Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-04-20
FARM AND HOME.
DO Farmers Study Enough 2


The subject of agriculture is one that de-
mands fun as much attention at the hands
of the public as it gets. Indeed, no theme
presents itself that is fraught with more
real import, so far as regards our prosperity
than the wants of the agricultural world.
What we mean by attention, is studious,
careful search far the best way of accom-
plishing certain desired results not q SUI
perficial investigation of some theory,
merely for the purpose of creating differ
ences and provoking discussions. The day
has happily passed when being a farmer
was synonymous with being blockhead.
1t requires something more than mere
physical strength to keep up with the adj
vance of the age, in farming as well as in
science. Many of the systems fifty years
ago are no more applicable to the demands
of to-day than would be an ox-team to run
an opposition freight line across the plains.
The farmer who reads much and reads
that much with care, is the one who stands
in advance in intelligence, influence and
prosperity.
corn or wheat just as much as it can aid
the miller in grinding it and the science
to be applied in agriculture is nothing
more than a study of the compositions of
soils and the properties that are drawn
from them by certain grains. All this
cannot be done in day any more than a
physician makes himself thorough and
successful by staring mt drug store. Study,
in both instances, sustained by judgment
and experience, produced the desired
result.
The man of to-day, who conducts his
farm upon the same principle as did his
grandfather, is doing himself an injury.
First, because the old system does not
apply; and second, land that il worth
but $500 to 800 per acre needs to be titled
better than land that is worth but $40 to
$50; upon the same principle that the
more capital invested, the greater should
be the income. On some of the choicest
lands in Michigan men are found who
pillow year after year, the same " lots y
their fathers pfowed before them, and are
continually growing poor because their
crops are small. They accuse their seed,
the weather, neutrality-suspicious. the
great fact that certain necessary chemical
properties have been literally sucked out
of the soil.
This desired study does not depend
upon reading alone men often study
each other. Let agricultural societies be
formed whose avowed object is for prac-
fical information. At this society let
there be full discussion of each others
wants. Call in the aid of scientific men,
throwing away the old system, that there
is no community between the college-bred
man and the farmer. Science can assist in
of the Champlain valley as well as the
brawny plowman who turns up the
soil.
1t is too often the case that such appeals
to the farming community are regarded in
the light of buncombe." This ought not
to be. The farmer should cure himself oil
the idea that reading and study are incom
patible with his calling, and he should
never again be heard to say that John i.
going to college, and Jim has got learning
enough because he's going to be farmer.
Instead of all this, let him labor to Civ,
dignity 90 his calling. Do not impress
upon the mind of poor Jim that hfs ed
ucation should stop when he is able t,
write his name. Make him understand
that the investigation of important mat
tiers relating to his calling Is somethin,
that he can do for himself. Make him un
derstand that if he walks in the dark it i
his own Exchange.