The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-10-19
Next Year.

/ Only three months remain and it will be-
gone forever. These three months ins
part,at least, belong to the year 1877;
The time: has already arrived when every
sfameE must begin to make his arrange
nents for next year. Plans must be laid
and means for putting these plans into
execution must be provided. In view of
all the facts in the case, 1t becomes every
Southern farmer to consider seriously
whether or not it is his duty to9make
some change in the mode Of agricultural
operations heretofore practiced in the
cotton portion of the South. 1t is use
less to repeat that too much attention has
been;devoted to producing cotton and too
little,to raising provisions. There is not
farnierin the Country who has notbeen
advocating this doctrine for years. Still,
but little change has been made in the
practice of farmers generally. 1t is use
less to say that it is the capability Of
Southern soil to produce cotton that gives
the South its natural advantage over
many sections of the Union, and it is the
cotton of the South that gives the South
ern people power. No more suicidal
policy could be adopted by the South
than to abandon the cultivation Of cotton.
The South, to be prosperous, must raise
cotton ); but to raise cotton and nothing
else, is to take the control of the cotton
crop out of the hands of the producer
and put it wholly into the hands of
spectators.
The true theory respecting the cultiva-
ton of cotton, is to make the cotton
meney crop and nothing else. In other
words, cotton should be produced for the
sole purpose of procuring money with
which to purchase those things which
cannot, on account of soil and climate,
be produced in the South, or which, ON
account Of deficiency in natural facili-
ties, can not be manufactured in the
South 49, .s
The present is the proper season of the
year to make arrangements for such
change. To effect such a change in the
agricultural system Of the South, a
change must be made in the extent of
Southern agricultural operations. Large
farms, it seems to us, must be divided
into a number of small ones. Such q
change would encourage individual en-
terprise and infuse energy into a greater
number of individuals. Such a change
would give the laborer the alternative to
either starve OF work. Now he depends
apon the land-holder, and seems perfect:
4pf satisfied, provided he gets something
sxi eat, and lis absolutely Indifferent
whether he makes anything or not
Some change. it seems to u.s.; is, de-
smanded. The burden OF the laboring
sclass falls upon tie land-holders, as fully
as if the laborer were an irrational brute.
He has no reliance upon himself, and
worse than all, he has no self-respect.
Both these things are wanting, to a
lamentable degree, by:a large portion Of
the laboring class Of the South. The
circumstances by which they are sur:i
rounded; and the manner in which they
have hitherto been dealt with, have
tendency to perpetuate this state Of
things.
The change which the country, de-
.mands, il order to be prosperous, cannot
be madeJin day nor even in year.. It
has, however, to be commenced some
time, and the present is as fit q time as
any other. The change may be inaugu-
rated by sowing large crops of small
grain. in the fall. It will too late to. talk
about planting less cotton next spring,
if no morec casteltion than usual is de-
voted to small grain. When spring
comes it will be cotton or nothing. #
the Southern country could only be pre-.
vailed upon to produce its own supplies,
one half of the average cotton crop would
soon make the Southern people rich.
1t is not wise to complain before We
are hurt; but the indicstions are that
1877 will be very similar to 1876. We
have nothing to warrant us in concluding
that money will be any plentier or that
provisions will be plentier: Prosident
farmers will begin in time to meet any
emergency that, may arise. When mer-
chants see crisis abroad, they avoid in
creasing their stock of goods and dismiss
their clerks. When manufacturers find,
the market glutted, they ;curtail their
operations and dismiss numbers of their
hands. From this farmers may learn
useful lesson. Circumstances. alter cases
and every wise man, when he cannot
control theycircnmstances by which he is
surrounded, sadapt5 bis affairs, SO far as
he can, to the circumstances by which he
is environed.
Unusually, it requires more muscle
than brain to farm; but at present the re-
FYerseis strictly true, To farm success
fully in the South, at present, requires
an amount and a diversity of talents
which nature bestows on few men. A
Southern farmer, besides having a
knowledge of the cultivation Of the soil,
must be dealer in corn, bacon and
.nnlassess. In one word, a keeper of In
Vulnerable small accounts. A Southern
farm is a kind of retail shop. The owner
of Southern farm has to be on the con-
tinual looka out lest he dribble out the
whole income Of his farm, and receive his
pay in chips and whetstones.
Such state of things should, if posi-
Fble;s BE rededied::a We see no way by
which change can be effected, but by
.inaugurating q course which will compel
every tiller Of the soil to receive his sup
plies out of his own corn-crib and smoke
house. ''i@ ~. -. r.s.,,,i,,.,,,, at