Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-03-17
ouv Agricultural Inter ests.

have befallen Southern agricultnrlsts since
the war vii! eventually toIoh them lessons
in farm economy which will yet restore
prosperity to this sectiou Of the Union.
Suffering first from the disorders III the
system of labor, which have not altogether
been rect!ded, and then. from the depre'
citation IL prices, for which they ase greatly
to blame, the Southern farmers and plan
ters have been the victims Of . the Situa-
ton as the result Of the great revolution,
to much larger degree than my other
class of orr citizens. And when we con
slider that Ill prosperity IL our section
goes hand in hand with the success OF the
agricultural interest, it is not difficult to
account for the present " hard times"
The Government, too, has laid its OPP
pressive hand upon the Southern farmers
Not content with heavy tax levied directly
upon the principal articles of Southern
farm produce, we have been burdened
most grievously for the benefit OF the New
England manufacturer and the Pennsyi-
yania ironmonger. This thraldom is about
to terminate, we trust, as the 81 free
traders by late Developments, appear 10
have the control of the present House OF
Representatives,.
But even this will afford ouly partial
relief. There is some fatal defect IN our
system Of agriculture. which must be cor
rected, or there can he 10 permanent i'm
proyement. AS long us cotton, the great
staple Of agricultural wealth, VIII not
bring in the markets If the world the
actual cost Of productica, it j. useless to
talk of Southern prosperity. at last. after
admitting all That is said about the advan-
tagce Yt sliversifying crops. the South must
depend, in y very large degree nrcn the
culture Uf cotton It's successful culture
has been. and Will cpntlnue t" ha, the
| foundation Of Southern wealth.
The ohuSc Of it3 culture. hp" eyer, VS.
| believe. ha. been the fruitful aouroe "l
| much truuhle TO- the planter" flantlng
! cotton. IL tho exclusion OF everything
| else, has not only made il cheap. but also
| rendered rro7lslnn8 high. This seems to
| have been he error Of our faYmera, upon
| which many have l,ecn wrecked. They
| appear 10 have lot sight Of the fact that.
| during cur late wer, formidable rivalry ~
| the culture nf cotton has pprung up in
India aud Egypt-a rivalry, but fer the
distance to market, would have destroyed
/ the value Of the common grades vi Amesi
can cotton. And, indeed. the Eastern
supply IS Row gripping tie South verJ
seriously, and will for few years to come
Il IN.
furious effects Of the climate upon tin
staple and color will always place Indii
and Egypt at sufficient disadvantage t,
give this section the control OF the trade.
Even now I:2diG Is growing cotton at I
loss. If this continues, the planters vii
not contend against climate and distance
when their lanGS can be much NOR
pro6tably used,
With cs it is different. Nature tLesigne
this for cotton growing country, and on
: lands cannot, as q general thing, be cult
waited for. other crops with as much advar
! tage. The rivalry in the East will be shor
g lived, or become insignificant. Cotto
: gill assume something ILL Q stable price
Il sufficiently remunerative for our agricul
. turiets to bccome prosperous by energ
g and economy. 70 do this Judgment mus
9 be used. Crops must be diversified With
certain limits provisions must be raise
= to supply the wants Of the farm, and tt
9 qnanty of the coil must be improved h
o proper cultivation and application
Q manures. The economy of the farm nu
l. become study, end agricultural pursui
It must no longer be regar led as the no
r pitfalls of jmbiciIes and the industri
? schools Of the INDECENT.