The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-10-08
The Farms And Farmers OF Marry.


Nature has done mach for Middle Ten
nessee by giving her a foundation of lime
stone rock of vast, but unknown thickness,
Astounding in organic remains, which sup
ply to soils all the essential elements OF
| fertility These constituents OF fruitful
ness, no matter to what depth they
existed in ocean formed rocks, and their
debris would be valueless TO the farmer,
did not the climate as well as the soil
favor the luxuriant growth of agricultural
DIants and domestic animals.
We saw the stump of a poplar in the
lawn in front oft the residence of Mr.. w.
D. Bethel, Vice President of the Maury
County Agricultural, Mechanical, HOrti-
cultural and Live Stock Society, that was
six feet four inches across where this gi-
ant of the forest was cut down, having
died apparently of old age. Oak and
other deciduous trees were large and sup
Piled unmistakable evidence of great
strength of soil. Blue grass, clover, corn
and other crops told the same story.
The owner of this fine estate, exhibited
three year old bull at the fair last week,
that was estimated to weigh 2 400 pounds,
having gained an average of 800 pounds
year during his life. We saw yearlings
belonging to others, which had done quite
as we'll in the matter of making short-horn
beef out of rich bluegrass. Mr.. Bethel
has mule barn ITO feet in length by 70
in width in which two year old mules, ap.
parently doing their best in the art of
growing, had attained the height of over
sixteen hands, while yearlings on the
other side of the barn were doing quite as
we'll.
Mules skillfully bred in our cotton eli
hovo in
| for service in the South which are not
| developed in an equal degree in any
more northern latitude. The raising of
such stock is speciality with many far
mers of Maury, one of whom has 400 head.
There is money in pedigree, and mule
stock of good blood, even in hard times;
and it is we'll to comprehend how natu-
rally grass, clover, corn, oats, barley and
other stock feed change their cheap vege-
table form into the condition of horse
| flesh, the meat of fat cattle, fat sheep and
| fat hogs, which readily command green
backs at profit to the producer. The
solid foundation of this productive indus
try is good land, with good common
sense. That such land and such sense
may be cultivated and improved, few will
deny, and it is the effort and success of
the Maury county farms in this direction
that we wish to eignalise, and commend
to our readers. To purchase breeding
animals at apparently high prices to be-
gin with, requires both courage and cap
ital; and it may happen that while rich
land gives capital, it fails to inspire true
industrial courage.
Yet this sort of enterprise is able to
start its farming career with fields run
down by improper cropping and tlilage,
having washed and worn land, and by
the use OF clover, plaster and bone-earth,
fetch up the depleted soil, and raise prof
liable crops of all the common varieties
| of improved stock. Nature works for man
on the side of progress in the betterment
of his condition. Ifher laws were against
organic life, from our species down to
worms and moss that grows on granite
rocks, not one animal or plant could ex-
| ist in the world.
In labo-ing to improve the earth on
which all life is nourished and sustained,
we act in the line of our first and highest
duty. Fertile land is desirable as q
means for the happy elevation of man
kind. The magnificent farms of Maury
afford leisure for study, reflection, mental,
social and moral culture. Children born
and reared under such humanizing have
| nome ana nelShOOFhOod advantages "
inestimable value. Money in the posses
| sion of fathers, mothers and children who
do not know how to use it wisely, often
produces more harm than good. Society
may be refined till it becomes more dl-
luted than hydrogen gas, and quite as
| light and combustible. We met with
sons and daughters in Maury pleasing,
because raised to do honor to Tennessee
as solid men and thoughtful women. Dur
ing thirty years observation in the South
some of the best managed plantations that
we have seen were wholly controlled by
widows or single ladies', thrown into po-
sitions of great care and responsibility
by the vicissitudes of life. When farm
ers raise such men as Washington, moth
ers of surprising excellence are indispen-
sable.