Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1869-05-14
" a r. i II II Y.
Mechanical Aid in Agriculture.

q stubborn t~cuacity, hold to tho tools and
modes of working as handed down to them
by their ancestors, actually driving tho same
wooden pillow that their fathers drove, cutting
their fields of grass with tho heavy hand
scythe as did their progcnitors, laboriously
boating tho fail in the very same manner as
thoy beat tho grain from golden shcavcs; and
VIC recollect to have seen, and that too with
in the past few years, the OK used upon the
thrcshing floor to tread out the grain.
1t will be noticed that this class of farmers
disdain to use mechanical assistance in their |
agricultural labors, considering them as one
OF the many humbugs of the age, "hard earn
cd" dollars out of thcr pockets. They argue
that their fathers lived and prospcrcd on those
broad acres, and why should not they do the
same? But they admit that they do not
prosper as did their ancestors, though follow.
ing faithfully in their footsteps, blowing, SOW.
lug and reaping precisely in the SAM manner,
using the same tools, and lacking not the
habits of industry which distinguished those
that wrought before them Jet the stubborn
conviction faces itself upon their minds that
they do not grow richer, but rather poorer,
and their fields grow less productive. They
often lean upon their gates or rest upon the
hoe handle and discuss their situation with
their neighbors, seemingly cndcayoring to
solve the knotty problem; they lament their
hard lot and and the unproftablencss of farm
ing, and envy that class of mechanics who
have a greater share of money than themselves.
We regret that ideas of this kind are early
lnstllled into the minds of their sons and
daughters, who, at an early age, barely fcdg-
ed as it were I, order to better their condi-
ton, leave their parental home and seek en-
ploymcnt in towns and cities, eagerly grasping
the opportunity of q clcrkship with a salary
that can barely give support, consoling them
selves with shc idea that Ms farming "does
not pay" they are no worse off than they
would be at home.
Another generation will see this class Of
old school ngriculturists disappear from the
field OF action, and the class of scientific farm
ers will have filed their places-a class who
believe In the progress and improvement and
hesitate not to turn from the manner in which
their fathers wrought. They value their
muscle, and seek to do their work by the aid
of steam or animal power, and such mechan-
ical combinations as can best assist to perform
what was once accomplished by the "swcat of
the brow" They have called the genius of
the mechanic to their aid, and, as a result
the mower, the reaper, the thrcshing machine,
and scores of other inventions have been pro-
duced, accomplished the desired end.
AS one of tho result, of this employment of
machinery, VIC see the less hours of actual la
Dor consumed and q greater amount of work
flushed in better manner. No farmer can
now prosper without mechanical appliances,
and these Delng among the stern demands of
the present time their best points arc brought
out and to "pay." Without them failure is
an evident certainty. The life of the agri-
c~ulturist is fast emerging from one of scrvile
labor to that of intelligent and pleasant cm-
ployment, bringing, when rightly conducted,
golden shcavcs Of harvest, laden with the in.
crease of an hundred fold from the seed orig
inally sown.-American artisan.
Too MUCu LANDING know q farmer
who, ten years ago owned one hundred and
fifty acres of land, and was doing well he now
owns five hundred and is worse off than be-
fore. And why Because this large farm
is a great expense to him he cannot afford to
keep it up in good condition, and it hangs
like a milestone of care about his nook. His
wife and his children, both sons aud daughters,
are obliged to work hard to keep the great
machine running. We presume his boys do.
Glare they will leave home as soon as they
are old enough; and the girls say they will
die before ehoy will marry farmers. Neither
sons nor daughters are educated as they de.
serve to be, they cannot be spared for this from
work on the big farm. Now we declare that
such a farm is a curse to its p~osscssor and his
family, and an injury to the whole agricultu-
raj interest. IF that man wants to save him.
self and his household, he should sell at least
one half Of his land, improve the remainder
to cake it moro productive, relieve his chill.
dreh from bondage, and try to make his home
a~camfort. He will live longer, lay up as good
apfopcrty, and will train up moro intelligent
andIa happier family.
lAmcrican Agrtcu1tma1ta.