Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-03
FOR RENT.
FARM AND GARDEN.
THE STUDY OF AGRICuLrURE

THE STUDY OF AGRICULTURE.
If any art or science deserves care
full study, agriculture may rightly
claim prominence in that regard. In
the rich valley of the Ganges the in
habitants are now suffering terribly
from famine. Mr.. Thompson in his
lectures on India tells his hearers and
readers Some of the finest tracts of
land have been forsaken and given up
to the untamed beasts Of the Jungle.
The motiUes to industry hare been de-
stroyed. The soil seems TO be under a
curse. Instead of yielding an abund-
ance for the wants of its own popula-
ton and the inhabitants of other re-
gions, it does not keep in existence its
own children. 1t becomes the burying
place of millions crying for bread. Go
with me into the northwester provinces
of Bengal presidency and 1 will show
you the bleaching skeletons of five hun
dred thousand human beings who per-
ished Of hunger in the space of a few
months. Yes, died of hunger In what
has Justly been called the granary of
the world"
The recent famine IN Persia is a phe-
nomenon Of the same character. In
what respect does our planting system
differ from the practice of Persia and
BengalP When industry fails to feed
and clothe the cultivators of the soil,
after a few generations they cease 20
work, and die from starvation. Our
soil may not ''seem to ieunder a curse
at this time, like that in the oldest Gull
tivated parts of Asia; for we haveaeom-
paratively new virgin country, occupied
by a young and vigorous ma
ton. But are not many of our plan
tations growing old and poor fasterthan
our States, or the Republic inwhich we
liveP How few Of our most influential
statesmen in the public service at
Washington or elsewhere have pondered
the fact that American farms will be
more depleted and impoverished IN the
year 1874 than In any previous year
since the discovery of the continent.
Why is this? Because more laborers,
more capital, and better plows, har-
rows, reapers and mowers viii be en-
ployed to extract fertility from the soil
this year than ever before; while no
corresponding restitution of plant food
Will be made. In the District of Co.
lumbia the county tax amounts to a
fair rent for farming land now in its
generally worn out condition; and our
present national taxes, however assess
ed, fall at last mainly on arabic land,
consuming from year to year its prim-
tive natural resources Cor making re-
munerating crops, and feeding the ma
ton.
If consuming a cord of wood by
burning it does not improve the wood
as fuel, how can the consumption OF
fertility by consuming taxation during
a mans lifetime improve a soil for the
benefit of the next generations Any
tax on land or labor that diminishes
fruitfulness, is simply robbing poster
ity, and planting the seeds of famine
In the hearts of children yet unborn.
No such right exists in any form of
government, or can exist. All have an
equal right to live, labor and augment
the earth's natural fruitfulness for
the common good of mankind.
But for governments to use their
Legislative power, their control Of
banks, currency and impost duties, in
a way to make old fields and quasi
deserts by the hundred million acres,
shows profound stupidity nor than
agricultural craftsmanship. Is not
true craftsmanship demonstrated by
a nation of farmers? Agriculture,
unjust, exhaustive taxes, dependence,
and terrible famines are not so far
apart as many suppose. 1t is high
time for all thinking people to study
the true principles of tillage and hus-
bandry.
Such study will increase useful
knowledge, and leads to great reforms
in farming and planting. In some
Northern States, and in, perhaps, some
of the Western, taxes are three per
cent on a full valuation of property.
The policy of high taxes rests ON the
theory that the local government may
properly use the money collected for
public improvements in an operation
that will benefit the taxpayer three or
four times the amount of his
contribution to the common
fund. Officials use legislative
power to speculate in lands, mis-
called improvements of real estate. a
few may profit by the scheme; but a
few only can be taxed into a fortune in
land, whether it lies in town or coun-
try, no matter what public work is con-
structed by public credit and the pay
ment of interest. Agriculture de-
mands cash capital to keep up high
fruitfulness of soil; and among many
leaks and losses, that of taxation is not
the least.