The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-12-04
Col. Hollis Address at
Concluded ]

steadily Improving, ana eSItcidHN cIu1c
am persuaded that the census OF 1880 Will
exhibit undoubted evidence of the march to
better things for North Carolina. Our crop
reports on the whole, are now improving,
although there is a world of room tor 1t stu;
There IS a great deal of sound, honest, hard
work among US yet. There are men, too, OF
liberal aud enterprising spirit, as these fair
grounds attest, and they are multiplying.
The introduction of improved methods Of
farming, ditching, draining. iertlllzlng with
compost and chemicals OF known value the
interest In the work of the State Agrlcul-
tural Society, and of the various societies
nth their annual Fairs throughout the
State, the recognition OF that provision OF
our State constitution which demanded the
establishment of the Agricultural Depart
ment OF the State government, the manifold
enterprises undertaken by the Board OF
Agriculture, the experimental station at
Chapel Hill, the gradual. If slow improve
meut IN our school system. the re-establlsh-
ment OF the University, and the prosperity
of its sister colleges, the founding of Normal
schools and the multiplication of the press
throughout our borders. all these things
surely betoken the day of hope.
The remedy for most of our ills is In our
own hands. We must not depend upon
emigrants, they will not oome until we have
already won the promises of prosperity-the
negro is here his labor is wasted on a
thousand fields because it is not directed,
managed and taught by men who are them
selves skilled farmers. We must go back to
the stern virtues of industry, economy and
frugalitv. Our children must be taught all
that books and faithful instructors may i'm
part. but they should know. too, how TO dig
and hew, to forge and plough. We must
make it honorable and fashionable for every
boy to KNOW his trade, whatever his pursuits
N life may eventually be.
Think Of our dependent condition upon
foreign manufacturers. The -four of Indiana
may sometimes be found at the remotest
railroad station, In our Utmost recesses, and
the bacon of Louisville is hauled to the tops
Of our mountains, even were the mast OF the
oak and the chestnut. will raise the herds
that have barely the care of Robinson
Crusoe for the goats of his tropical isle.
SON FIGURES FOR H CONSIDERATION OF
OUR COTTON PLANTERS.
Upon the application of the Commissioner
the courteous Superintendent of the WI
mington q Weldon Railroad, Mr.. A. Pope,
caused the report as given below to be made,
showing the amount of -four, meal and meat
that was shipped into the State on that line
and delivered at the different stations from
Rocky Point to Halifax, inclusive, for each
Of the years of 1876, 1877, and 1873:
Meat (lbs) 5,35O,S75 5,942,S SO 6,3SS,O )
Flour lbbIs.l 23,722 1881 1881
Meal (bushels) 5000 s,oo9 900
Total for three years:
Meat Il, $50, S25 lbs(o 12c. r 10, 50, 122,179
Flour 81 1874 bbls. $50 r Dbl, GIG, 40
Meal 23. 9I5 bushels @ 81 Fbush. 23,9l5
81 66, 434
On one single line of railway, there was
bought by our farmers nearly three millions
dollars worth of meal, tlour and meat. 1t
viii be noticed that hay. corn and gu"no are
not brought into the account, which would
doubtless much more than double the
amount. To pay for the three articles above
mentioned with cotton at S45 per bale, it
required e l.416 bales. Taking the opera
lions Of this lire as Il basis, we can easily
see that the amount eXI ended by our people
III the State, during those three years for
flour, meal, meat, co n. hay and guanO.
could not have been less than twelve or ff-
teen millions dollars. Add to this the mules
and horses bought from other States, and
We can readily see what one crop is required
to do. These things should be produced ut
home. At the prices which have ruled for
cotton during the past few seasons, no North
Carolina farmer can afford to buy supplies.
Indeed, those of our farmers who, through
the years In which cotton sold at the highest
prices, adhered to the old policy of raising
their own bread and meat at home, have, as
a rule, been the most prosperous and indie
pendent.
We walk over hills of iron and buy a hoe
from Massachusetts. We enjoy the CRATE
full shade of our noble hickory, but fire.
%quently send to Vermont for an axe helve.
With tools and implements with furniture
and clothing, with bread and meat, with
books and ~luxuries, aye, and even fertilizers
all from abroad, we are to pay for them
with the bare privilege of allowing the cot
ton stalk to stand in our poor clay, robbed
by years of perseverance, and to make all
for us from the free gifts of the waters and
the sun beams without even the proper
ploughing and draining too often, that
will allow them to do their benifcent work.
Such associations as yours will be power
ful to correct these evils. You will on