The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-09-05
Agriculture and Improvement.

A great deal has been spoken and written
concerning agriculture and its influence on the
nation and on the individual, and it will not
be denied that the advancement of the one In
every desirable direction, and the prosperity of
the other, depend in direct degree upon the
progress made in this fundamental interest |;
and the prosperity of any section is in propor-
tion to its advancement in agriculture and its
associated interests. Agriculture is now under
stood, and properly SO, to be science-the
gaining of the mastery by man over nature,
and the acquisition of such knowledge of her
ways, and her laws of action, as will enable
him to attain the control necessary to secure
the results he has in view.
less it be made profitable and pleasant. But
before this result can be obtained there must
be an abandonment of old prejudides. These
prejudices that stand in the way .of improve
ment of any kind are tue offspring of igro-
rance, and they constitute the formible obstacle
to any thing like progress. Whenever these ex-
lists, an obstinate determination to permit no in
novation on the rules and practices of our fore
fathers, no deviation from the customs of other
years, there cannot possibly be taken any step
forward When mind is so constituted that
it can find nothing attractive in the inventions
of genius, or the discoveries of science, we can
confidently assert that it is stagnant, and until
its depths are stirred by the power of enterprise
or learning, it will remain dull and sluggish,
contracting always
We must get something to dispel old preju-
dices. Obstinacy is the result of prejudice and
ignorance, and when we can dispel them, we
can, with reason look for improvement Now,
this is a fact that demands more attention than
it has received. Unless farmers devote more
l.. L. ~ of fbair dc
they make any desirable advancement.
The wise man once wrote: "The wisdom of
learned man cometh by opportunity of leis-
ure." And in that sentence is food for rehec-
tion and thought sufficient for an entire SER
mon, if we had time to preach. 1t is not the
skillful hand, the strong arm, or the watchful
eye alone, that will, in these days, bring sue
cess and wealth to the farmer. These are
needful, but the cultivated mind is far more
important. If thorough tillage is indispensa-
BILE to profitable results, then an educated mind,
with experience and observation, are essential,
for there can be no thorough tillage in the
sense here understood, unless it be performed
with intelligence, care and skill. Judgment is
absolutely worthless unless it is based upon
knowledge. An ignorant farmer is sometimes
successful because the circumstances are fortui-
tous, but we urge higher standard of mental
cultivation for farmers that they may, at times,
wrest success from unfavorable circumstances
that practical skill, learning, experience and
matured judgment may secure desirable results
even when the elements seem to oppose him.
We have written great deal on this subject
and it is ever an interesting one to US, for
throughout the whole country we can see that
agriculture is making rapid advancement, and
that farmers are increasing in their social and
political influence, while their material pros
perity is being i'm mproved. But the full power
and grandeur of agriculture will never be &C.
knowledged or known, nor will it ever attain
that pre-eminence it is entitled To as the basis
of national prosperity, until farmers every
where, large and small, powerful and humble,
admit the truths we have just stated.-Kentucky
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