The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-10-28
AMshandtp.
From the Southern Planter and Farmer.
a Few Things it Don't Pay to Do.

lst. 1t don't pay to hire inferior labor and
pay big price to have things half DONE
Onr labor is Uery inferior and demoralized,
and it is difficult to get good hands, Our
labor is becoming more Indifferent every
year, and we believe, like the editors of the
Southern Planter and Farmer, that I" ne
groeS are becoming SO incorrigibly lazy that
we have almost ceased to look to them as
laborers. x x We see very clearly that
the day is fast approaching when the negro,
as farm laborer, will almost entirely disap-
pear from Virginia. Our people are becom-
ing tired of their laziness and indifference to
the interests of their employer, and are al
ready looking elsewhere for some one to put
in their place." They won't take kind treat:
ment.
End. 1t don't pay to rent out our lands
and houses to any one who is too lazy to
make crop, or living, to burn up and de-
stroy our finest timber, gall and wear out
our land, and then move off without thing
to secure the rent. And yet, this is just
what good many of US are doing. 1t is a
fact, that the wood alone that most of our
renters burn during the year, is worth more
cash money, standing in the woods, than the
amount they pay, or at least promise to pay.
9rd. 1t don't pay to half do anything, es-
pecially on farm. That which is not worth
doing nell, as generally not worth doing at all.
| know two farmers whose farms join
One OF them thought it not worth while to
pillow piece of corn land which was looking
pretty yellow, and was grassy. 1t had never
been touched since planted, and was in tassel.
The other, having a field joining, in the
same condition, thought it Was worth while
to pillow it, and though it was late and his
crop very badly injured, had it we'll laid by,
that being the only working it received
The difference in the appearance and yield
of the two fields nOw is worth speaking of.
The former (about ten acres) is yellow, and
will hardly make two barrels of nubbinS;
while the latter, (about seven acres is look
ing green and fresh, and will, it is thought,
make two barrels of good corn per acre. 1
shall always give my crop good laying by,
even if late, believing it shelter late than
never" Of course due care should be taken
not to cut up the roots, especially if laid.by
during dry spell.
4th. 1t don't pay to plant too close, for
though in wet season our yield may be
enormous, in dry season it will be very
much reduced, and very inferior. Better
give reasonable space and be prepared for
either q wet or dry season, or else make
your land SO rich that it will bear close
planting and make heavier yields. We know
two acres of land near here-an old garden
spot-whch we are confident will yield forty
barrels Of corn this year, while some around
here have in forty acres, and hardly expect
forty barrels.
What difference. Just think of cult
waiting forty acres to make what can be
made on two, and we may almost say upon
one, if properly managed and enriched
And yet, this is just what some of US are do
ing If we would only cultivate less land,
and make what we do cultivate richer, and
so make larger yields and profits. 1t is our
salvation in the South, and We must cult
vate less land and make more per acre, (by
measured or else quit farming.
5th. 1t don't pay to buy fertilizers unless
we are going to use them right-that is, if we
use them we must SOW clover and pillow it I'M
der, or else pillow under the thick coat of
weeds which generally come after their use
Our lands must have something upon them
for the fertilizer to act in concert with. l
think using good compost fertilizer does
pay. 1t will especially if used with wheat
or oats-produce good thick coat of weeds,
and these weeds turned under while green
are splendid. If we can get the green weeds
to grow We can easily improve our lands.
III. w. @.