Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-11-23
MISCELLANEOUS.
What shall be done with the Old
Fields

We copy as followsfrom the Nashville
Union and american: 49,
A traveller who has been accustomed to
the higher degree of tillage in the North
or Europe. in passing through our State
would be at at a loss to know why 50 much
land is lying unfenced and idle in every
portionsof the State, washing in deep gull
> lies and growing up year after year in
broom sage and briers. And, in truth, il
would be difficult for our people to give
any valid reason for paying taxes annu-
ally upon such land and reaping no re-
ward from ownership, unless it be the
one given by an eminent lawyer, that
'poor land is a very peaceable ~neighbor-""
Now, IL occurs to us that all these fields
may, by a little encouragement from our
Legislature, be put upon a process of rem
ovation, and be made serviceable and
valuable to the next generation. As they
are, they display in an unequivocal man
ner the suicidal policy of the past gener-
alton, whose practice was to clear the
land, cultivate it until its fertility was ex-
hausted, and then turn it out to become
an unsightly and hideous picture in the
landscape. We're those places broken up
and sown with acorns or locust trees, the
3 effect. would in every particular, be salu-
-tary. Not only would the land be re-
claimed but the timber would in two
score years be valuable, the beauty of the
landscape would be heightened, a spot for
the retention of moisture would be assur-
ed, and the owner would In time reap d.
rectly a rich reward for his labors.
Let the Legislature about to assemble
exempt from taxation for a term of ten
years. all land planted in trees, whether
they be forest or fruit trees; and let one
hundred dollars worth of property be also
exempted for every mile of shade or fruit
trees planted along the highways. A law
to this effect has been in operation in some
of the States of the Union with the best
results. BY adopting this line of policy
the taxable property in the State would
be increased in the next ten or twelve
years many millions of dollars. The
wealth of a State depends primarily upon
its soil, and it IS the solemn duty of the
law makers to look beyond the present
and to enact such laws, and to dictate such
a policy as will in the end conduca to the
greatness and glory of the State and in
no way can this be more ctfectually done
than by taking steps for the reclamation
and preservation of the soil. Aud this
been done twenty years ago, Tennessee
would not be dotted all over with repul-
sive and haggard old fields, that consti-
tute the shame and mark the shiftlessness
of her farmers. A new departure is call
ed for in this particular, and he who shall
be instrumental in restoring the lost fer
tility of those worn places and making
them things Of beauty and profit, may
well be numbered among the bcnefactors
of the State.
We trust the press in all parts Of the
State will take up this subject, discuss it
in detail, encourage the enactment of such
a law, and press the matter before the
people until pride, taste, interest, ambi-
ton and an enlightened public sentiment
shall all unite in building up these waste
places. Enough of such spots there are.
if reclaimed, to build a railroad through
every county in the State.