Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-06-14
FARMER TALKS.

Hon. C. L. Butler, the genial Granger
Senator from jefferson county, paid the
Register office visit, Yesterday, in pass
ing through the city OH Il lec;urinS tour
Mr.. b. is the State Lecturer of the West
Virginia State Grange, and his business
is. as we understand it, TO mold familiar
talks with farmers in the various sections
of the State OH the things which most
nearly concern them. For instance, when
talking TO Il collection OF farmers III some
sections of Marshall or WctZel county,
he will point 70 their hillsides which. the
oftener they are plowed the poorer they
will become, and contrast them with the
hillsides of Ohio, Brooke and Hancock,
which are covered with grass and sheep.
Continuous cropping OF II piece OF lahu
will, Of course, exhaust it,unlcsS the most
intelligent care is taken in rotating the
crops and in the gathering and appiica-
ton of NATURES. But from freshly
plowed steep hillside the soil Will wash
away by the heavy rains even more rap
idlythaii growing crops will exhaust it.
Mr.. Butler calls attention to these facts,
and then to the further fact that these
same hilsides will grow in fertility while
Welding Il good return to their owners if
they are we'll set in grass and manfred
by Il flock of thrifty sheep.
Another thing Mr.. Butler, who Is him
self practical farmer, impre>scs upon
his brethren in some localities where
such advice would seem to be needed, and
that is Poor ground will not grow good
crops iof wheat, and the longer the poor
farmer tries il in his poor way, the loss
money both lie and his ground will be
worth. In travelling through the country
it is not an unusual thing To see barns
and stables built OH the roadSideS and even
sometimes on the sides of streams. OF WI
ter, and the waste fodder ana manure
dumped out TO be trampcd III the mud or
washed away. With such Il waStefuI ana
slip-shod system no business man could
save himself from bankruptcy, no odds
what amount of capital he might have
had when lie started and ifany one Won
ders why so many farmers fail OF
success the explanation can be found
not in the business itself, but in the SyS-
TEN Tor lack of system, rather) with which
ii is pursued.
Mr.. Butler Informs us that he finds
many evidences of Improvement and Il
better condition of affairs every way a.
mong the farmers where he has recently
traveled-he inStanced especially Mar
shall county. The barns are better; the
residences OF more modern structure, ana
the grounds about show signs Of culture
and taste; better sheep, improved breeds
of cattle and hogs, and even chickens.
More attention is givento education;
school houses arc nearer 10 each other,
more cOmmodious and more handsome;
the fields are in better filth the fences bet
ter and the fencc-rOWs cleaner; i'll the
gardens are found something more than
,,I. ma for
blcs something more digeStiblc than the
historic ''hog and hominy." Ilot beds,
for the production of early vegetables for
the farmers table. are no longer nncom-
mon. while strawberries, ra>pbcrrics ana
other fruits find Il place in every wcil-reg-
u.tcd garden. Both health amG money
are fOnud in this better mode OF living.
Mr.. Butler is also gratitied 10 find that
farmers are rapidly increasing their pat
ronage to the newspapers. When he
goes into Il farm house and finds three or
four good newspapers he is sure OF finding
Il thrifty farmer with an intelligent and
Christian family. Everywhere lie goes
lie advises his farmer friends to ''takc the
papers," They should read much-nOt
for the purpose of swallowing III an und!-
gcSted form all they read, nor yet for the
purpose of controvcrt;ng ii; but they
should read and reflect. Read the news
of the day sean the workings OF the gov
crnment; watch with Il jealous eye the
doings of the public servants; take Il
lively interest, as becomes all good Citi-
ZenS. in the affairs OF the country; have
political convictions, intelligcntly form
ed, upon all public questions, and main
tain them courteously and firmly: hut
above all, read up in your particular line
of business. DO more head work and
your muscles will be put to Il lighter
strain.
Mr.. Butler is plain man of strong COM
mon sense, Il farmer of experience whose
hair is strcaked with gray. lie is an
earnest and intelligent talker, ana the
State Grange showed wisdom i'll selecting
him as its Lecturer. His talks can scarce
ly fail to doa great deal of good.-Whccl-
ing Register.
Hk;yn SrrI.cK ny IIGuTNING- Durinu