The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-10-18
Theory and Practice.

lnere are FARMERS WHO arg us sCuD-
born and unwilling to accept the teach
ings of theory as are men in any other
relation of life. They entertain con-
tempt for book farming, as they call
it, that is absolutely withering. Fancy
farming and fancy stock breeding are
to such men the most triAing puerility
it is boys play that was never
equaled in frivolity by any game at
the fireside or ON the green. Yet it is
fact that some of our most important
and profitable practice i'll both these
industries has been taught us by fancy
operations. Fancy farming is largely
experimental-and it is seldom that
experiment in anything fails to result
in some benefit. A prejudice against
theoretical farming, experimental far
ming, or book farming, whatever you
choose to call it, is prejudice which
other callings have never cherished
toward similar teachings. 1t is true
that much of this fancy or experiment
tai work amounts to nothing. There
are visionary men in all spheres of ac-
ton, and they disgust us with their
wild vagaries and schemes but an in
telligeut experimenter will usually do
something to benefit himself and the
world. Rogers, for instance, was ex-
perimenting in growing grapes from
seedlings for a quarter of century,
and during that time failed in many,
many instances to produce anything of
value in the way of variety; but we
all know that he produced the choicest
varieties of grapes that we have. All
intelligent experiments result in SINH
lar blessings to the world, and gener-
ally in pecuniary profit to the expert.
menter in the end. The breeding Of
short.horn cattle is another example.
Mr.. Thomas Bates, for instance
among the greatest, if not.the greatest
among breeders-desermined to fix the
type Of the best animal for all purpo-
ses-more especially for beef He
had fixed theories, and labored to re-
duce them to practice. In doing so
he sacrificed anything that prevented
success or retarded his progress. If
an animal was in any manner def
cicnt, i: was ruthlessly slaughtered: and
the result has been perfect animal
and an inestimable blessing to breeders
and the world. 1t is our neglect to
theorize to practice, that is proving an
incalculable injury to our agricultural
interests. In the former wheat-growing
regions, or the east, there is now scarce
ly any wheat grown. The wheat belt
Of our country has been moving con
stantly westward. Indiana, Michigan
and illinois comprise the wheat-pro.
ducing sections, when the East ceased
to produce it. Now the still more
Western States are the wheat-producne
sections. Well, why is it that the East
doesn't any longer grow wheat? Be
cause it can't do it with profit. Why
don't Indiana, Michigan and Illinoi;
produce as much wheat us formerly
Because they can't; and why? Fol
the reason that the natural richness o.
the soil tempted men to grow wheat
year after year, without returning tt
the soil any of the elements taken from
it, until the soil was thoroughly ex
hausted, and refused longer to nourisf
this crop. But the same thing is being
done in the present wheat regions, ano
it will go on moving West until We
reduce to practice the theory that thu
elements which the crops take from thu
soil must be replaced Uestern R'ral