Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-03-20
KNOWLEDGE AND FARMING.


The question is often asked-why 1t
is that farmers, who constitute about
20 per cent, of our business popula-
ton. exert so little influence over the
political affairs of the country. There
are two very sufficient reasons why tits
so. Until recently, there has been no
effort at that concert of action, In
which lies the strength Of parties, and is
SO important in securing protection, by
legislation, for any great interest. This
reason, for the slight influence of farm
ers over the administration of public
affairs, is being rapidly obviated by
compact organization and already, the
farmers are recognized as power IN
the land.
The other reason is far more damag-
ing and far less easy to be removed.
1t is want of that general informa-
ton which enables one to comprehend
the institutions under which he lives,
the needs of the great interests of the
country and the governmental policy
best calculated to foster and advance
each one of them. without expressing
the others. Apart from this knowledge
which will ensure them political infiu-
ence, they must seek information that
will enable them to develop the re-
sources of their own calling and thus
gain that moral weight which success
always gives and the respect that is
paid to usefulness and social worth.
They must eradicate the false impress
ion, that little sense and education is
needed to make one farmer. 1t is a
reproach which farmers have done
much to draw upon themselves by be-
ing content with the routine which
their fathers misunderstanding to
exhaust the fertility of the lands and
neglecting that cultivation of the mind
without which no man has influence,
no matter how worthy he may be in
other respects.
There is no vocation which demands
wider scope of scientific and general
knowledge than farming. Mathemat-
les, analytical chemistry, botany, geol-
gy and physiology, as applied to plants,
are all important to the development
of agriculture in its approximate per-
fiction And whilst it is not necessary
that every farmer shall become an
adept in these sciences, it is more than
desirable that enough of them shall be,
to illustrate by experiment, their i'm
portance to advanced agriculture, and
enable the balance, by observation
AID imitation, to reap the benefits
which science coniers. Whilst it is
not expected that all farmers will be
scientific, it may be insisted that they
shall acquire sufficient amount OF
lulOi uidtluu ~ give tnCul iuHuOuCC de
neighbors and citizens, and, at the
same time, secure the exercise of that
influence in the promotion of the gen.
eral good, through a wise administra-
ton of the federal and State govern
ments. For the want of mental cul-
ture farmers have been content to re-
main hewers of wood and drawers oil
water, for the more learned professions
and enlightened merchants and money
changers, and have quietly looked oil
whilst the fruits of their labor have
been gathered into the gamers of thost
fitted, by the proper knowledge, to ap
pSopriate the lions share of the earn
ings of others. To have wholesome
influence, farmers must read and re
feet, not only about farming, but upor
their duties as enlightened citizens.