The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-03-12
Labor Saving Implements and Diversified
Agriculture. 0t

The leading and far-seeing agriculturists of
the South have repeatedly urged the people to
adopt the plan of diversified husbandry, as an
Indispensable prerequisite to future indepen-
dence and prosperity, but as yet to little or no
avail. Labor-saving machinery is necessarily
bound to effect by actual facts and results that
which precept has thus far failed to accomplish.
The modus operandi by which this all-impor-
tant reformation is to be brought about we
propose now to consider. We find that the
inventive genius of the present day has not
ignored the demands for improved implements,
bearing upon the production OF that most
potent of Southern staples, cotton; but has
produced labor-saving machinery wei! adapted
to every process connected with it, from the
preparation for and the planting of the seed to
its shipment into market, except that OF PICK.
ing or gathering from the field. At this point
nature seems to have sent forth her edict:
"thus far and no farther shalt thou go;" and
although many attempts have been made to
substitute mechanical for human labor In this
most tedious and laborious task, 80 tar, as we
are able to learn, little or nothing has been
ACCOMPLISHED towards the attainment OF the
desired end, nor can we conceive how-any ma
chine short Of one possessing every known
mechanical movement with the addition of
brains and eyes, can be constructed to materl-
ally facilitate this work. Under the old regime
of hand implements it was estimated that
Iaborer could produce as much or more cotton
than be could gather Now, if by the aid of
labor.saving machinery, he is enabled in one
fourth of the time to produce as much cotton
as he can gather, the remaining three-fourths
NAV be devoted to the production of those
CROPS most essential to the comfort of both
man and beast, which will consequently enable
the farmer to keep the proceeds of his undi-
minished cotton crop at home. Thus it IS, we
think, that the general introduction of labor
saving machinery in the South will prove. OF
most inestimable advantage; it will necessarily
enforce diversified industry and afford oppor-
tunity for the development of her many but
now latent resources. In the Southern States
the introduction of labor-saving machinery
has been slow, nor is it matter of surprise
that such has been the case when we contem-
plate the great clouds of depression and gloom
which preyaded the minds of Southern agri
culturists, as they gazed upon the shattered
ruins of the very foundation upon which all
their hopes for prosperity were based, and the
effect upon the laborers, the bulk which, as is
well-known, was composed of negroes, was no
less marked, but was of an entirely opposite
nature, producing the widest enthusiasm.
But time and force of circumstances have, to
large extent, closed the chasm thus formed
between the owners Of the soil and the labor
ers; and, as before stated, it is gratifying to
notice that reaction has taken place, and that
a general tendency towards improvement is
manifest, that will prove eminently sautary
and beneficial Upon almost every farm, from
the verdant mountain slopes to the seaboard,
may be seen labor-saving machines OF some
sort. The innovation is insidious in its pro-
gress, like all other great changes continually
going on around us, both in nature and art,
But Of which we are scarcely aware. For
illustration, behold the tiny spears Of wheat or
grass, just peeping through the soil, we see it
all the while, but cannot discover the change
that has taken place from one day to another,
yet in short space of time appears the golden
waving grain in all its beauty ready for the
harvest so it is with the great agricultural
progress Of the South.
T NJ. L. DONALDSON,
IN the RuraI Cdrolinion, March No.