The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-05-02
Grange Column. !
Under tho Supervision OF tho Executive
Committee of Pomona Grange.
Agriculture rs o Science.


We offer nc apology for presenting the
following extract from Col. Philpot's ad-
dress, lately published in the America"
Farmer, and earnestly commend its care
full perusal to all progressive farmers.
Every fact stated here is equally applica-
BILE to our section of the country and to
our farmers, except perhaps, that the
improvement observable in our system of
agriculture dates from the war. De-
pressed, harrassed and impoverished as
our people have been by reconstruction,
(so called) inefficient labor and carpet
baggers, there is very great advance
perceptible in our mode of agriculture.
Very little guano, and not much manure
of any kind, was used by our 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, phosphorus, potash, nitrogen,
&c, contained in fertilizers, and their
solubility, as our chemists did fifteen
years ago. Ell kinds of improved imple-
ments of husbandry are used to some
extent by our farmers, and every sue
ceeding year familarizes them with new
and, more Efficient labor-saving farming
implements. Reapers and mowers, field
threshers and plantation engines are
coming into common use, and often
worked with the strictest economy of
skilled labor; for il is not unusual to see
a specimen of the fifteenth amendment
little over three feet high engineering a
plantation steamer with much more dig
nifty than skill. This address was deliy-
cred on the occasion of the installation
of the officers of q sub Grange, and we
think it would prove highly interesting,
and not less sdifying, if the chief officers
Of our sub-t5ranges would keep up q
similar greeting to their brethren at each
annual installation of officers. The fol-
lowing is the extract referred to-:
The Master, saying what he had writ
ten was given With no special claims to
originality, after suitable introduction
as to the Importance of the, interest of
agriculture, said: .5s.
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 and
more durable; farm houses are more
conveniently and tastefully built aud
adorned; barus are constructed with
more reference to the comfort of stock,
to the housing Of produce and to the
preparation and preservation of manure;
more ready access to markets is afforded
by railroads and canals; improvements
are made in the implements in general
use-while salubrious climate, pro-
life soil, a broad and quiet land, and q
benefcent Providence have crowned with
abundant success the labors of the hus-
bandman. ........
Having reached this agricultural want
age ground by honest toll, guided by ex-
perience and the lights of science, it is
an interesting question to every farmer,
what are the conditions of still grander
progress and prosperity? Let us, broth
ers and sisters, sndeavor to make this
inquiry, and see if we cannot find out
and explain the conditions so necessary
for our prosperity and happiness. The
essential conditions, it seems to me, are,
in the first place, peace; second, con-
tinued demand for agricultural products,
both at home and abroad; third, an in
creased respect for labor; fourth, more
thorough knowledge and practice of ag-
riculture as an artand science; fifth, and
finally, a more complete education of our
farmers in political economy, in taste and
general reading.
Let us, brothers and sisters, briefly con-
slider these conditions. In the first place
a state of war is iaimical to agricultural
prosperity. Ii always whether domestic
or foreign) reduces the productive indus.
try of the country engaged in it, and dis
turbs nearly all tie great interests of 30.
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
for our products, both at home and
abroad. If our population increases in
the ratio of the last decade, 100, GOO, ,00O
of inhabitants will be under American
law in the year 1850. Beside supplying
this rapidly growing population, Europe
and portions of South America will con.
tinue TO be our customers. The statistics
of our commerce prove that corr, IS king
and that it can always be made as it is
now-the great conservator of peace be-
tween England and the United States
The parliamentary returns of Great Bri'
tain for the calendar year even as fal
back as 1861 exhibit the following i'm.
portant facts in regard to the amount in
bushels of breadstuffs imported for that
year: Wheat, 86,552,097 bushels, Of
which the United States furnished 3S,.
361 ,675 bushels, OF forty-four per cent.
Indian corn, 20,360,O ,O04 bushels, of which
the United States furnished 11,705,034
bushels, or ffty-seven per cent. This
vast amount has been exported to Great
Britain during the war while all the
Southern ports were blockaded, showing
that we furnish even in time of wal
about one-half of all 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 for labor. In
many portions of the United States thi:
condition is amply fulfilled, and the
healthful results are plainly seen in fine
ly cultivated farms, in improved homes
in education, thrift and all the hones
pursuits of an intelligent and respected
industry. The two prominent cause:
which have tended to degrade labor il