The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-11-21
Reformation in Farming.


1T must be evident to every observing man
that the prosperity of our country depends ab-
solutely upon the development OF Its agrlcul.
tural resources. 1t is vain to preach political
reformation. The reformation which we need,
most of all others in this country, is an agri-
cultural reformation. The old way of cutting
and slashing and tearing things all to pieces
must come to and end; and the sooner the bet
ter Facts demonstrate that this is good
land. The soil, whilst it cannot be said to'be
naturally as rich as that of some other coun-
tries, is susceptible of indefinite improvement; /;
and the climate is proverbially healthy. All
we need in this country is skillful and energet-
ic cultivators of the soil. We do not urge our
people to set their souls on wealth and nothing
else; but there is poverty which is not only
oppressive but disgraceful. AT present, the
agricultural portion of the South is at the
mercy of Specializing rings and manufacturing
cliuues. We are forced to sell our crops as
soon as they are gathered, it matters not what
NAV be the state of the market. Not forced by
these rings and cliques but forced by our ne
cessitous condition. If the planters and farm
ers of the cotton-growing States were only out
of debt. things would wear a different aspect.
They could sell their cotton when the manu-
facturer and speculator would give most for IT.
Now the man who should control the manufac-
turer. is himself controlled by his own squalm
poverty. It is a yair delusion in men to Say
or think that "cotton is king" SO long as the
mon who make it are forced to sellit at any
price to hush the clamorings of creditors. ., !
Generally speaking, our planters are not
aware,of the position which they occupy, In
society. Whilst they are in reality fEst in inn
portance, they are content TO occupy any posi-
ton that those engaged in the other ayocations
of life may see fit to assign them. This is all
wrong. The man who makes the bread that
feeds the hungry, and the material that clothes
the naked, ought to both feel and assert his i'm
portance. ;of' "d"r'". 't'.''''- .-''; ! J
Our planters are, as rule, not addicted to
Investigating the principles of their calling
The merchant devotes all the energy OF bis
soul in devising plans and schemes by which
he may be enabled to make Ibis fsales larger
and profits greater. The manufacturer does
the same thing; but our planters are content
to Just 20 along in the old way. If there is
any man who ought to be learned, tits then
who tills the soil. This is not the general 'iui'
preston We need reformation in this re-
speEt. We need men to till the soil whoIare
able to give reason for what they do. How
many men would be able to give an intelligent
answer if asked why they plow? Many would
no doubt say they plowed corn to kill grass and
cut the roots of the corn. We do not doubt
that many who have plowed ali their lives
never thought for one moment anything about
the philosophy of plowing. The whole opera.
ton to them is like talking with parrot. We
need a reformation in this country in this.re-
spect. Ignorance will prove our ruin. Muscles
in their place, are good things; but the muscles
of an OK, without an enlightened head to di:
rect them, will not accomplish much. The
days of brute force are numbered in this coun:
try, and the man who depends upon it will
soon get hopelessly behind the age Yor@u'lA
Enquirer.