Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-05-03
FARMERS COLUMN.
Progress Of Agriculture.


In cur wanderings recently. we have |
noted with much satisfaction that la
bor-saving machinery is in use among |
the farmers to much greater extent |
than We had supposed. We have been |
surprised, too, at the rapid progress
that has been made with the work of |
the season. Never before, perhaps,
has so much been accomplished in 80
short time, as has been done, and in
most instances well done, since the
ground became dry enough to work.
The breaking up has been done mainly
with large plows, some of them drawn
by three or four horses. In several
places we observed blowing done with
three horses abreast. The contrivance
appeared to work very we'll With
large plows and strong teams, the
blowing has been done rapidly and so
thoroughly that second blowing or
cross breaking was not considered
necessary, but instead thereof good.
narrowing, with heavy harrow has
been made to answer the purpose.
This required much less time, and
where the blowing was we'll done the
land is in fine condition for planting.
Most of the farmers, who have provi-
ded themselves with good implements,
are now done breaking, and at the date
of this writing, scarcely three weeks
since the first spring blowing was COM
menced, good deal of planting has
been done; and that too, without neg
lecting oats, potatoes aud other crops
of secondary Importance.
1t is highly gratifying to Us to re-
cord these facts as evidences of prog
ress. With the single mule and bull
tongue system, but lately abandoned
by many of our farmers, and to which,
indeed, few still insanely cling, the
breaking up would have taken twice as
long and would not have been half as
well done. 1t requires no calculating
or figuring to show the beneficial re-
suits of the change From the facts
stated, it will be seen that about ten
days have been saved at a season when
time is most precious. 1t will be so
throughout the season. The tillage of
corn and cotton, the moving and saw
ing of meadows, the harvesting and
threshing of wheat, the digging of po-
tatoes spd all of the operations of the
farm are accomplished in less time and
with less labor by the use of labor
saving machinery 81
But the Introduction of improved
farm implements is only one among
the many evidences of progress that
We see around us. Live stock has un-
dergone great change. Two-head
ponies, scrub cattle, razor-back hogs
1.-THE more of which a man owns the
poorer he isl are giving place to thor.
oughbreds, short horns and berkshires
and ere long, the places which knew
them will know them no more forever
The unsightly and expensive zig-zag
or worm fence, is going the way Of the
bull-tongue plow, and instead of it, we
see neat plank fences, solid stone wall,
or beautiful hedges We call the ole
fashioned rail fence expensive because
Of the amount of valuable timber re
quired to make it, and because of the
labor necessary to keep it in repair.
Great Improvement has been made
too, in all kinds of fruit. and the cult
walton of orchards and vineyards has
largely increased. In short every
thing pertaining to agriculture seem
to be progressing.
These results are traceable directly
to the influence of educated mind il
applying and directing labor. Tn,
opprObrium that in past ages rested
upon labor is vanishing away. MeI
of great minds, educated and trainet
10 think, have abandoned branches o
Improbable study, and are now givin
all of their attention to improving tn
science of agriculture, and applying
the principles of general science to tn
construction of implements, to the i'm
provement Of the soil, to the utilization
of many things considered worthless
and to the breeding of stock ACCORDING
to the laws Of physiology Farmer
are learning to magnify their Office
and are everywhere organizing socie
ties for mutual instruction, and for tn
protection of their own interest
Each adds his stock of experience +
the general fund of knowledge. Ney
facts are reported, new theories ar
discussed, experiments are tried an
all are benefited.
But further advances may yet b
made, and greater good will be the re
suit. When civilization and enlight
eminent shall have done their work
and when the relations between tn
various vocations are well understood
agriculture will enjoy an undispute
supremacy 1t is, as Washington saiC
the nOblest employment of man, an
he who contributes to its advancement
is the greatest benefactor-th creates
philanthropist. Without disparage
ment to any other calling We claim fo
the farmer that prominence among tn
different orders of nobility to whic
God and nature have given him
patent right-Ruoi Sun.