Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-08-10
'7-7-7'
.T(Be.ff5lbk fues;i'ole )
We Should Raise Mere Stock in
aUc the South.
BY A soUTHERNER,

BY. soUTHERNER.
One Of the great defects of the
farming practice of the South is want
of at ention to stock ofdalt kinds. On
many places we'll adapted to the rais-
ing Of cattle, sheep, hogs and horses,
the farm work, is done BY mules, OBJ
tained from abroad the laborers are
fed on pork produced in the West,
the buster used by the family comes
from He grocer, the cattle and sheep
are poor, i'll fed and neglected, and
the hogscfew and unthrifty in COM
parison with what they should be.
Our farmers should understand that
the great reliance for the improve
ament f,the soil is upon the stock OF
the farm. Without stock a sufficient
supply of domestic manures cannot
be made, and the vine will inevit :
bly decline in fertility until its cul-
tiyation ceases to be profitable. More
over, the farmer who tries it will find
that it is more profitable to turn his
surplus grain and roots into beef,
pork, mutton, butter, and a copious
supply of valuable homemade ma
nure,than 10 send 1t off to market at
a. avy expense for transportation.
These remarks are more especially
applicable 20 our. nnlands of mode
rate fertility. Alluvial landc
and swamps grain is made in sufi-
'cient quantities. to justify its sale
And in the interior wheat on imp ov-
ed lots is GENERALLY good farming
crop i;Onr farmers generally aecepl
the principle that it IS not profitable
to raise corn for market on their up
lands. but they do not inquire safi
cientlv into the question whether OF
such hnds3grain .lnay not be proftl
bly, raised for, stock.
II Europe they keep large herds
and Ifocks, by means of their hnt
meadows and pastures, and by rais
ing large quantities of roots, for win
ter feeding: By this means, they nos
only have, the finest meat, but milk
butter, cheese and wool; and rais'
manure enough,to keep their land
up to the highest point of productive.
ness. We might adopt their system.
here, with some modification, witt
great advantage. There are no let
ter natural pastures in the union than
may be found in the mountain dis
tricts of the South, as well as thos'
below tide water, in the Easter
parts. AS our Winters are short. i
Will require comparatively small
area to be planted in roots, and clio
yer, and other grasses, to support ii
large stock.
The manure raised, instead of be-
ing applied to the grain crops, as IL
the.old countries and in the NortherIi
States, where the system has beer
adopted to some extent, should here
be applied to cotton. l know from
my own experience, that even under
the old system, where the stock are
allowed to run in the woods, during
summer, and, d,arespalingly fed during
winter, With the of.al Of the grain.
crops, sufficient manure can be raised
per head to make 400 ID. bale OF
cotton. II they were provided with
good summer pastures, and witt
plenty of hay, and turnips, during
the winter. the quantity Of manure
would be incalculably increased and
its.quality much enhanced.
The more root crops, there would
be the more stock the more manure,
TIC more cotton. Under this sys-
tenn we might make as much cotton
as We do on one-third of the land.
save the money paid for fertilizer /,
and supply ourselves with an al un
dance Of fat beef and mutton. mil
md butter, articles that are e?tr-lLe
" rara,. even ON the tables OF oui
wealthiestf farner@the more shame
to them that It is so.
But the only way cur farmers car
be induced 10 keep a large stock Of
cattlS is TO convince them they cal:
make more cotton thereby, and a;
lese cost. !, No,system will be adopted
By them that-does not revolve around
this pivot.
There is now an awakening among
the agricuItarists of the South to the
necessity of improving the breeds OF
their domestic animals Almost any
oerson of proper qualifications VIII.
will undertake the business of r is
ing animals OF improved breeds, will
ind it a. profitable business. Sacl
arimaisrare being constantly hrou b
southwark at great expense and wi b
some risk, on: account of ch.nge If
climate, food, &c. A trader al the
South possesses many and Oh i, u ad-
vantages, which may. be summe. III
in one sentence. He has the mark |:
at his door.
The raising of fine horses is b
Einess which may be pro6tably f
lowed In some portions.-Amerlca
Stock Journal.
LIT
Tho .JihoraI sNaud Makath Rick