The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-01-10
TIE GREAT CREATIVE INDUSTRY.
Its Attractions, Capabilities, Wants, Ad-
yantaEes and Disabilities.
NUMBER ~.

We have seen that retention is OF para
mount importance to successful farming
the very sine qua ron-tbe indispensa-
BILE condition-withont which there can
be no advancement. Then the inquiry
arises how may displacement Of soil be
most efectually prevented? Our reply
is by adopting the methods employed by
nature in preserving and enriching. II
we will accept her instructions, given
without price, in simplest language, by
forest, field, everywhere, as the sure
and safe plan, .we'shall not fail. Let the
suggestions she makes in the turft that
catches on the side, or in the gully, seat.
ing itself firmly, resists the current, stops
the drift, ;levies contributions from the
rain, gains the mastery at last, and starts
out with vigorous life, teach pro6ta-
BILE Lesson. See the young tree slowly
rising from a barren soil, struggling for
existence, but sending its roots out in
search of food, holds the earth fast to-
gether, and by its annual shedding, fer
tilizing itself, begins q career of strong
and rapid growth. Here are demonstra-
ted the powers of retention, preservation
and utilization.
Out now the roots, destroy the life, bare
the earth, and every hasty shower will
carry its, quota down the decents to a
place of deposit near by, or farther away,
as the case may be. So, when we have
subdued the forest and destroyed the
sinews of cohesion, we must supply
Others, and these are the roots of the
small grains and grasses. Hence, our
theory Is, the largest possible area in the
uncultivated, the smallest practicable in
the clean or cultivated crops. What
proportion can proftably be seeded down
is in some degree owing to the condition
and character of the soil, and the cir
cumstances of the owner. There is di-
yersity of opinion upon this subject, and
perhaps absolute rule cannot be laid
down upon it. But / venture to suggest
that when lands are in good tilth and
productive, once in three years is often
enough, if the aim Is to avoid exhaus-
ton. In. the instances land these are
many where the lands of farm are run
and worn, clean cropping once in FIVE
years is sufficiently frequent. This may
appear to most farmers too long to wait
for returns. My reply is, that which
looks only to subserve present emergency,
and embraces not future advantage, and
carries not with it the idea of permanent
cy; is at best but an expedient, and not
worth the trial. Besides, there will be
no waiting for results, for it is barely
possible that hand and horse cultivat-
ing one.ffth lands in clean crops and
four-ffths in grasses and small grain
would fail to support themselves and
make handsome income for the owner.
Allowing fifteen acres for cultivation,
each one.horse farm would consist Of
seventy.ive acres. And although after
preparation good horse or mule will
pass over twice this amount of land fire.
quently enough, the hauling in of the
small grain and hay, the plowing in of
peas, turning of stubble, &C., will keep
time fully engaged.
One principal feature Of this age in
every department of industry, is the
saving of labor. The heaviest e1pendi-
ture to the farmer in the production of
crops is the cost of the labor required to
produce them. Now We maintain that
the system of rotation indicated above
would eminently contribute to this saw.
ing, and would be highly economical.
Should it be generally adopted there
would be heard no more cry for immi-
grafton to develop our resources; but
the labor already here would be amply
sufficient to meet present demands. l
am trying to see the very situation, the
real condition Of things in the country !;
what our agricultural interest requires
under existing surroundings and circum-
stances, as also to suggest the changes
that would soon effect the reclamation of
thousands of acres. of washed, wasted
lands, bringing along with it prosperity
and independence.
The same series of rotation for dissim-
ular soils could not be safely recommen-
ded. Whatever is best adapted to the
wants and character of the land should
be grown upon it, and this Is to be ascer-
tanned by observation and by experiment.
Light soils sown or cultivated in peas,
and turned over early in; the fall, in oats,
oucceeded nv snppa, either drilled Or