The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-03-17
For the Standard.
The Industrial Resources of North Car.

and the practice Of Agriculture are now only
beginning to, obtain that attention and
H. study which their vast importance demands.
h Perhaps more than three fourths of the peo-,
pie of this State are employed directly in
the business of farming, and in great ma
jorty of cases very little progress has been
made in knowledge or in SKILL The impor-
tant discoveries OF modern science are I'M {
known, the improved implements and la :
bor-saving machines, so admirably adapted
to the cultivators use and convenience, are
not heard OF, and the poor, neglected, I'M
educated worker on the rmEisolated and
forsakcn-labors all his life in poverty and
privation, at every MISUNDERSTANDING
always against the laws of nature, and even
the dictates of experience, to lift heavy bur-
dens with the short end Of the lever in his
grasp, and to do double work with half
the profits which he might easily obtain.
The late Doctor Emmons brings
the Importance of agriculture before
us very clearly, in the following extract from
his report on the Geological formation of the
Eastern counties of North Carolina
What lies at the foundation of copn-
merces What spreads her sails, or gene
rates the steam of our floating castles. which
ply from port to port and from country to
country? 1t is agricultural production.
There is no other substratum on which the
business of the world can rest Nothing
else can impel the mighty engines of COM
merce, or set in motion the locomotive, with
its heavy train of cars 1t is not because the !.
merchant buys and sells again. That Is not
production. But it is because the farmer pro-
duces. The other is but transfer, and is only
an incident of trade. The production is the
ruling cause 1t is that which supports,
which moves. Put stop to production and
the wheels cease to move, the paddle ceases
to tuIn, the locomotive stands still, and the
whistle is no longer heard. Production is
the great element of life in commerce and,
manufactures. It%is because agriculture
exists that commerce thrives, and that mer-
chants can buy and SELL The earth is prop
erly called the mother of all. Her fruits
nourish us. and supply the materials for the
arts and manufactures, and the articles for
trade and commerce. The earth is mother
of all, but that does not justify the agricul-
| turist in waiting for. her fruits with folded
arms, and to neglect to store his mind with
the elements and principles of agricultural
knowledge, or hope, in inactivity, on good
providence, or good fortune If mother earth
is rightly depended upon. it will be accom-
panied by works and the study of principles
as connected with what he is to do for his
soils" 80
10 this quotation, the good sense of which
is much better than the English or German,
we have no exaggerated amount of the vast
Importance of agriculture. Not one-tenth
part of this State is at present under a
| proper and productive system of farming.
| The old wasteful and exhaustive modes of
continuing year,after year. to raise similar
crops on the same ground until no more can
be produced, is still practiced by almost all
our farmers, and few. and feeble are the eff
forts to reclaim and restore the fertility of
our numerous old fields ~ thousands of
acres of which are to be found even in. our
most productive counties. Now, surely this
condition of things must be changed. Tie
| lights of modern science must be cast upon
the all important industry of the farm. And
the young men vast majority of the
| youth of our State we trust-who intend to
devote themselves to the honorable and use
fnl profession of farmers, must have an OPP
portunity of learning the true principles
which underlie their business, of having the
lectures of learned men who have made
this branch of industry their study, and of
seeing all the approved methods of culti
| VdtlOn eXempllleU III ldTil,
worked by their own labor, and provided
with approved implements, and competent
instructors. The one primary and most i'm
portant source OF wealth in North Carolina,
let it he remembered, lies in the productive
ness of its SOIL and skillful farming alone
can bring it forth and make it available. to
the relief of our present poverty, and tho
support of all our plans for the instruc-
ticn, prosperity and happiness of ohr people.
Let us send to market two or three times the
amount of valuable farm produce which we
now spare, and money viii he plentiful,
the few and light taxes, of the State easily
paid, and the educational expenses which
we must at once incur in the support of our
common schools, normal schools, academies
and University-all essential to the dignity
and welfare OF every civilized community
whilst the comforts and conveniences of life
will he placed within the reach of all our
citizens. 't.- '..1i ' -aH i-
This is no vain. dream of the theorist, out
the sure promise of science and experie zee
Other countries, not so highly favored by
nature in climate and soil, have become
rich by the sklliul cultivation of the land
and the adoption, of improved methods Of
farming and there is no reason why we
may not follow the same, course. There is
scarcely any limit that can be placed upor
the amount of corn, pork, cattle and dair,
| produce which North Carolina could sup
ply, and that too without any decrease ii
her present productions of cotton, tobacco
and wheat, whilst wise rotation of crops
and liberal use of manure would sustain
and increase the fertility of her fields; an(
the increase derived from superabundan
productions would soon pay all her debts
and build all the railroads that would b,
required ). aud thus industry, cheerfulncs
and abundance would prevail Throughout
all classes of our citizens. ts'' 400 DIS
4 A17''l iA' s-i'4o' sIt DELTA