The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-11-07
Agricultural 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 de-
MED that the advancement of tho
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
in proportion to its advancement in
agriculture and It's associated inter.
ests. Agriculture is now understood,
and properly SO, to be a Sience-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 result he has III view.
There can be no successful agri-
culture unless it be made profitable
and pleasant. But before this re-
suit can be obtained there must be
an abandonment of old prejudices.
These prejudces that stand in the
way of Improvement of any kind,
are the offspring of ignorance, and
they constitute the formidable OBJ
stacle to anything like progress.
Whenever these exists, an obstinate
determination to permit no innova-
ton on the rules and practices of
ones forcfathers no deviation from
the customs of other years, there
cannot possibly be taken any step
forward. When u mind is so con-
stituted that it can find nothing at
tractive in the inventions of genius,
or the discoveries of science, we
can confidently assert that it is stag
naut, and until its depths are stirred
by the power of enterprise or learn
ing, it will remain dull and sluggish,
contracting always.
We must get something to dispel
old preiudices Obstinacy is the re.
suit of prejudice and Of ignorance,
and when we can dispel them, we
can, with reason, look for improve
ment, Now, this is II fact that de,
mands more attention than it has
received. Unless farmers devote
more time to the cultivation of their
minds, how can they make any de-
sirable advancement?
The wise man once wrote: "The
wisdom of learned man cometh by
opportunity of leisure" And in
that sentence il foot for reflection
and thought sufficient for an entire
sermon, if we had time to preach.
1t is not the sllillful hand, the strong
arm, or the watchful eve alone, that
will, in these days, bring success and
wealth to the farmer. These are
needful, but the cultivated mind is
far more important. If thorough
tillage il Indispensable to profitable
results, then an educated mind, with
experience and observation, are es-
sential, for there can be thorough
tillage in the sense here understood,
unlees it be performed with intelli-
gence, care and skill. Judgment is
absolutely worthless unless it is bas-
ed upon knowledge. An ignorant
farmer is sometimes successful, be-
cause the circumstances are fortuit-
GUS, but we urge II higher standard
of mental cultivation for farmers
that they may, at times, wrest suc-
cess from untavorable circumstances
that practical skill, learning, expe-
rience and maturcd Judgment, may
secure desirable results even when
the elements seem to oppose him.
We have written a 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 increasing in their So
cial and political influence, while
their material prosperity is icing
improved. But the full power and
grandeur of agriculture will never
be acknowledged or known, nor will
it ever attain that pre-eminence it
is entitled to as the basis of nation
al prosperity, until farmers every
where, largo and small, powerful
and hupble, admit the truths we
have just stated.-Fdrmer's Home
JOUlD0I