The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1869-12-03

! changed condition of circumstances
| by which VIC arc surrounded; in tho
I thorough and sweeping revolution in
| our system Of labor, enforcing the
Divine c'lict, as bencficcnt as it is lust.
that man shall ent bread by the sweat
Of his own face, and not by that of
his fcllow-man, and by tho rcsistlcss
tide Of intellectual activity and effort
every where surrounding us, to take
onr place in the march OF material
! progress, and by calling science to
the aid Of labor, blending brain and
muscle in harmonious cooperation,
build up c.fallcn fortunes of our be-
loved State, make her waste places to
: bloom and blossom rs the rose, and
facilitate and hasten her attainment
of prosperity and happiness, more
exalted: moro general, aud more per-
mancHt, than has ever been witnessed
within her borders. That the Legis-
!atnre will chcrrfully cooperate in
all Legitimate efforts to brn. about
this desirable rcsuit-thc improve
i mcnt Of our Agricultural cannot
permit myself to doubt. The forma-
ton Of societies OF practical farmers,
meeting together periodically to com
municatc and contrast the results Of
their experience and experiments,
adds the additional stimulus Of cmu
lation TO efforts Of Improvement and
excellence. ! would suggest that :n
appropriation be made, to be appor-
toned among the different Counties
which may raise an equivalent sum,
to be distributed rs premiums TO those
who may excel in the different branch
es Of their profession, but particular
ly in the deep and thorough breaking
up and pulvcrization Of the soil, which
is of primary importance, and to the
neglect Of which must of our waste
of labor and of land may bo attribu-
ted. The substitution Of thorough
tiIlage for the superficial scraping and
scratching Of the soil now so general
ly practiced, is the first step to i'm
provement and success, and this
truth cannot be too forcibly impress
ell upon the minds Of the farmers,
and especially Of those who have but
recently become rroprietors or occu-
pants ofland on their own account. This
will make many an acre not thrown out
"a cold fields" productive and vuIua-
Die, aud enable the thrifty and indus
trious farmer to procure homes at a
comparatively y small expense, the pro-
ducts Of which will contribute mate
rally to the support of thoir families.
Some Legislation seems to be neccssa-
ry for the prevention Of tho burning
OF tho woods, q practice not only dan
gerous i'll itself, and Injurious to tiu1-
Der, fencing and the soil, bat largely
r'sponsiblc for. noticeable changes in
our climate, for the increased latcncss
and severity Of our sonsons, and for
the long and exlIausting droughts,
which arc yearly becoming more dis
astrous. History, both ancient and
modern, contains many examples Of
the perhicious results Of dcnudinr q
country Of its timber; and by men of
intelligence it has been deemed that
the too general .fvlling of the woods
IS the most destructive among the
many causes of tho physical detcrio-
ration of the earth. 1t mischicvous
effects in our own section arc already
observable, not ONLY in our protrac-
ted drouShts and late spring frosts,
and in the washing out of the soluble
portion Of our soil, but in the drying
up Of springs and rivulcts, and the
destruction of our upland pastures,
many Of which during the summer
months afford neither water nor herb
ago for cattle. In tho State Of Iowa
the planting of trees is cncoura scd
by u law Of which the farmer is re-
leased from taxation for ten years on
one hundred dollars valuation for
every acre Of forest trees planted, from
taxation of fifty dol ars valuation
for five years; and similar provis-
ion for tho fruit trees and hedges
along the highways.
Sheep. .husbandry is an important
source Of wealth to the farmer, for
which we have many facilities and
advantages. Tho principal obstacle
to it's successful pursuit is the multi
tude Of dogs by which many neigh
borhoods are infested. 1t may be
| we'll to inquire whether the numbers
| OF these pcstilent ours may not be
advantageously diminished by hold
ing their owners to strict accounta-
bility for tho Offences and depreda-
tions committed by them and, as
there is seldom necessity for more
than one about a dwelling, salatary
influence may be exercised by impos-
ing discriminating tax on all above
that number, increasing the ratio Of
taxation with each additional animal;
thus, for a second dog in family,
two dollars; for third, three dollars !;
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