The Osceola times., 1875-12-04
PLANTATION TOPICS.
IMPROVED FARMING,


of the farmers north and south. The
great obstacle to their success in either
case is disposition to discredit the
ability Of the soil to produce crops
when aided by the best efforts of the
farmer. The getting out of old ruts
is IN exceedingly difficult operation.
The ideas and practices of the grand
fathers are strongly adhered to, as bet
ter than any that young America can
suggest, or adopt; and 50, while at the
south, because ut some TING in the far.
distant past, perhaps cottd was grown
to considerable profit, therefore, it
must be so to-day, notwithstanding the
evidence of painful individual expert
ence to the contrary; at the north, in
too many instances, there is still dis
position to extend cultivation over too
great surfaces. There are many
thoughtful, earnest workers in both
sections of our country, who are labor
ing diligently to correct these evils, and
it is to be hoped with something of
success.
1t is "A matter of surprise that cot
ton should he made, us it too often is,
the sole crop, after so much has been
written upon the subject, and when it
has been so clearly proven by unim-
peachable testimony that the produc-
ton Of hay may be made 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, cline upon line, and prccept upon
precept,' in order to work etlcctual
good
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 thrce-quarters
Us much, cost only one-third of the
amount, thus giving profit double
what it is in the first case.
From this principle comes the strong
argument in 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 Il 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. Now If n fail
ure in cotton occurs, all is gone. We
would not recommend the entire aban-
donment of the cultivation of cotton,
any more than we would that of corn
or other important production but
the desire is-if' such state exists
to correct the idea that cotton is THE
crop and the ONLY crop that can be cul-
tivated at the Sunny South to any
advantage to the producer.
We regret that we have not a per-
sonal 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 lis in the faith,
that cotton is now the "all in all " at
the south, but is in fact, made an OBJ
stacle to a more successful and prosper
ous agriculture.
Experience has demonstrated that,
as general rule, continuous cropping
with the same crop deterioratcs the
soil to 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 Connccti-
cut valley; those who have tried il for
years are beginning To feel the injuri-
ous effects resulting from it, and have
commenced growing corn and other
crops much more largely.
1t is said that careful fnancier
would not trust all his deposits in one
bank, but for self security would divide
them among many; therefore, when
the farmer depends upon returns from
the soil, why should he make his ven
ture in 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 much of the
land south, from this very system of
continuous cropping with one crop, has
not onl ly come to be what might be
termed "cotton sick" but is troubled
with a general AGRICULTURAL SICK
NESS, or prostration, which requires Il
change, and some careful nursing and
change, in order to restore il 10 a good
healthy condition? 1t is so at the north,
all sorts Of remedies are needed, and in
some cases, unless the remedies are ap-
piled soon, there is but little hope of
the patient.
Now if, as we have no reason to doubt,
the statements of comparisons of other
crops with cotton are correct as given
so frequently, why cannot II greater
faith be established, and have devel-
opment by works.
In the first place, excess in the newer
portion of our country, in which Is Il
high degree of fertility, there must be
an application of tertilzing material in
order to secure a good crop; the contin-
| ued diSobedicnce of this rule. rs of nil