Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1878-09-13
w eekly Banner.
FARMING.

4OnAo ia III odoAAASoS
the fact that an industry which
lies at, the basis of all political
and commercial prosperity, and
employs the greater part OF an
intelligent population, should
be so little developed, in COM
parison with its great 1capaci-
ties for development, while all
other trades have become the
very opponents of scientific pro-
gress. The soils we cultivate
barely produce one-half what
they should, aud the quality of
those productions is much be-
low a possible degree of excel
lence. We are unable to pro-
vide against the commonest ca
lamities to which our cereals
and other crops are subject.
In the mechanical trades,
where nature offers little or no
assistance, art and science have
combined to draw out the very
elements, and organize the
means of economic production;
whilst agriculture, which has
the sun for its servant, the moon
for a handmade, the clouds for
a treasure-house, and the winds
to rock the cradle of its young,
cannot boast even of a rivalry
with them, as to the degree of
development it has attained,
There is a dignity in the ru-
raj profession which entities it
to high consideration. Besides
its relation to the growth of the
country, and to the political
power of the State, as public
wealth. contributes to political
power) there are in its pursuit
rich opportunities for mental
and moral culture, which should
endear If to. every lover of the
race. There is an abundant
training for every faculty ofthe
mind found in the observation
and application of those laws
which relate to vegetable life
and growth. To gather up and
utilize the forces which are
scattered so profusely around
you, to bend and shape them
to every imaginable end and in
terest is work which gives
ample scope to the exercise of
great abilities and brilliant ge-
MUS. There is, however, no
poetry in a thing that does not
pay; pecuniary considerations
alone can command the popular
attention and convince the pub
lie mind. The man who tolls
day by day in the broiling sun,
or piercing cold, to force from
the unwilling and impoverished
soil bare subsistence, is not
likely to see the beauties of a
high and consistent philosophy: |
He has no time to listen to fine
spun theories" or to spend on
experiments which involve time
and patience. He is slave to
a self-imposed and rigorous ne
cessity. whieh wastes his vital
powers without giving him an
adequate reward. He is the
man who needs that redemption
and deliverance which can be
found in the high state of inn
provement of which our south.
ern soils are capable
The true policy. then, of a
young farmer is not to extract
from the soil by the aid ofmod-
ern stimulants and doubtful ex-
pedients as mach produce as
possible, or to swell his imme-
date income to the highest fig
ure, it is to put as much as pos
sible into tie soil. Let it be the
central object of all his plans to
accumulate and concentrate
vegetable matter, and furnish
the proper solvents which shall
render it available as plant food.
This can be done by the per-
sistent application of lime and
vegetable manures. There is
no manure half SO valuable as
lime, and the notion that lime
stone lands do not need its APP
piication is simply absurd; the
stone is of no value whatever
until it is decarbonized by fire
it can only serve to break your
plows and impede the cultiva-
ton of your lands. There is no
manure which will so effectual-
ly energize the soil, destroy the
wild growth upon it, and COR
rect the acids which manifest
themselves in the growth of
and other sour
weeds. There is not an acre
in this county which does not
need lime, une ss it has already
received liberal application
Lexington, Ia, Gasettf.
The Grange was founded