Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-02-21

unacquainted with the great princi-
pies Of the science or art Of agricul-
ture. We get our meat, corn, -four,
butter, eggs, cheese, apples and a hum
dred other things from the people
who live a few hundred miles north
of, US, in q country covered by snow
One-third Of the year. These people
sell these things to US so as to make
money. They build up towns, rail-
roads, factories, mills and f0undries,
and their lands are valuable. The re-
verse is the case with US, as we have
before remarked. What is the sys-
tenn they succeed under; is it like
ours? Scarcely. Is their soil better
than ours? Is their climate as good?
Are the people more energetic or in
telligent? No. Our soil is as good as
theirs. Our climate is infinitely bet
ter, and our people are just as active,
fully as shreWd and equally alive to
the main chance as are any. Then,
where is the secret? How do those
people get our money away from Us
every year, and leave US in the cOndi-
ton of our aforesaid ''fOlks?" Their
climate and circumstances force them
to do exactly what we will be forced to
do. They have learned that an acre in
grass yields twenty-five dollars a year,
without blowing; that it is cut down
in an hour by a machine, turned over
to the sun in half an hour by another,
raked in the ne by horse
power, and hay It away in a
couple Of hour four hours
the crop is "a pen in the
barn it is fed q horse or a
sheep, and is thus s0rmed into a
material which it VIII pay to trans
port. This system they have learned
from the English, Dutch, Belgians
and Germans. The machines were
also invented by others. But, like
sensible, practical people, they
adopt it, the system, and use the ma
chimes. What have fences or taxes to
do with our argument? IfyOUr neigh
Dor plants his q thousand acres in
cotton, he will surely lose money; will
that place him in a better condition
for paying his taXes2 Under what
system did his fences tumble down
and rot? Not under the diversified
system surely, for ne has been going
in the other direCtiOn-sCratChing and
harassing the poor ground, no doubt,
in a thoroughly practical way. No
practical man would tell you that he
has no need for inside fences, that to
pasture lands is to destroy the grass;
that when a man speaks Of grass lots,
he knows nothing about the business of
farming; that he should have fields in
grass, not lots. "Ahv' says our friend,
"but 1 have you now; your clover
will not grow, and whoever heard of
fields in grass in this cOuntry?" Mr..
Robert Hurt, of Madison county, has
a farm of six hundred acres, four huq-
drgd of which he keeps in red clover,
and the remainder in grain and corn.
He employs but sir hands constantly.
How is that for high? But we cannot
command the labor. Why? Your
neighbOr with the one thousand acres
employs sixty or eighty hands and
forty mules. Under Mr.. Hurts sys-
tenn he would employ not more than
a dozen Of those hands, and have
twenty brood mares in room of the
mules. There would then be less
trouble about labor. He would have
barns, m~anure-pits, carts, machinery,
fine stock, and make money. He
would not be pushed to pay taxes, or
be veXed about fences. Diversified
husbandry does not mean patches in
gOOber peas or apple orchards. 1t
means a great system, which will
render a country Observation-Disclosures
which will maintain not only money
in the country, but fertility in the
soil; and those farmers who know
how to do this, and do it, are practical
men, and those who do not know how
to do it are ignorant of their calling.
In practice, good blowing is the most
important operation on the farm.
How many men do you find who own
sUbsOil plOWs and use them? One,
here and there. But we will not 90
into the subject further. 1t is not my
purpose, in discussing this matter, to
deal unkindly with the farmers-who
are the bone, sineW, muscle and back
bone of the country. My desire is to
induce a spirit of inquiry; to bring
about q change of system which will
make them rich, respected and hon
Ored, will enable them TO hold on to
their broad acres, and be the gentlemen
they were, instead of the slaves they
are. This is my hope, my ambition,
my goal. If there are others who
know better how this can be accom-
plished, let them not hide their light
under a bushel, but come forward and
aid in the council. And to that end,
1 propose that we organize a Farm
er's Club on next Saturday week.
Come to my office, 379 Main street,
Groom 20, up stairs at IL o'clock.
In conclusion, 1 beg to thank your
o~O~rceponHnnf fDr quftgtinn fhn uun1-
ton, and for his kindly expressions
for the Practical Planter, and l assure
him that his communication viii re-
ceive a warm welcome in its columns.
GEO. W. GIFT.