The farmers' vindicator. (Jackson, Miss.) 1873-1???, 1874-06-26

~
s when war was a principle in the poll
II tics Of nations; when the greatest, bal
b ties were fought and the most brillian
y victories won, plain, unassuminl
], farmer commanded the troops, them
s selves the cultivators Of the soil. Their,
was not, probably, a leader among al
the Greeks, who did not, like the faith
! er of Ulysses, assist in farming opera
! tons with his own hands. Cincinnatus
was summoned from his plough, to b.
:, Dictator of a mighty Empire, while
the Seminar Ambassadors found Gu
: RUS Dentatus cooking his own vege.
tables. In those days, when agricul.
: ture fourished among the ancients, to
. excel in the cultivation Of a particular
vegetable, was considered great honor.
Z Some Of the noblest families of that
age derited their patronymic names
: from the cultivation Of vegetables ia
which their fathers excelled, AIS in the
example Of Fabii, Pisones and Lentulii.
When they praised a man they called
him a good man and agriculturist and
good husbandman, and he was thought
to be greatly honored.
History thus demonstrates that agri.
culture has claimed the attention and
commanded the services of minds that
have stamped the impress Of their ge-
MUS upon the memory Of every age
and every people.
Our Order, approaching the vital
necessity of intelligent culture and the
wisdomof scientific application, enjoins
upon its membership a thorough change
Of their ancient habits, and points to
the splendid results that will accrue
from more intelligent husbandry.
NEXT IN IMPORTANCE TO EDUCATED
THOUGHT,
and the application Of science to agri-
culture, it urges the claims, and points
us to the refining influences Of home
life. 1t suggests the propriety of sar-
rounding our abodes with all that is
attractive in beauty, or that will add
to its comfort and qualification. To
make country life attractive, we must
invest it with the charms Of fragrant
lawns, tasteful residences, substantial
improvements, pastures Astounding in
stock, and skilltul culture; and incor-
porate its sports and social pleasures as
a part and parcel of its domestic econ
omy. AS we traverse our Southern
land, how little there is in its home
life of real comfort or genuine pleas
ure; every thing connected with it
borders upon the repulsive, and with
rare exceptions we find only restless
discomfort pervading its masses.
WHAT A SAD COMMENTARY, AND YET
HOW TRUE. I
1t is not strange, therefore, that all
who can, have fed its fields and its !
sports, to cast their fortunes upon the
fortuitous tide Of city life, or to embark :
n any calling that offers hope of re- !
lief from its repulsive burdens. A {
wiser change must come over the spirit !
hat moves and controls our country t
life. We must arouse from the leth- t
lrgy that is upon us, and use the intel q
ect and energy with which kind s
Creator has invested us in redee ming n
'ur profession. t
Our tillage must be more skillful; il
ur ingenuity must be taxed until we e
evise wise systems of husbandry; our "
reen pastures must be made to CON
ribute more to our necessities; our u
ences restored to their ancientstrength; d
ur buildings tasteful and substantial; b
ur products more diversified; our soils g
generated by intelligent fertilization; IL
nd, above all, our homesteads made W
, sparkle in attractive, refined and st
lbstantial comforts. When we &C. 81
,mplish this, we will inaugurate q de
that will turn the tide sit
ng so heavily against us, th
Instead of being made to pay tribute hi
combinations that are sapping the br
e.blood of our people, Southern agri. re
Ilture will rise proudly from its ashes, a
sumo its rightful place, and be rein its
sted with the dignity of its normal sti
and prosperity. If,
And to promote these great ends, our W.
rder advises judicious economy and wi
intelligent husbandry of our means. as
1t that narrow, contracted spirit that tel
rges ON parsimony, or the still more ov
spicable confines of penuriousness, wi
r does it look, save with contempt, me
on that groveling impulse that re- an
ces in the downfall, or envies the to
osperity of those who are in more eq
'tunate circumstances; neither has Ga
any but the utmost seorn for the GU
rit that grudges the morsel it con. th,
butes, through the force of public no
inion, to suffering want, or the de- bu
Il. r. ..a~,,.,,o D,,k - L.1e - I