Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-05-23
wORDS a HOPE I1ND GREER.

| passed in this age of improvement; and tht
day is not far distant when Tullahoma
| possessed as she is, of every natural advan
tage, viii Sie with any inland town in the
State, Methinks can already penetrate
the enshrouded vista Of the future and. see
towering in magnificent grandeur a
large town which yesterday was a small
village.
That this era of improvement may dawn
upon us-one thing Is absolutely needful
and that is the burying of all dead issues
of the past. We want restored harmony.
We want the industries of this
county revived in order that our bus
mess may be improved and our taxes light
ened. We want lahor relieved from the
unnecessary burdens which weigh it down.
In word, we want that prosperity for our
people which is the natural fruit of the in
stiiutions of our fathers. To accomplish
this, we offer many inducements to indus
trious, intelligent and thrifty emigrants to
locate here. The soils and salubrity of eli
mate are important considerations. The
soil is productive; wheat, rye, corn, oats
potatoes, tobacco, cotton, the grasses, fruit
and vegetables of all kinds of grow finely.
Besides these, barley and hops flourish
here, and there is reason to believe that the
grape culture will prove remunerative-
moreover, now is the time to invest in lands,
good lands can be purchased at low figures;
but it will be otherwise when the tide of
immiq alton sets in this direction.
In common with every considerable friend
of the South, rejoice at the increased in
terest which has been awakened throughout
our own section with reference TO agricul-
ture in its various branches and depart
ments. This is a movement in the right d.
reciion, for there is no prosperity that is
not based on q judicious system of agricul-
ture. Commerce derives its life-blood from
the soil, and mechanical industry is largely
dependent on the products of the farm and
dairy.
Our people are commencing TO realize
that by bestoWing their attention on agri-
culture and its kindred subjects, the result
is manifest in the oVerfowing granaries of
our farmers and the plethoric purses of our
merchants. That prosperity which de-
ponds upon the hazards and uncertainties
of other business is at best but spasmodic,
and it is only where agriculture is made
the fundamental interest that the popula-
ton assumes a settled character and indus
try is attended by permanent rewards.
Naturally, we have one Of the loveliest
lands beneath tie sun-and climate as
genial as that of Italy, ''the land of flowers
and sunny skies.n Beautiful rivers, gently
flowing, course through her most accessible
regions; majestic forests of valuable timber
abound; the soil was originally unsurpassed
in fertility, and had man performed his
part as well as nature has hers, the South
to-day would have been an earthly Paradise.
Nay the method Of farming in this sec
ton has been most wasteful. 1t is con-
tinual drawing from the land without repay
ing therefor. Suppose man in mercan-
tile business draws continually and heavily
from that business, while his returns are
slOw-can that business thrive But if he
repays promptly what he draws, his bust
ness will not fail. But suppose he adds to
his capital or stock vhe profits or part of
the profits Of his transaction. His business
will increase, become larger-in word
progress. So with farming. While no
farmer need return to the land all he re-
ceives therefrom, yet he may and must re-
turn an equivalent. This may be done.
Crops are sold at high price, while manure
and labor are cheap. This is the secret
whereby an equivalent may be returned to
the land, and profit yet remain in the
hands of The farmer.
As a general thing the lands in this sec
ton are comparatively poor. The question
suggests itself-can they be improved?
An old fogy wss heard recently to say to
the contrary, grounding his expression on
an assertion Of belief, that land sworn out"
is virtually dead. These lands are not
dead. Exhaustion and impOverishment
are not necessarily death. They are ex-
hauSted by Ceaseless culture. They have
been starved by incessant cropping, in
terest being paid therefor.
Another and one of the chief reasons of
the land being wasted is the shallow culture
it has received. The light plows that have
been used here are productive Of harm, for
they only loosen the surface Of Che earth
sufficiently deep to render it in fit condition
to be washed Off by the first heavy fall of
rain.
Our greatest need now is to put these
lands in condition to protect themselves.
The instrument to accomplish this is the
plow, and such plows as have never been
used here. The earth must be loosened
deep, so as to absorb the rain, instead Of
being washed. off by it. Then, too, another
advantage is gained, the roots of the plant
may expand and sink deep into the ground
thus protecting themselves from the parch-
ing rays of the sun. The green vegetation
of the field is an invaluable fertilizer. The
fine growth of the stubble weeds and grass
should even in autumn be turned under
with the turning pillow, TO decompose and
form manure for the coming crop. Then,
by turning the land the subsoil is brought
1 L. nh H. 10 II
tiliZing properties of the rain and atmos-
pheric influence is converted into soil.
We should cultivate the grasses. What
is more valuable to land as preservative,
more estimable as food for stock and cattle,
or more lovely to look upon? Find
country fourishing in cultivated grasses,
and you will find wealthy agricultural
and agriculture's ever-attend-
ing sisters, commerce and manufactures.
The scientific principles upon which the
art of culture depends have not hitherto
been sufficiently understood or appreciated
by practical men in this section. If agri-
culture is ever to be brought to that COM
parative state of perfection to which many
other arts have already attained, it will only
be by availing itself, as they have done, of
the many aids which science offers to it.
And if the practical man is ever to realize
Hpon his farm all the advantage which
science is capable of placing within his
reach, he must become so far acquainted
with the connection which exists between
the art by which he lives and the sciences,
of chemistry, geology, and chem
zeal philosophy, as to be prepared to listen
with csndor to the suggestions they are
ready to make to him, and to attach their
proper value to the explanations of his va
rious processes which they are capable of
affording.
Tennessee, the mistress of so many wide
and unpeopled lands, over which the dwell
iings of adventurous sons from the North
are hereafter to be scattered, and on which
their toll is to be expended, and the glory
of the State by their exertions to be perpet-
mated, should especially encourage all such
learning, and the sons Of Tennessee's fouu-
ders should willingly avail themselves of
every opportunity of acquiring it.
There is an old adage that the darkest
cloud has always silver lining, and am
disposed to appropriate the adage. The
cloud of adversely which has so long dark
ened this land is giving place to silver
lining. We are yet the wealthiest part of
America. We are not poor, and 8 few
years hence, when auriferous haryests are
teeming from every now "worn-ont" field,