Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1873-02-22
Agricultural Implements.

A great deal has been spoken and
written concerning agriculture and its
influence on the nation and on the in
dividual, and it will not-be denied that
the advancement of the one in every
desirable direction, and the prosperity
of the other depend in a direct degree
upon the progress made in this funda-
mental interest. And the prosperity of
of any section is in proportion to its
advancement in agriculture andits asso-
ciated interests. Agriculture is 10
understood, and properly so, to be a
Sciencc-the gaining of the mystery by
man over nature, and the acquisition of
such knowledge of her ways, and her
laws of action, as will enable him to at
tain the control necessary to secure the
result he has III view
There can be no successful agriculture
unlessitbe madeproftable and pleasant.
But before this result can be obtained
there must be an abandonment of old
prejudices. These prejudicesthat stand
in the way of improvement of any kind,
are the off spring of ignorance, and
they constitute the formidable obstacle
to anything like progress. Whenever
these exists, an obstinate determination
to permit no innovation of the rules and
practices of ones forefa theirs, no devia-
tionfromthe customs of otheryears, there
cannot possibly be taken any step for
ward. When a mind is so constituted
that it can find nothing attractive in the
inventions of genius, or the discoveries
of science, we can confidently assert
that it is stagnant, and until its depths
are stirred by the power of enterprise
or learning, it will remain dull and
sluggish, contracting always.
We must get something to dispel old
preiudices. Obstinacy is the result of
prejudice and of Ignorance, and when
we can dispel them, we can, with reason,
look for improvement. Now, this is a
fact that demands more attention than
it has received. Unless farmers devote
more.t time to the cultivation of theil
minds, how can they make any desira'
, BILE advancement?
The wise men M wrote: ''Tht
I wisdom of a learned man cometh by
4, opportunity of leisure" And i'll thai
sentence is food for reflection an(
thought sufficient for an entire sermon
if we had time to preach. 1t is not thu
o skillful hand, the strong arm, or tn,
$ watohful eye alone, that will, in thes,
days, bring success and wealth to tn
farmer. These are needed, but tn
j cultivated mind is far more important
If thorough tillage is Indispensable t
n profitable results, her an educate,
n mind, with experience and observation
are essential, fdr there can benothoroug
il tillage in the sense here understood
unless it be performed with intelligence
d care and skill. Judgment is absolutel
n worthless unless it is based upon know
ledge. An ignorant farmer is sometime
successful, because the circumstance
are fortnitous, but we urge a highe
r standard of mental cultivation for fal
mers that they may, at times, wref
success from unfavorable circumstance
N that practical skill, learning, exper
il ence and matured judgment, may secur
I desirable results even whenthe element
q seem to oppose him. We have write
Is a great deal on this subject, and it
\ ever an interesting one to us, fc
\ throughout the whole country, we ca
~ see that agriculture is making rapid &c
M vancement, andthat farmers are increal
/ ing in their social and political influence
= while their material prosperity is bein
u improved. But the full power an
!, grandeur of agriculture will never b
il acknowledged or known, nor will
# ever attain that prominence it is ent
tied to as the basis of national prosperit
N until farmers everywhere, large an
: small, powerful and humble, admit IL
/ truths we have just stated.