun-
try. Yours, etc.,
WN. ]. SYKES.