The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-02-11
Agricultural Improvement.

A great deal has been spoken and written
concerning agriculslre and its influence on the
nation and on the Individual, and it willnot be
denied that the advancement of the one in
every desirable direction, and the prosperity of
the other, depend in, direct degree upon the
progress made in this fundamental interest.
And the prosperity of any section is in proper
ton to its advancement in agriculture and its
associated interests. Agriculture is now un-
derstood, and'properly SO, to be almost science
the gaining of the mastery by man over ma.
ture, and The acquisition of such knowledge OF
her ways and her laws of action, as will ena-
bic him OF attain the control necessary to secure
the result be has in view. There can be no
successful agriculture unless it be. made Proh-
table and pleasant. But before this result can
be obtained there must be an abandonment u, c, ci
old pfejudices. These prejudices, that
stand in the way Of Improvements OF any
kind, are the offspring of Ignorance, and
they constitute most formidable ooseacle 10
ANYTHING like progress. Whenever these e1-
ists. an obstinate determination t6permit no
innovation on the rules and practices of ones
forefathers, nc deviation from the customs OF
other years, there cannot possibly be taken any
step forward. When mind is so constituted
that it can find nothing attractive IN the lnyen-
ton of genius or the discoveries of science, we
can confidently assert that it is stagnant, and
until its depths are stirred by the power OF en-.
terprise or learning, it will remain dull and
sluggish, contracting always. We must get
something to dispel old prejudices. Obstinacy
is the result of prejudice and of ignorance, and
when we can dispel them, we can, with reason,
look for improvement. IL =. =. :.
Now, this is fact that demands more atten-
tion than it has received. Unless farmers de-
vote more time to the cultivation OF their
minds how can they make any desirable az
vancement. The wise man once wrote: Iae
wisdom of learned man cometh by opportus
nifty of leisure" And in that sentence is food
for reflection and thought sufficient for an en-
tire sermon, if we had time to preach. 1t is
not the skillful hand, the strong arm, or the
watchful eye alone, that will, In those days,
bring success and wealth to the farmer.
These are needful, but the cultivated mind is
far more important. If. thorough tillage is in-
dispensable to profitable result then an edu-
Gated mind with experience and observation is
essential, for there can be no thorough tillage
ia the sense here understood, unless it be per-
formed th,inteligence, care and skill udgg:
ment is absolutely worthless unless it IS based
upon knowledge. An ignorant farmer IS some
times successful, because the circumstances are
fortuitous, but we urge higher standard OF
mental cultivation for farmers, that they may,
at times, wrest success from unfavorable cir
cumstances, that practical skill, learning, ex- ex
perience and mature judgment may secure de-
ssirabIe results even when the elements seem to
oppose him. Throughout the whole country,
we can see that agriculture is making rapid
advancement, and that farmers~are increasing
in their social and political influence, while
their material prosperity is being improved.
But the full power and grandeur of agriculture
will never be acknowledged or known nor will
it ever attain. that prominence it entitled to
as the basis of national prosperity, until tar
and humble admit the truths we have stated.
A1ne,r;cn,, Land and Lam Advisori