The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-12-04
Small Industries.


The operations of another year are
drawing to a close, and the planter finds
his balance sheet in no very flattering
condition. He commenced the years
operations on lien. He bought fertil
izers on credit, bought corn, bought
bacon, and bought everything at high
prices to run the farm. He has had
drouths, rains, and inefficient labor to
contend with, and now the prospect of
a short cotton crop stares him in the
face, with only corn enough to run him
to Christmas and everything else in the
provision line upon the same footing.
For eight long, dreary years has he
been plodding on in this track, hoping
that "next year he would have better
luck" Is it not time to think of some
change for the better? Is it not time
to dovetail some other industries into
our system? All cotton will not do
every body ought to be convinced Of
that. Can't We convince our people of
the absolute necessity of getting out of
the old rut and diversifying our indus
tries? Can't we convince the farmer
that going in debt will be his ruin in
the end?
The wild cherry tree, in Vienna, is
considered the best pipe wood. Or
chards are planted for that purpose, the
products of which amount to $3.50, 900
annually. Half a million of dollars
worth of pipes are annually exported to
France, England and the colonies.
The wild cherry grows wild all over
our old fields, and we have hundreds of
men who are loafng about our towns
and railroads waiting for something to
turn up, who could be proftably en-
gagged in making pipes, and kept out of
the way of temptation, for " idleness is
the devil s workshop"
The sugar production from the beet
root in Europe amounts to 81 g, 240, 900.
The beet grows we'll in all parts of the
south, and wide field here is open for
experiment. Thousands of dollars are
annually sent north for brooms. Broom
corn grows all over the south, and any
body who can tie shoe-string can learn
to make a broom.
Thousands of dollars are annually
sens north for willow baskets. The
willow grows wild upon every branch
in the south almost, and beautiful bas-
kets can be made out of it by women,
as has been demonstrated about Glenn's
Springs.
The gross produce of the grape in
France amounts to more than three
hundred million dollars. This industry
employs six millions of men, women
and children, and nearly two millions
of merchants, agents and traders. The
vine grows we'll at the south, and our
scuppernong makes a more delicious
wine than most of the imported stuff,
yet we send north annually thousands
of dollars for champagne made out of
Newark cider, or, what is worse, some
chemical compound. The world can
show no better pastures than some por-
tons of the southern states, yet we
send north for English dairy cheese"
and Goshen butter. Our vinegar, our
mustard and our cayenne pepper are
grown and made for us.
Thousands of dollars are annually
sent north for garden seeds, fruit trees
and shrubbery, which could Just as we'll
be grown at home. Millions ere sent
north for black walnut furniture, while
we have seen walnut trees split into
fence rails in South Carolina. We have
the best of timber for spokes, felloes,
hubs, etc., yet our mechanics send
north for their timber. We can grow
fine Irish potatoes, yet we send north
for our seed potatoes, and often for eat
ing roots. A vast field is open in the
cultivation of fruits. The markets of
the north are open to us, and soon we
will be connected by rail with the great
western markets.