The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-07-23
Must Small Farmers Die Ont.
We take our text from the small-ty
column of daily contemporary:

We take our text from the small-type
column of daily cotemporary:
'It is lamentable to see sensible journals
like the Ecening Post advising yonng men
to become farmers rather than mechanics
We expect this kind of advice from II. G. !:
but any writer must be afflicted with men-
tai ophthalmia who cannot see that farming
is becoming avery poor business for people
of moderate means, while the times espc-
cially demand skilled workmcn. As popu-
lation becomes denser, we shall pay more
and more attention to manufacturing, and
less relatively to farming. 1t must be
borne in mind that the race of yeomen, or
small farmers, is commencing to die out in
this country, and the tendency is toward
large farms and labor saving machines
We cannot positively say, but it does
seem to us that the small farmers Of the
Eastern and Middle States are hardly
going to be snutled out in the prompt man
ner which is SO clear to the paragraphist
above.
There is great deal of stubborn metal
in small farmers, and we do not believe
that it will turn on q sudden into dross
under the heat of present progress city
ward.
1t is undoubtedly true that certain styles
of farming, such as growing the cerals or
grazing, and possibly dairy farming, may
be managed to more advantage in the large
way than in the small; not so much because
large lands or large capital are essential to
good crops, but because labor-saving ma
chimes of large cost can be worked more
economically upon farms of five hundred
acres than upon farms of ten.
But there remain scores of crops and
methods of farm practice-particularly
those demanding nice which
may be made quite as profitable in Il small
way as i'll large one. This fact, in addi-
ton to the increased independence of feel
ing which belongs to the country liver who
is absolute master of his few acres will
keep alive we fancy, for a long time to
come, the class of small ycomanry in the
country.
But such workers upon small parcels of
soil must open their eyes widely to the
necessities of their position. They must
not throw themselves into unfortunate COM
petition by growing crops which large
holders can make at a smaller cost. They
must aim at nicely and thoroughncss
which large cultivators working with gros.
ser material cannot reach.
Large moneyed OF landed capital is gain
ing power i'll this country, which, in many
vi i.o aopoS.s, W
If it is to wipe out all the holders Of small
parcels Of territory, and render all their
efforts to secure comfortable livelihood
nugatory, it will assume more Threaten
ing attitude than yet belongs to it.
We are no foes to those large mechanical
improvements which make territorial cul-
ture possible; and we welcome gladly that
well-adjusted system of tillage without
which extended operations upon the land,
by one directing mind, are quite impossible
But we should regard it do particularly
unfortunate if such progress in mechanics
and such enlarged tactics in field culture
were to break up the thousand quiet little
homesteads Of independent proprietors,
and turn them adrift upon the towns No
such necessity or probability is apparent.
The denser population becomes the
greater is the urgency of thorough and
nicer tillage. The oyerstocIled countries
of Japan aad China are cases in point.
We have not the slightest apprehension
that the New England hills will be convert
ed into vast sheep walks or that grazing
lords will rule the fertile plains of the mid
die States to the dispersion of the mall
holders. and Home.