Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-05-20

% pounds. The experiment illustrates
strikingly the degree of tillage or pulver-
ization requisite i'm each case as COM
pared with the others. Carrying the
test still further, 800 pounds good, fer
tile soil taken from various parts of the
world and made perfectly dry, gained
nine pounds in weight in the course of
an hour by simple absorption from the
atmosphere, aud this gain varied with
different qualities of earth, in proportion
as they we've more less productive. The
lesson to be derived IS ObviOus-al-
ways bearing In mind that soil is best fit
ted for the simultaneous action of air and
wates, which will retain about 40 per
cent of the latter.
The PRESENT CONDITION OF THE FARM
ER II THE SoUTH.-The farmers are the
6olelS -, & AiI1ai no 3,a nation 1a,75,
even the savage, the abOriSines OF our
loved country, are represented as having
given considerable attention to a2ricult-
ure. The farmer must open the way to
civilization and refinement, cities must
depend, in a great measure, upon him
for their sustenlnce; the manufactures
is dependent chiefly on him for his ma
telial-the Ignorant clOdhopper" is the
leading clause in the compound sentence
of society, upon which all others must
depend for subsistence; he Is the solid
food OF society. What would society
mean withodt the independent farmer?
1t would be a meaningless conglomera-
ton of confusion and chaos; he is the
backbone" of the world, the indepeud-
ent member in the grand sentence OF So
ciety, around which all others cluster,
and upon which they depend for their
meaning in life.
But he is so looked upon by the masses
of people in our sunny South? DO we
esteem and respect the farmer as occupy
ing such a station here? Here where
We have all the advantages the world af-
fords in fertile soil, cOngenial climates,
well watered country, improved farm
Implements, and an enlightened and
GOd-fearing people, such IS the cOndi-
ton of the farmer at the Southland in
such a country Is farming esteemed hon
orable and enrolling? Alas no; he is
looked upon as Insignificant and unim-
portant by other classes of sOciety-and
fssns&he old farmers who are seemingly
st.siled with the dignity of their calling,
themselves having lived q happy and
prosperous life as a farmer, are now en-
cOuraging their boys to study q trade or
profession. have heard mother dis,
cOursing thus TO her son: ''SOn, you are
about starting for yourself in the world;
what do you expect to dO2 Your father
has gone TO considerable expense to give
you an tutlCdLlOH luib NOulu III you Tor
a profession, and / would feel bad to see
you go to the field to work after such OPP
pOrtunities as you have had to do BETTER
o tempOres . mores! When we
hear such as this coming from the moth
ers of the land should we not pause and
consider? Is decentralization, with its
influence, creeping in upon
us Nay, does this not argue that it has
already seized npOn cur vitals. when we
troll =
work!
The question arises here, why is this
calling so disliked and
avoided by our best citizens? The time
has been in our country when such was
not the case. What has made so great a
opinion, what has brought about the
change: The people of the South have
allowed themselves to be led into charm
by 'sKing Cotton and while under the
Influence of this Charm, his subsequent,
''Maj. Credit" has bound us so tight
and fast that we can scarcely move, and
while we are thus unable to help our
selves, that perpetual eater, "Intcrest,"
is devouring our only means of support.
Thus we become serfs to the rest of soci-
ETY.. This is where the difficulty rests.
We arc not occupying our true position
in society. We have been followers of
''King Cotton" and have made valiant
necessity OF changing orr course. We
must begin to live at home, and then we
will not need the credit that has got us
into such a deplorable c0ndition.-J. Il.
Witherington, in Southern Farmer.