The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-01-03
THE GREAT CREATIVE INDUSTRY.
Its Attractlons, Capabilities. Wants, Ad.
vantageB end Disabilities.
NUMBER III,


successful cropping may be had upon the
same lands throughout an indefinite
series Of years, then the preservation of
our own soils is worth attempting. But
in the absence of such proof does not
the constantly decreasing productiveuess
Of our fields admonish Us to such rem
edy? Failure could not be dshonorable,
and achievement would be glorious. The
proposition of profitable crops with in
creasing fertility is not contradiction to
our reason, to fact Or to experience. Ma
ture Is continually tending to reproduc-
tion, fecundity and enlargement Else
men and animals could multiply to
certain extent and there stop. The pop
ulation that CT ,try can sustain has
never yet been accurately ascertained.
Maximum cropping has never been
reached, for the elements of fertility are
not decreasing but increasing. The un-
cut woods by the annual fall of the leaf
is enriched; the unbrowsed prairie is
made richer by the decomposition of it's
luxuriant grass; the untramped field
turned out to fallow rapidly recuperates.
The rains and winds make their pcrpetu-
al contributions to the fruitfulness of the
earth. Besides these universal agents
of fertilization we have the shell and
| fossil on the beach, the manurial deposits
of innumerable oirds upon the rocky
soIa fn n<,tt tI.@ Il Al
Of the earth ANNA! and vegetable remains
OF thousands Of ages of highly fertiliz-
| ing character. All to stimulate and in
crease production. Then the means are
not wanting to reclaim or the facilities to
perpetuate production. do not hesitate
to assert that fair knowledge of the in
gradients OF our soils and an acquaintance
| with their wants and capacities. not to
be ascertained by chemical ANALYSIS. but
| by actual experiments with various crops
carefully made from time to time, and
| diligent observation of the modes of ma
ture, that the agriculture of our country
would soon undergo q complete revolu-
ton and be put upon tue high road to
! prosperity and the acquisition of wealth.
Suppose every acre of land cultivated in
Anderson County should annually have
added to its value or its productive ca
pacity one dollar, how long before we
would become emincntly prosperous? Is
it practicable to reach such result with
the same expenditures that we are now
making? / believe that it is practicable.
and that, too, by very slight advance upon
the methods usually employed. The first
step towards the permanent productive
ness of soils and their lasting improve.
mont is prevention from wash by rainfall
and waste by winds. Hence, retention is
the grand starting point-th beginning
and the end to all successful cultivation.
That IL is of the highest consideration
the Scared and trenched fields, the deep
accumulatiOns in our bottom lands. the
damned up and obstructed water courses
to the immense injury of agriculture, of
navigation, of the propagation of fish
all bear witness. 1'horoughness in pre-
paration may obtain, fertilizers NAV be
most literally applied, and other details
carried out admirably, but if by wind and
flood any considerable quantities. of soil
have been swept from The field, it is left
impoverished, and is the commencement
OF decay which will speedily end in
utter sterility. Perfection in the art of
farming might be reached by perfect re-
! tention. It ia first truth; cardinal
principle. Its necessity is 80 manifest
that it may be laid down as an axiom of
the science, yet the most advanced cult
vators only partially meet its demands.
Then let 1t be repeated that retention is
OF first, last importance to the agricultn-
| raj art.
But it may be objected that no Que has
! control of the winds, or can prevent he
washing of his fields. Admitted that we
can only approximate perfection in the
retention of our soils. This fact does not
justify the almost entire neglect of the
use OF the means to att, it. Let what
we see and observe around us, even ma
lures process, be our guide book. It is
observable of our woods that there are
no guilies, or any considerable washing
| takes place. The tendency is to stop, to
fill up, to revitalize. In the hollows oc-
casionally, after ages of accumulations,
soils may become few inches thicker
than on the hill tops. But not unfre-
quently the heights and sleeps are equal
~ rich. Here, then, is a lesson taught
us by natural laws that should not be To-
nored or rendered Improbable in our
hands. Cut down the native forest, cul-
tivats the first year. then results Slight
loss from wash. Not very serious injury
from the same cause will likely take place
! the second year. But continue the cul-
tivatlon Without using tho preventives
and the washing, teaching process be-
comes widespTead-ruin irretrievable fol-
lows. Such is the punishment affixed to
the violation of natures laws. GulIies
and barrenness come close on the wake of
continuous clean cultivation.
The above illustrates whas il and al.
ways was true IN the main of the farming
of South Carolina. Farmers have ali
the while resorted to expedients. They
have sought for immediate gains instead
CT permanent. .c. ;s1Ta"t5ges. I'ii Tie aim mas
been at rapid accumulation, at sudden
wealth instead of the gradual improve
ment of thin lands. thus laying the foun-
dation of long future prosperity. If now
we have acquired knowledge 81 expert
ence, and accept the logic of facts, our
highest endeavors and aspirations MS
faymeTs should be to contribute TO the
comforts and conveniences of our farms
and families. Whenever we do this wa
viii have reached the turning point.
which will begin to bring wealth and
contentment. Then let us aim to produce
ali the prime necessaries as wcil as the
Injuries of life, to adorE and ornament
our homes and make them beautiful and
attractive. r,
ARMS AMEnIcAS ALMANAC Ia now raafiv
hN-e ...t. =