The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-01-20
THE FARMER.
do Farmers study Enough:

The subject of agriculture is OH that
demands fully as much attention the
hands of the reading public as it CTS
Indeed no theme presents itself that is
fraught with more real import, so ar as
regards our prosperity, than the waits of
the agricultural world. What we mean
by attention is studious, careful sarch
for the best way of accomplishing cetain
desired results, not a superficial invesiga-
ton of some theory, merely for the pur-
pose of creating differences and provoking
discussion. The day has, happily, pass
ed when being farmer is synonymous
with being a blockhead. 1t requires
something more than mere phyical
strength to keep up with the advanc. of
the age, in farming as well as in science
Many of the systems of fifty years age are
no more applicable to the demands Of to-
day than would be an ox-team to rur an
opposition freight line across the Plans.
The farmer who reads much, and reads
that much with care, is the one who stands
in advance in intelligence, influence md
prosperity.
Science can aid the farmer in raising
wheat or corn just as much as it can aid
the miller in grinding it; and the science
TO be applied in agriculture is nothing
more than study of the composition Of
soils and the properties that are drawn
from them by certain grains. All This
cannot be done in a day any more than
physician makes himself thorough and
successful by staring at drug store.
Study, in both instances, sustained by
Judgment and experience, produced the
desired result.
The man of to-day, who conducts MS
farm upon the same principle as did ais
grandfather, is doing himself an injury
First, because the old system does notap-
ply; and second, land that is worth fDm
$50 to 800 per acre needs to be used With
more care, needs to be titled better, tlap
land that is worth but SO to $40; upon
the same principle that the more capital
invested the greater should be the income
On some of the choicest lands in our
State men are found who plough, year
after year, the same ''lots" their fathers
ploughed before them, and are continual
ly grumbling because their crops are smll.
They accuse their seed, the weather, every
thing-overlooking the great fact hat
certain necessary chemical properties hive
been literally sucked out of the soil.
Thisdesired study does not depend upon
reading alone; men often study each oh
er. Let agricultural societies be formed
whose avowed object is the dissemination
of practical information. AT this society
let there be full discussion of each 9th |
er's wants. Let them call in the assist |
ance of scientific men, throwing away the |
old notion that there is no community be- |
tween the college bred man and the far
mer. Science can assist in raising the gram |
upon the fertile intervals of the Chan
plain valley as well as the brawny plough /
man who turns up the soil. A
1t is too often the case that such appeals |
to the farming community are regarded in
the light of ''buncombe" This ough.
not TO be. The farmer should cure him.
self of the idea that reading and study
are incompatible with his calling, and he
should never again be heard to say that
''John is going to college and Jim has got
learning enough because he's going 10 be
farmer" Instead of all this, let him Ia
Dor to give dignity TO his calling. Do MT
impress upon the mind of poor 'Jin"
that his education should stop when he IS
able to write his name Make him u
derstand that the investigation of impo.
tant matters relating to his calling Is som.
thing that he can do for himself. Max
him understand that if he walks In til
dark it is his own fault.-Free Press.