The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-04-22
Secret of A Agricultural Success.

This is what everybody wants to know
and but few have found out AS general
thing, farmers and planters of the South
have been opposed to learning; they get
into the habits and old beaten cuts of their
ancestors, and it is next to impossible to get
them out. Book farming" as it is termed,
as a general thing, is unpopular, and yet
these very books so summarliy discarded
are but the experience of men whose laborS
have been crowned with success, and who
have grown prosperous and rich by aban-
doning the errors Of the past. Look at Mr..
David Dickson. of Hancock county: He is
a book farmer, working plantation which
ten years ago was remarkable for its poverty
more than for any other quality, and yet he
makes one acre produce with the same
amount of labor from three to ten times as
much as our Georgia neighbors. How is
this great result accomplished: That 1t is
great and that the same process adopted
generally by the agriculturists of the South
would double our wealth in less than five
years, is beyond all question. The facts are
clearly established, and a school boy who
can cypher in the Rule of Three, will be at
no loss at demonstrating this conclusion.
We take Mr.. Dickson's case, because it is
an Illustrative one. 1t is not a question of
luck, but one of skill and good Judgment,
and any man who follows his plans is obliged
to succeed. What then is the secret of this
great Georgia farmer? 1t is simply to give
back more of the producing principle of the
soil every year than You take away from it.
Here Is a solution of the whole mystery, and
we may add that the more you give back
the more prosperous you will become. Mr..
DickSOnS plan involves no particular skill
ofcultivation. He plows deep, keeps crops
clean, and the earth well stirred during the
growing season. Most planters do this,
and vet there Is one essential part of his sys-
tem-the one that fertilizes all his labOrs
and crowns them with suceess-that most
other planters do not observe. 1t is that
which we have mentioned-the liberal use
of manures whether made on the farm or
imported from abroad, though in every ex-
pericnce has demonstrated the superiority
of the latter. They are more powerful and
more portable, and in the long run the cheap
est of the two.
We are well aware that the idea of paving
out money for manures is repugnant to
many old fogies. who are content to lag
behind in the race of progress but all INTEL
ligent planters are obliged to see and con-
Tess that practical results have established
their unreasonable obstinacy. Ii an acre
of ground unaided will bring the value of
S33 in cotton, and by the application of $50
In manure you can make it produce $10O,
there Is clear gain of $47 after paying all
expenses. This Is a reasonable calculation.
Many planters who use the commercial
manures greatly exceed that amount of
grain. Then why DO our agriculturists
hold back: Why not avail themselves of
this new power commerce has placed at
their command,and reap the glorious fruits,
instead OF tolling ON year after year with
exploded systems of culture, and growing
poorer and poorer as time advances? Com
mon sense is popular phrase among plan
tiers, and we commend them to its teachings
IN this matter. 1t is grave one. indeed.
and involves the destiny Of our people for
the future.
And in this connection We would bring tn
the public attention the claims of those
merchants of Savannah, who have embarked
in this particular business of SUPPLYING our
planters with the various fertilizers. foreign
and domestic. While they seek their own
prosperity. they are engaged in a beneficial
work, and we would rejoice to see them an
get rich. for we would have the assurance
that they did so not at the cost of their
countrymen, but from their thrift and pros
perity though TO speak more correctly, we
should reverse the order of cause and effect
the planters will have prospered on the
business of the merchant. The time is ap-
proacning for preparing the soil for another
crop. and as most of our planters will have
q surplus, let them all invest liberal por-
ton Of it, If not the whole, which would be
better, in Well-selected fertilizers. 1t paws
quickly, pays surely, and better per cent,
than any other possible investment.--Han-
cock Journrl.