The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-05-01
Suggestions to Farmers.

Mr.. Heap, the United States consul Gen
oral at Constantnople advises the Depart
ment of State thata demand for American
flour will probably arise during the year in
Turkey, new direction for the consump-
ton of the farm products of this country. |
Russia has heretofore furnished that mark |
ct, but, as we have before argued, the pres
ent distressed condition of Russia, the pros
pective uncertainty of domestic tranquility,
and her recent wars, and others threatening,
must necessarily diminish her farm produce
tions, and increase their consumption.
1t is not many years since the freightage
OF Atlantic steamers was almost wholly from
Europe to America. We were importing
heavily from across the Atlantic. and with
the exception of cotton we sent little or
nothing in return. In recent letter to the
London Times, Mr.. David McIvers, member
of Parliament for Buckenhead, and one of
the owners of the Cunard line of steamers,
declared unhesitatingly that from bis own
experience as a carrier, ne does not know OF
any nation whose trade prospects at pres
ent are so gloomy as those OF Great Britain.
The depression in the United States and else
where does net cause oppression there. The
British exports to the United States are com.
paratively nothing, as either regards volume
or value. The British food inportations are
steadily Increasing, and the balance Of trade
is SO overwhelmingly against Great Britain
that he sees nothing except ruin in prospect
for home industries, whether manufacturing
or agricultural, If the present state of things
is allowed TO continue. The export trade
from Liverpool to the United States is so
small that whenever the restrictions on the
importation of United States cattle are re-
moved, gentlemen who are prepared to put
additional steamers into the trade deliber-
ately intend to make the outward voyages
with water blast only. without joining in the
scramble for the little outward freight which
other avenues have been recently carrying
as ballast at merely nominal rates.
These reflections are practical and de-
duced from actual facts as now being realz-
ed. We can see no dscouraging indications
for the farming interests OF America, and
in view of the propitiors signs for the future
we fully endorse the following remarks of
the Kingston New York Freeman, and ask
for them the careful study Of our readers:
The farmer who has the wisdom to plant
and sow largely this year is in little danger
of making mistake. The immense crops
last year disheartened many, and they will
produce less under the impression that the
low prices are to continue, or else turn their
efforts into new channels of production. Our
ind flow rr xyit brno
stuffs and prices are low. But before another
harvest all this will be gone to feed the mill
lions in the old world, many of whom are
still suffering the pangs of famine. Indeed,
the world never has yet produced, and we
may set it down as a fact that it never will
produce. beyond the needs of the human
family. For everything that the farmer can
raise there will always be market, and as
our commercial facilities increase our goods
and products will penetrate further and fnr-
Their into those regions where want and Gam
inc are frequent visitors. AS We produce
more the world will learn to consume more.
How to reach and control these distant
markets is the problem for American farm
ers to consider. Our merchants and manu-
facturers have learned to produce cheaper
and better article of merchandise, with
dearer labor and dearer capital. The same
enterprise that has wrought this success in
manufactures, if devoted to agriculture, with
our cheaper lands, will give still greater sue
ces to the American farmer. But it can not
be done IN the old time ways OF cheating
and robbing the soil. We must learn to give
to the soil as well as to take from it, that
we may grow larger crops. We must be
satisfied with moderate success. but must
seek the greatest returns of maximum crops.
We must produce the best articles, so that
American beef, pork, butter and chez Sc,
wheat flour, fruit and every product OF our
soil, will be equal or superior to the best
products of the world. Then, when our
shipments are put upon the English mar
kets, they will command the highest prices
offered. We can, with our superior labor,
saving machinery, cultivate our soil cheaper
and better than any other people. All that
is needed now is economy IN farm manage
ment, so that an ample return can be real
lied on the labor and capital invested. I'm
less this is done, capital will withdraw from
agricultural interests, and labor seek more
remunerative returns to other vacations.
Agriculture to succeed at the present day
must be Of the most thorough and enlighted
kind. AS well might our manufacturers use
the old-fashioned machinery and modes OF
manufacture and hope to compete in the
market with those who adopt the modern
improved machinery and methods, as for
our farmers to follow the old haphazard way
of farming and expect to make the business
same principle as we manufacture goods; we
must produce the best as we'll as the cheap
est. Nothing but the best will pay cost or
afford profit. Brains as we'll as muscle are
needed in all farm management. Farmers
must know what good stock is and raise no
other; their butter, cheese, beef, pork, NUT
ton, wool, fruits, vegetables and grain must
be only of the best quality. To do this re-
quires better feeding and better care, both
of stock and land. If the soil will not pro-
duce perfect grain it needs feeding. The
soil is always of more Importance than the
crop, and should be preserved and, if posi-
Bile, made better. Proper rotation of crops
will do this, and the farmer should take
pains to inform himself of every department
of his work, and how to grow every product
that the soil and climate will bear. In this
way he will make his farm an eNhaustless
source of income, instead of reducing it to
worthlessness, as is the result when the old
method of constant planting with one or two
crops is pursued.
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