The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-11-23
o,,r Domestic Economy.

-
>, our citizens at the present time as that o.
our domestic economy. A problem is ss
he solved by the people. All their s "a
oacity-all their energy and fortitude-w'i
he necessary for its safe solution. IL Is =
GREAT trial for any community TO chanss
Suddenly its social system and doh'ess.s
economy. 1t Is one of the grea'est .s
AZ the higher virtues Of men thar requ
them to adapt themselves 10 su.n thns far
ton. 1t is a wonder how II .s S,.s.r ord
gone on withou: widespread uls' ~ so,s.
ssa,s,oa pnt with such proof OF se"'
.Sa..tnr on6 consistency as the wni'e pop
.,,.t;on hoe displayed. we mus nave eh.'''
ter ~ +heir ability to go through '''e 'e''
r;h,e ordeal to its CONCLUSION.
M. croes being free, no man can con-
troll ar dire ct them as In past days. an.
arerv man must proceed to plan and p''cn
,,s fsrm and crops in view OF the hhee'-
tn,ptv Of the times and the absolute neces'
s,ty os seit.reliance and economy. Ihere
sre too many men who sigh away the tiine
ond comnlain Of want Of labor. Ihey VIII
have to learn that labor is at best uncertain
NOW. and that those who have not n'ohe'
" nav for 1t must not expect to nave IT,
surely any community ought to be abe 10
snnnort itself. If every family must nave
severa, who It is understood must not talh
tbe;r hands to any kind Of labor, then II II
clear the community consisting Oh u W.,
families cannot be "seif-sustaihlhe, ou'
must be supported by help from WITHOUT
and snch community, it is hardly prooa-
HE will have ready money to nay ZOE 'N''
outside assistance.
In all countries where slavery does not
exist the farmers, save the very wealthy'
mt their own hands to the pillow, and, upon
the average, the family not only supports
itself but has surplus for sale to pay taxes
and buy groceries, leaving remnant TOT Tue
saving bank. 1t should be so settled mere
that the family which has no money 10 en-
nIoy labor with must do all the work Itself.
indoors and out. This is the practice
among mechanics. 4 man who commences
little business begins with his own per-
sistent labor, and enlarges only as he has the
means and the business. In small farms no
such supernumerary as an overseer can ne
thought of. The farmer himself must be
oyerseer and laborer. He must do much
and COG to everything, and when ne mas
gotten through successfully and housed M
abundant support for his family, as every
wise and experienced farmer can. he VIII
ENJOY satisfaction unknown to the man
who ia too poor to hire labor and too proud
to work himself. The example Of this stoUt-
hearted and diligent small farmer is IN
valuable. he will be sure to raise III indus
trious family. Loungers will be rebukeo
by his perseverance,. and idlers will find no
congeniality in his company.
This is the lesson that all small farmers
must learn. 1t will prove Invaluable 10
them, and faithfully followed, it will bring
Virginia out of her troubles, and do much
to purify her population from drones and
riff-raff. who ever seek to live upon the
labor Of other people.
Let there be q cessation Of the dolorouS
accounts about labor, and let all men see II
their own labor is not very good subs!l-
tute for other peoples labor.
To adapt husbandry to this devotion Of
the family to the making of their own sup
port, and economising and improving their
resources with their own hands, radical
change, as we have before so frequently
argued, will have to be made in the system
of farming. The surface to be titled must
within the scope Of the ability Of the tillers.
Fencing must be diminished and small
fields conveniently arranged. These must
be improved and closely tillad with success
sive crops-one always of clover. A small
number of good stock should be well taken
care of. All the offices and places OF de-
post Of food and forage should be COM
pactly arranged, so as to tighten and facill-
tate the domestic labor.
Men who have not pursued this system
have no idea how it facilitates labor, ant
how 1t improves land and promotes the In
dependence of those whose means do moi
allow them to conduct farming on large
scale.
All Southsiders know the custom that &c
generally prevails amongst them of fencing
off a piece of ground in spring which i;
called the "cuppen," and which is iii.
tended for the turnip patch. In that pen
the cows are closed ut night, and it is in
tended that their droppings shall fertiize
the soil for the important crop OF turnips
because, come what will, turnips must bt
hnd! 1t will be borne in mind that OH hun
dreds of farms the application of cow ma
nure is made in no other way. Well, VIII.
is this! If it will make good turnipsi it vii
make good corn If it will enrich one piece
Of ground 1t will enrich equally as well an
other. But the cattle are allowed to roam
for miles-as often in the woods rs else
where, and as often on other peoples lane
as that of their owner. What waste!
Now, If the farmer had small number
Of well-kept cattle-kept under roof, and ;
great part of the time soiled-he could ge
enough manure, not only for "turnips,
but good deal for the corn and the gar
den. Added to the accumulations Of the
stable-well taken care of by scattering dry
earth and lime or plaster upon the heap
occasionally-there would be large sup.
ply one that would do 4 great deal Of
good on the land and increase the crops
No one will dispute the assertion that ur
to this time there has been great waste o
the manure of the Virginia farms. 1t he!
been owing in part to the improvidence 0
slave labor, and in part to the fashion o
using extensively guano and the Phos
pilates. The homemade manures may moi
be SO quick in their effects as the concen
trated fertilizers, but they will be more en-