The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-12-11
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PLANTATION TOPICS.
IMPROVED FARMING.

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There is, probably, no distinctive
difference in the general characteristics
4 ofSthc farmers north and south. The
great obstacle to their success in either
case, is disposition to ldiseredit the
liability of the soil to produce" crops
when aided by the best efforts of the
farmer The getting out of old-rut.
isSan exceedingly difficult operation.
The ideas and practices of the grand
fathersnre str ongly adhered to, as bet
tel AshAhy fhatsyodng A1neFica can
suggest, or adopt;;a and 90, wffife at the
south, because at some time in the far
distant past, perhaps cotton was grown
to a considerable profit, therefore, it
Unjust be:so o-day, mountaineering the
evidence Of painful individual expert
ence to the Contrary; att the north, in
too many instances, there Is stiH a dis
position to extend cultivation sover too
fGyeat surfaces. There are many
thouglrtffts earliee workers in both
sections ofzour county, who are labor
ing diligently to correct these evils, and
lit is tobe hoped with something of
success.
Tits matter of surprise that cot
ton should be made as it too often'is,
1.-The sole crop, after SO much has been
written upon the sdbject, and when it
|shas been SO clearly proven by ,lnim-
peachable testimony that the produc-
ton of hay may be made a paying and
a permanent industry in the south.
But it is known that in all matters of
reform it is necessary that there be
given, Zine upon line, and precept upon
precept," in order to work efectual
good. 10. -,a."- 5I-'-' s
That crop which sells for the most
money is not always the most profitable
crop to grow, for the reason that the
profit is regulated by the cost of pro-
duction; and so one crop that will sell
well may have cost three-quarters of
the amount in its production, while
another that sells for only three-quarters
as much, cost only one-third of the
amount, thus giving a profit double
what it, is in the first case.
From this principle comes the strong
argunlentsin advocacy'of the growth Of
hay at the south as well as in other sec
tions of country where it is not grown.
1t is crop which when once started,
requires comparatively little outlay in
its cultivation and harvesting, and one
for which there IS a constant demand,
usually at good prices Snow if a fail
ure in cotton occurs, all is gone. We
would not recommend the entire aban-
donment of the cultivation of cotton,
amy more than we would that of corn
or other important production ; but |
the desire is-if such a state exists
to correct the idea that cotton is THE
crop and the ONLY crop that can be cul-
tivated at the. ''Suhny South to-any
to the producer. -,
I'VE regret that we have not per-
sonai acquaintance with soil, climate
and other conditions affecting the cul-
tivation of crops at the south, but be-
lieve that from a careful reading of the
Rural Carolinian we have learned facts.
sufficient to strengthen us in the faith,
that cotton is now the call in all at
the south, but is in fact, made an OBJ
stacle to a more successful and prosper
Gus agriculture.
Experience has demonstrated that,
rs a general rule, continuous cropping
with the same crop deteriorates the
soil to a greater or less degree; there
may be exceptions in which, by means
Of special painstaking, the soil MAIN
tains its original fertility, or perhaps
improves.
The general rule is illustrated in the
cultivation of tobacco in the Connect
cut valley s. those who have tried it for
years are beginning to feel the iniuri-
,us effects resulting from it, and have
growing corn and other
crops much more hrgely. -
I It is said that a careful, financier
would not trust all his deposits in one
bank, but for self security would divide
them among. many; therefore, when
he farmer depends upon returns from
he soil, why should he make his ven
,ure in Il single direction, or upon sin
gle crop, when there are so many with
which he can do something, and if one
fails he will be but little injured.
Is it not fact that very muchof the
and south, from this very system of
continuous cropping with one crop, has
not only come to be what might be
.ermed 'scotton sick" but is troubled
with a general AGRICULTURAL SICK
NESS, or prostration, which, requires a
change, and some careful nursing and
change, in order to restore it tosa good
Healthy condition? 1t is so at thenorth; |
Ill sorts of remedies are needed, and in
ome cases, unless the remedies are APP
olied soon, there is but little hope Of
he patient.
Now if, rs we have no reason to doubt,
he statements. of comparisons OF other
,rops with cotton are correct as given
% frequently, why cannot q greater
aith be established, and have a devel-
,pment by works.
In the first place, excess in the newer
PORTION of our country, in which is a
nigh degree of fertility, there must be
IN application of fertilzing material in
rider to secure n good crop; the cSntin-
led disobedience of this rule, as of all
avs of nature, brings its penalty; there
ore let there be no, stinginess in that
Erection; it is far better to cultivate a
ew acres, getting good crops than to
many acres, getting poor
'rops, for in the first place the soil, be-
ides producing, literally, is supposed
to beleft in as good or better condition
ham originally; wilhelm the second
,ase, the soil is growing poorer, the
'wller is growing poorer and discour-
lged, and is heard to exclaim, Charming
lon't pay" when the fault is wholly in
lis own management.
. Having properly manfred the soil,
which requires some effort in the max
ng and saving, let the amount of sur
ace to be cultivated, be properly divid-
ID and appropriated to the cultivation
If a good variety Of crops, such as
would be reasonably remIIneratiye |