The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-08-28

Ill
tie benefit from national or State legisla-
ton.
Out of 357 Congressional rspressn-
tatives there are in the present Congress
about three hundred lawyers; and OF the re-
mainder. very few are professional farmers.
In the last session Of our State Legislature
a small proportion of the members were
cultivators of the soil; and of this number
there were not half . dozen who welded
any considerable influence or were compe-
tent to advocate with suitable ability and
power over agricultural interests. The
fence law could not be passed, nor could
the rearing of dogs be discouraged, even to
the extent of imposing q small tax upon
those engaged in the business, although 1t
is everywhere acknowledged that dogs pre-
vent our farmers from proitsbly engaging
in sheep-raising. Indeed there was a deci-
ded rstrograde in what had been formerly
Zone in the interest of agriculture.
The office of State Geologist was abolish
ed and we may expect the Agricultural
Bureau will in a few years share the same
fate.
We are in the majority. and il we are just
to ourselves. our legislation will have more
regard, in future, to the agricultural inter
ests of the country.
But not only is education necessary to
| enable the farmers to control the legisla.
ton of the country, but it is necessary to
enable them to prosecute their business
with success and with scientific skill.
As connected with rearing stock, the
| farmer needs to be acquainted with those
| sciences which pertain to animal life, geog-
| raphy, history, zoology, anatomy and phys
iology. As pertaining to the agricultural
| products of the soil, he needs to be &C
quainted with botany, mineralogy and
chemistry. He needs to study entomology
to enable him te combat successfully the
astrous extent upon the products of his iu-
dustry. Professor Riley, the able entomol-
ogist of the Agricultural Department. at
| Washington estimate that $4,000, 600, 900
would not cover the loss that has been
sometimes sustained by the United States,
in a single year, from insects injurious to
Agricultural" The depredations of the fly
upon our tobacco plant-beds are rendering
the hopes of the producer Of this great
staple, especially important in this section
of our country, exceedingly prccarious;
and the chief labor Of the tobacco grower,
if he succeeds with his plants, consists in
an interminable warfare with the tobacco
worm. These destructive pests grew SO
formidable on my tobacco fields last year
that l at one time thought my only safety
would be in a resort to fire arms; md l ad-
vised my little army of laborers to open
upon them with double barreled shot-guns.
They demonstrated, however, against this
plan on the ground that the tobacco plant
would thereby be seriously injured.
These sciences are as important to the
farmer in his agricultural pursuits, as a
knowledge of the common and statute law
is to the jurist-of medicine to the physic-
ian, or of theology to the divine. And he
-14I~ -sAI 49, e
society, a knowledge of political science to
enable him to discharge the duties of a
citizen. Indeed there is no profession that
requires q broader and more extended cul-
ture than that of agriculture. The stock
raiser needs a considerable acquaintance
with pathology and medicine to enable him
to arrest and mitigate the many diseases
that infest our stock. "The losses sustain
ed from diseases among swine have aggre-
gated" says Senator Paddock, "from
twenty to thirty millions pee annum."
Again, very few of us are aware of the
economic value of our forests which are
being so ruthlessly destroyed in our coun
try. Forests serve other purposes besides
that of furnishing us with fuel and building
material. They exert a healthful influence
on climate, and contribute largely in vari-
Gus ways to promote a country's product
%iveness; and the intelligent educated farm
er. recognizing the value of his forests will.
by prudent methods, economize his use of
timber, and preserve a proper proportion Of
woodland on his farm.
The older governments of Europe have
been obliged to stay the marc of the des-
troyer of forests by strict and rigid punt
tive laws. Professor George B. Marsh some
years ago estimated that the lumber used in
this country for railroads, and the various
manufactures and other purposes would re-
quire the destruction of IL, OOO, 900 acres of
timber annually-an area equal to IS, 75O
square miles, or more than 1-3 of the whole
area of this State.
Senator Paddock, Of Nebraska. in his
speech on agriculture delivered in the SEN
ate last February, in speaking of the utility
OF forests makes the following quotation
from an address of his before the State
Agriculture Society Of Nebraska: Il
know very well that a great deal has been
said upon this subject by far ADLER and wiser
men than myself, and that I can hardly