The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-05-02
Agriculture as Q Science.

| Agriculture as Science.
We offer no apology for presenting the
following extract from Col. Philpot's ed.
dreas, lately published in the Aaseyicos
| ESanser, and earnestly commend its care
ful perusal TO ali progressive farmers.
Every fact stated here 4 equally applica-
BILE TO our section of the country and to
our farmers, except, perhaps, that the
improvement observable in our syatem of
agriculture dates from the war. De-
pressed, harrassed and Impoverished as
our people have been by reconstruction,
ESQ called) inefficient labor aud carpet.
baggem. there is very great advance
pereeptible in our mode OF agriculture.
Very little guano, and not much manure
OF any kind, was used by onr farmers
before the war. Now no crop is consid.
cred worth planting without free appli-
cation of some commercial fertilizer or
homemade compost. And our common
farmers speak as glibly of phosphates
and superphosphates, OF the per cent, of
ammonia, phosphorous, potash, nitrogen,
Gc:, contained in fertilizefs, and their
solubility, as our chemists did fifteen
JeaTs ago. ali kinds OF improved imple.
ments of husbandry are used TO-. aome
extent by our farmers, and every sue.
icceding year familiarizes them with new
and more Efficient 1abor-sayying fayfning
implements. Reapers and mowers, field
threshers and plantation engines are
coming into common use, and often
We ,ked with the stricteat economy of
skilled labor; for it is not unusual TO SEQ
specimen Of the fifteenth amendment
little over three feet high engineering q
plantation steamer with .ch more dig
nifty than skill. This address was deliv-
cred on the occasion of the installation
of the officers of sub Grange, and ne
think 1t would prove highly interesting,
and not less edifying, if The chief officers
Of our sub Oranges would keep up a
similar greeting to their brethren at each
annual installation of officers. The fol.
lowing is the extract referred to: sf.
The Master, saying what he had writ
ten was given with no snecial claims IL to
originality, after suitable ;n..ednction
as to the importance Of tho, interest Of
agriculture, said: -. ,'' ''.'''
| Various facts, which cannot now, be
stated In detail, strengthen the conclu.
sion that American agriculture, especially
during the last twenty years, has made
great progress. Farms throughout the
country are more thoroughly cleared OF
stumps and stones; fences are neater end
more durable; farm houses are more
conveniently and tastefnlly built -ud
adorned; barns are constructed with
more reference to the comfort of stock,
to tho hopsing of produce and to the
preparation and preservation of manure
! q ni0Te ready access 70 markets il AFFORDED
by railroads and canals; improvements
are made In the implements in general
use-while salubrious climate, q pro.
life soil, o broad and quiet land, and q
beneficent Providence have crowned with
abundant success the labors Of the hus-
bandman. .a,..i.
| Having reached this agricultural yant-
age ground by honect toll, guided by ex-
perience and the lights Of science, IL is
an interesting question to every farmer,
what are the conditions of a still Erander
| progress and prosperity? Let lis, broth
| ers and sisters, endeavor to make this
inquiry, and see if we cannot find ont
and explain the conditions 80 necessary
for our prosperity and happiness. The
essential conditions, it seems to me, are,
in the first place, peace; second, con-
tinned demand for agricultural products,
both at home end abroad third, an in
creased respect for labor; fourth, q more
thorough knowledge and practice of ag-
riculture as an art and science; fifth, and
finally, : moro complete education of our
farmers in political economy, in taste and
general reading. aa iarsgs
Let us, brothers and sisters, briefly con-
slider these conditions. In the first place
state OF war is inimical to agricultural
prosperity. It always whether domestic
or foreign1 reduces the productive indus-
try OF the country engaged in it, and dis
turhs nearly oil the great interests of 90
ciety. We must preserve our normal
condition, which is peace, if agriculture
is to prosper. The second condition, on
which depends our agricultural progress,
is the, continued and increased demand
scr Our products, both ct home and
abroad. If our population increases in
the ratio Of the last decade, 100, ,00O, 600
| Of Inhabitants will be under American
lsT' ~ she ys'seass yss 1890 Beside supplying
this rapidly growing population, Eurone
and portions of South America will con-
tinue % be our customers. The statistics
of our commerce prove that corr, is King.
and that it can always be made az it Ia
now-the great conservator of peace be-
tween Englsnd and the United States.
The parliamentary returns of Greet Bri-
tain for the calendar yea. even as far
back go 1851 exhibit the following i'm
portsat facts in regard to the amount in
hushels os bresdstuffs imported for that
| year: Wheat. 86,652,097 bushels. of
which the United States furnished 3s,-
36l $50 bushels, or forty-four per cent. :
Indian corn, 20, $50 ,O04 bushels. of which
the United States furnished il,7O5, ,O34
h.ash ole er sar J sssyc. PsT 0Ss,.. r.. Eaiis
vast amount has been exported TO Great
Britain during the war While all the
Southern ports were blockaded, .showing
that VIC furnish even in time OF war
about one-hale of ell the food imported
into Great Britain, and is immensely in
creasing every year. The third condition
on which depends our agricultural pro-
| gress, is increased respect fer labor. In
many portions Of the United States this
condition is amply fulfilled, and the
healthful results arc plainly seen in fine
Ily cultivated farma, IN in,nsc..sssd 81 hes.ss
| in education, thrift nnd all tl,e henesss
pursuits of an intelligent aud respected
| industry. The two prominent canses