Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-25
FARM AND GARDEN.
LET THE FARMER NOT THROW
AWAY HIS LABOR.

kEF THE FARMER NOT THROW
AWAY HIS LABOR.
Never within the history of the State
have the prospects for bouDtiful crops of
corn and cotton been better. The recent
rains have repaired all the damage done to
these crops by the dry weather in May, and
all agree that they will be larger in proper
ton to the amount planted than in any
year since 1855. This is a source of con-
graduation, especially since the wheat crop
also is a very fine one. The tobacco crop
viii be fully an average, and the peanut crop,
which is increasing every year in value and
Importance, viii be largely in excess to any
heretofore grown in the State. With the
single exception of the forage crops, hay
and oats, no complaint is made in any sec
ton of the State. The farmers are more
cheerful and will probably realize larger
amount from their farms than they have
since the surrender. And they need 1t.
For several years it has been difficult for
many of them to meet the monthly require
ments for their laborers, and very often
it has happened that after working
and waiting through the year they have
found their profist, losses. Mary became
discouraged and moved to other States.
Some abandoned their vocations and be-
took themselves TO mercantile pursuits,
while others more sensible, were willing to
labor and wait until their farms again be-
come productive. Usually stock and hay
raisers have teen prosperous, as both stock
and hay have for years commanded good
prices. THERE'S one thing, however, which
our farmers do that depriyes them often
times of at least half of their clear earnings.
1t is the bad habit Of forcing their crops
upon the market. If they would read and
reflect more, they would soon be able to see
when the price for any article ought to rule
high. They too often follow the example
of neighbor, and sell because be does, and
for no other reason.
1t is folly to hold on to crops when there
is no probability of better prices; it is
equally as foolish to sell when the chances
are that prices will be better. Farmers
have access to precisely the same sources
of information that SPECTATORS do, if they
would avail themselves of them; and it is
high time for them to be taking these steps
that viii give them the full benefit Of their
labor.
1t is often urged that as many spectators
make nothing as there are who make for
tunes. This is SO, but it should be re-
membered that usually SPECTATORS have to
make a support before they can be said 70
make anything. This support if divided
out among farmers, would add greatly tC
their profits. We have in mind now, one
Spectator who lived in grand style
having on his table every day all
the tropical fruits and Rhenish wines with
champagne and who rode in gilded car
riages and lived in princely house for five
years, then broke. His expense during
those five years would have bought several
good farms. Because speculatiors break
Is no sign that they do not realize immense
profits. Sometimes their immense profits
lead them TO ruinous habits of extrava.
gance. a
We wish to repeat and emphasize this
idea: That farmers would be greatly more
prosperous if they would in their leisure
hours give some study to the market reports
and the estimated yields of crops. Their
knowing the approximate demand they
would be enabled to form a tolerably cor
rect idea as to what the price should be.