The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1873-12-19

decay oil Italian agriculture by the depen
dence Of the people for grain raised in
Egypt aud other portions OF the dominion
OF Rome, brought that wonderful govern.
ment down to the dust, The by-word aud
jest Of the rude barbarians FROM tho German
forests.
What is the apparent application Of these
fsctsl Is there to-day in the Cotton States
grain enough to support the country four
months, should all other sources az supply
be suddenly and Certainly cut Oft What
are the facts OF the progress Of our decay
since 1860 7 Let US turn again 10 tho census
report OF 1870. We ind loss in the corn
crop Of 1870, as compared with that 1860
in the Cotton States Of l09.000000 Of
bushels; sufficient to supply bread to 500O,.
600 Of persons for one year, aud positive
loss in material wealth and circulation OF
Sl00,000,000. The loss in rice for the
same year was 100000 bushels, ofwheat
8000,000 bushels, Of hay 10000 tons and
of wool 2,300,0 900 pounds, while the cotton
crop OF 1870 aud 1871 was nearly as largo
as was ever raised in the country. Will
our decay cease until the country is a de-
serted wilderness, left only TO the half culti-
yated and feebly scratched patches of tbs
freedmen so long ss We depend, for so great
portion Of our subsistence upon the
plains Of Illinois and the fertile valleys Of
the Westf 1t is not apparent that we can
never successfully raise cotton 10 buy corn
and meat and all the necessities OF life
How long, D how long will you follow the
miserable system adopted at the close OF
the war-the planting Of cotton alone and
by cropping with freedmen. Look abroad
over this State to-day and tell me by what
name to call the thin and sickly ghosts that
merge above the grass in the fields where
corn was supposed TO have been planted
Corn stalker mol not worthy even TO he
dignied by the name Of nubbin stalks, the
producers Of little shriveled abOrtions, lost
in shuck, to feed the winter wesyels.
What call you the many thing that stag
gers and wheezes along the fence corners
in the laborious hunt for the rotten rails
that line the fences, and sadly grunt ont its
moan of poverty. begrndging even the wea-
vel its home in the nubbinH A hog shade
OF Circe, let all departed swine.helds re-
strain thee This d shameful; this ID abu
sing. Let US put ashes on our heads, and
repent US in suck cloth OF our wonderful fol-
lies. Let the carnival OF cotton end; let
the cropping system with the laborer ceasei
aud let farming come TO the front with corn
for commander Of the forces and cotton in
the ranks. Another thing in this connec.
ton. When we take Eone to our hearts
J the serious fact that the corn crop in Mis-
sissippi, the season just past, was q total
; failure, and the astounding, aye, the desolat.
! ing fact, by the report Of the Commisaiones
. Of Agriculture, just made known, that the
} great West is short in her corn crop $780,
100000 Of bushels, what price, think you,
J will you have TO pay for it next summer
: wheE advanced to you through merchants
, holding deeds Of trust on your homesteads
! o if my voice could reach every Son OF
: the South, from hilltop TO valley, in the Jun.
q gle and over the plain. would resound the
! cry, thrilling on the ear, like the alarm bell
at sea, plant corn and save the land--plant
7 corn aud invite prosperity corn and
. cancel the deeds Of trust which hang over
4 the homestead OF your wives aud little ones
8 like the sword Of Damocles corn aud
y assure mmigration--plant corn, and live
] under your own vine and fig tree u Tree in.
D dep ndent, intelligent and happy people
!, with no barren fields TO shock the eye no
u dilapidated houses and barEes to shame the
,. owner aud no rotting fences TO invite tbs
lVHO uuh obuNoiy Rha teHpt OeNASA hOh ~
70 plumber your neglected patches.
s Ii the principles Of the ritual OF tho Pa
D, irons Of Husbandry teach anything to thI
If Southern farmer in its sublime lectures, Z
10 Is the elevation ofthis country 10 tho digni
1t ty of true farming. II we are Patrons 10
$, deed we will need its lessons, II we do no
10 il is ony as the fruit that tempted Tan
al talus which will turn to ashes on our lips
re or al the water that came to cool his parch
10 ing tongue, 70 recede US We stoop TO drinI
I'd il. Can we subsidize this grand orde
d by miserable subturfuges, while we plant i
Of favored spots three acres Of cotton TO on
he Of grain, and effect the paltry and impoteu
70 conclusion Of Ave bushOls Of nubbiDs. I
Ds the acre I 1t cannot be done 0rr presen
r. plan is Sisyphus rolling the rock up the hi
IT to escape Us at the top and roll back agaiI
he and while we bold TO il, our doom like hi
he shall be ever to do over the same thin
a. Shade Of Ceres descend 10 this people
ad What must We do to dignity Southern "a
he ming and become true Patrons 0f Husband
ry7 We must diversity onr production
- aud cease to be the slaves Of cotton. Whet
ly, must raise It's golden head 10 our fields All
M nod 10 its fuilness to the sickle--oaia muG
nd bs no longer an occasional visitor, but hay
Of its appointed place and permanent sea
be while corn, the native Of the land, darl
US. green, majestic corn, must tassel 10 It's gloi
,n- everywhere, until the barns gruan with I
laI weight, while cotton. leYelsd from bis sho
ror dy greatness, becomes in the hands Of u
in- Southern farmer, what he has long bet
10 IN The hands ofspecuIating gamblers, pow
c.. and weaIth-not power aud wealth conce
I'M trated, tut diffdsed through the land, cau
ry, ing prosperity and security eVeryBhsr
Fl, Thus for the crops, aud With them come
be dependence. Then ths area Of each mu
ct, be eircumscribed by fertilization ustil o
the acre shall produce what three does no
,us Then the fences will stand cattlo-prook {
Of barnes will show strength. and neatne
the farm house will be hume, aud Flo
hia l., -, h.,d, ~ fh. N ,fda and mariana q