Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-07-26
SOUTHERN PROGRESS.

"The world moves" said Calico, and
when the inquisition threatened him
and imprisoned him he still asserted:
"The world moves" We see that the
social world moves as well as the physi-
cal one, when we find how many things
we are doing in the South to-day that
were once either condemned as impos-
sible or scornfully smiled at as absurd.
We are learning now that safety from
difficulty, and the way to wealth, lies in
variety of crops, not in the cultivation
of a single staple. We are demonstrate
ing that it is cheaper to grow corn than
to buy it. We have found that the South
can make butter that, being fresh and
sweet, can contend. successfully with
western butter that has been made
months when it reaches the consumer.
We are beginning to find that we can
profitably raise our own chickens and
eggs. In short, it is gradually, but
surely, evident to the minds of the
Southern population, that we can pro-
duce everything the West produces
and cotton besides. There is also dawn
ing on the horizon of our practical pei
ceptions the great fact that the cotton
production viii NOT be decreased by the
extension OF our labor to other objects.
AS many persons will be engaged in the
cotton culture with other crops as with
out them. Population will increase
as we vary our productions, and
the new products will be raised by
the added population. Raise as much
corn, wheat, oats, hay, butter and chick
ems as we may, We shall still grow every
fiber Of cotton that it will pay to cult
vAte. We shall grow it, too, under bet
ter auspices, for the variation of crops
will improve the land and increase its
yield, where non-rotation, through the
persistent adherence to a single staple,
has tended to decrease its fertility. Ex-
pertinent shows that there are ways of
meeting every diff guilty that accompa-
MES the changes going on, and obstacles
give way just as fast as effort is made to
them. One Of the most prom.
ising Improvements in the new method
Is the introduction of the system OF the
south raising its own meat, instead Of
spending every year hundreds of thou
sands OF dollars to other people to raise |
Ii for us. In addition to other real and |
imagined difficulties in the way of rails
ing hogs, a prominent ore, since the |
war, has been the alleged imposs. bIIity |
Of keeping hogs in the face Of negro |
.hievishness. AS a specimen Of the
character Of this obstruction,
As it appeared to the minds Of those con-
,erned, we copy the following from q
signed ar. G. H." and
lated Carson's landing, Mississippi,
which was published in the New York
Chronicle Of May IL, 1875:
Planters, as a general rule, are re-
iuciDg their expenses to the lowest
'oint, in order to meet the present low
Gale of prices of the staple. II they
ould only raise their meat, they could
10 very well, even as it is, but the ne
roes would be shocked at the idea of
Offering the white man to raise hogs.
Is one Of my old negroes remarked to
ne short time since: /" You raise hogs,
fasss! never!-a penitentiary on every
lsntation wouldn't do it."
Very likely the penitentiary plan
'ould fail, as force usually does fail in
1ch cases; but the more astute mana. /
ers of plantations have found better
leans Of accomplishing the object de- [
red than diving and Furnishing. The
Ian Is to make three or four smart ne.
roes in their neighborhoods hog-raisers
4 their own account. No sooner do {
lese men begin TO appreciate the value :
hog property themselves, than they ]
scome the best Of policemen toward the {
st. For their hogs to be secure, all the s
ogs must be secure-seeing this, Sam |
D's interest becomes the best check on G
ambO's rascality. The cure is simple, c
1t it is eftsctusl, and is striking proof '
the possibility there is for the southern 7
'rlculturist to overcome all opposing
fticulties, and to tread dowa obstacles
at, at distance, appeared to be in
perable. Let the southern farmer
axe up his mind to two things, and -
osperity is certain for him: Raise on Z
e farm the provisions the farm re- !,
Tires, then every fibre of cotton that :,
n be picked-raise the crop without T
ing into debt to do it. II debt must ii
incurred this year, start the next year
scale where it can be done without. n
t is not what man gains that makes p
M rich, but what he saves, =" and there a.
Il be no saving when the money is =,
INT before it is earned, and so debt Ia
'ated. The man who raises his crop oil
borrowed money has worse enemy pl
IN either thievish negroes or cotton 81
rms, m