Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-07
FARM AND GARDEN.
BOOK FARMING FRUIT CUL
TURE-CRANBER


One important end that ought to be
aimed at by agriculturists everywhere,
snd one of the many objects designed to
be promoted by the establishment of an
agricultural department in the UNION
AND AMERICAN, is the introduction and
culture of such products as will best tend
to promote diversified as well as profit
able cultivation of the soil. 1t is some
times the case with farmers, (though we
are glad to say the practice is not general, }
that, like certain class of men en-
gagged in other pursuits, they are
too often content to follow
in the same old grooves and wagon ruts
made by their fathers or predecessors,
and will not adopt new systems until
some one, perhaps, less talented by ma
ture, but possessing more enterprise and
energy, has the boldness to strike courage
ously out into new and unexplored fields.
If he be successful, then, but not till then,
will they venture farther from the shore.
For this, as well as many other reasons, a
prejudice too often exists against what is
called shook farming but as this is an
age of progress, these erroneous ideas
will soon disappear, to give place to res
son and sound common sense. To these
who are prejudiced against "Dook- farm
ing" it is only necessary to say, that an
agricultural idea is no worse when printed
than when obtained from an experienced
farmer. A young man aspiring TO become
a successful tiller of the soil, would
naturally seek advice from his father, if
an old and experienced farmer; and if
that old farmers ideas are printed for the
beneft of thousands of such young far
mers, are they of less value than when
communicated verbally2 All honest and
Inquiring minds are ready to receive
sound information, however conveyed,
and certainly, be that would be a good
farmer must ever be willing to learn.
We have been led to make these obser-
vatioDs from the fact that many farmers
are prejudicial against new experiments
and new branches of agriculture. We
propose, from time to time, to urge upon
the attention of our rural reader the
claims of every agricultural product that
will tend to promote their welfare and
the prosperity of the State; and all sound
political economists will admit that a div
ersifed system of industy will, other
things being equal, be more beneficial to
a State than where all citizens are engag-
ed in one pursuit.
The culture of fruit is one important
branch Of agriculture, and aside from the
pecuniary recOmpense to be derived,
there are other advantages, many of
which it is unnecessary here to detail.
la our State, however, there are some
physiological questions connected with
this subject which ought not to be over
looked. Medical men tell US that in cold
climates, meat should form considers-
be portion of mans regular diet, while
in warm climates, fruit should enter
largely into the daily bill Of fare, espe-
cially during the summer season. DR..
Kane, the distinguished explorer, during
his voyage to Greenland, advised his men
to cat raw meat or meat only partially
cooked, for the same reason probably
that the Esquimaux consume large
quantities of blubber, and the
Russians cat tallow candles; name
ly, 10 keep up the animal
heat. In warm climates, however, fruits
and light food are needed, 10 prevent an
undue generation of caloric in the human
body. The Southern people are too of
ten found acting directly in opposition to
these physiological principles. They con-
sumo large quantities of meat, larger
probably, all things considered than the
people of the n Drth. In addition to the
reasons given, our bodies require Just
that kind of acid which is found, for in
stance, in the strawberry, which is con-
sumed witt UGH keen relish IN the spring