The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1870-11-09
Speech Of Honorable Horace Capron.

My first counsel would be-prActice
restorative Instead of an exhaustive
systom Of agriculture. A system that
ensolves abandonment of lands, and
removal to new scenes, is unworthy of
age, aud reproach tu modern. cvili-
cation.
No man is worthy to be a farmer
who does not annually leave his land
in better I'll h and strength than he
found it. The intellect must share
more lsgely with muscle the toll Of
agriculture machinery directed by
skilled labor, aud propelled by brute
force, and also by tue mighty power Of
steam, must take the place Of expen.
sive and ipeffici-n, human strength.
THU change, as said in this Suite D
year ago, 'involves the necessity for
emaller tarms, BETTER culture, liberal
use of manure, rotation in crops, and
larger working capital in proportion
to permanent investment You are
already spending millions annually Oh
tho old lands of the Atlantic Stntcs
for commercial fertilizers. While |
would commend o jddioious expcndi-
ture in this direction. I would make
this a basis IF a practical rotation
with coulse of grasses and other res
torative agencies of scientific agricul-
turc. The business of Agriculture
should be an industry and not spec,
ula,ion. The insane pursuit Of special.
tiles has long been curse to American
agriculture. A whole community runs
wild upon hops, when selling at fifty
cents per pound, aud in two years
they are scarcely worth tho price Of
picking, and extravaganza begotten of
high expectations ia forthwith follow.
ed by bankruptcy. Wheat brings two
dollars per bu,hel, and wholc States
become wheatfelds, while every other
interest languisbes, until the bread
crop becomes so abundant as to fed to
swine in preference to shipment for
human food. The sheep, with
wool ut one dollar per pound, holds
high place in popular esteem but
is kicked from the pasture by every
Randol ph Of the farm Mt the A. st in-
dication Of heavy decline in the
value of its fleece. In your section,
cotton, great boon to your agricul-
ture as constituent in your uggro-
gate Of production, may become an
uumitiRated OWL if left to usurp the
place Of all othororops. The crop of
last year produced hundred million
Of dollars more than one, fifty per
cent, larger ten years ago. Three
millions Of balos may command
profit of $40 per bale, while Eve mil
lions may not bring dollar above
their cost. But present profit is not
the main consideration. The increase
in value and enlargement OF the pro-
ductive capacity of the soil, by q
judicious rotation, including the res
torative Influences of green cropping
and clttle feeding, in an increase uf
capital, a source Of larger annual in.
come, an addition to the Inheritance
of ones children. Itnot only iusures
profit from cotton culture, but en-
abIcs the planter to pocket The entire
proceeds Of its sale, other products
feeding man and beast. This leads
me to another word Of counsel namo-
ly:
PRODUCE MORE AND BUY LESS.
As al individual grows rich by
what he saves rather ,hau by what he
makes, so community thriyes by the
amount Of its surplus more than by
tho exteht Of its sales. How often
has tho money received for crop Of
cotton failed to discharge inde' ted
mesa incurred for all other supplies Z
How many plantations have been
mortgaged to secure such debts7 The
day viii come, If wise counsel is
needed, when tho products of cotton
will be all surplus, other products
paying the expense of the farm.
have received, officially abundant
testimony from individual success and
failures, Of the superior profits Of
mixed husbandry with cotton, am