The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-08-13
anfealIgent Farning-


From he Rural World.
An important feature i. he Rro.czss..Il
of the farmer Is the possession OF
sufficient degree of common sense AMI
sound Judgment, to enable BIN to grow
such crops, raise such animals, and apply
such manufes, as are best adapted to his
locality. In England. the Short-horns
are found in one locality, the Devons IN
another, the Jerseys or Attorneys III
another. We have already made. and
are still making, the mistake of putting
the Short-horns where the pasturage Is
scant, where most of the other improved
breeds of cattle would thrive; and OF
refusing to shelter and care for them, in
the manner in which it should be done.
So long as we continue to farm in this
way, we may expect to hear complaints
against this or that breed of cattle, and
their lack Of adaptation to any given
locality.
The same rule will hold good in regard
to crops and when the farmer finds the
annual average yield of any special crop
decreasing, and cannot remedy the mat
ter by an economical expend ture Of
means in the form of manures, it is safe
for him to conclude that that crop is not
adapted to his particular locality. This
principle, as we have before intimated,
will hold good in regard to stock and
farm products generally. If, on the
other hand, the farmer sees that he Is
gradually increasing the quality of his
stock and the average yield of his crops,
he may safely conclude that he is pur-
suing the right course.
Intelligent farming comprehends the
thorough cultivation of few acres OF
land, more than it does the partial culti-
walton of many. We are running over
too much surface by half. 1t would be
better for the country if half the super
fetal area could be doubled i'll the depth
of cultivation, and the other half be
devoted to the growth of timber and the
! grasses.
When we consider that less than one
third of the area Of the United States,
and less than fifth of the entire domain
| of the United States is mapped into
| farms, and remember of this farm area
| only one-fourth is titled or moved; and
when we further reflect that the average
yield per acre could be doubled if the
many could be brought up to the plane
1 of the few in the practice of intensive
culture-then we begin to rea ize what
numbers our country is capable of feeding,
and what waste of toll and effort comes
from neglect of the economic lessons
taught by the statistics of scientific
agriculture.
Intelligent farming is good farming.
Farming that pays, not only when viewed
/ from a business standpoint, but from
social one. 1t is important that children
| be educated, so that country life will
| have more charms for them than city life.
| 1t is important that they should be better
| educated as farmers and house keepers,
than farmers children, as rule, have
been in the past, so that they will ennOble
and dignity any calling for which they
are best fitted. The success which far
ers' sons and daughters have achieved in
every department of social life, reflects
great credit upon them as a class. The
nuI Der Of farmers sons and daughters
VINO have achieved honorable distinction,
particularly in this country, may justly
attribute their success to such physical,
mental and moral training as gave to
them physical vigor, intellectual power,
| and high appreciation of the value of
pure morals, which are so essential to the
permanenthappiness of every community.
As a general thing, good things come
wheeling into line just at the right time,
and in the ri hit way. So came the grange,
which is proving to be at present grand
educational system, that is to lead rs as
class, up to higher plane of usefulness.
1t is impossible to predict the vast amount
of good that this organization can accom-
plish, not only in increasing the prosperity
Of the farming class but Indirectly, that
of all the legitimate occupations that are
so closely allied to that of the farmer,
and which are so dependent on his pros
perity in order to assure their own success.