The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-09-01
farm aud Garden.
Will Farming Pay ?

we resume tnlS SUBJECT. we nave
taken the ground that farming will pay
If the farmers have scuffled along" and
managed to live since the war, with all
their capital swept away, their lands inn
poverished for want Of means Of improving
them during and since the, war, with
their stock and houses in many Instances
destroyed, their farming implements de-
cayed, and themselves disheartered and
depending, what may we not hope for
in the future, with the improvements in
agriculture, agricultural implements, and
machinery, improvements in stock en-
larged markets Ito Europe) for grain, and
particularly for stock, with the close at
tention to their farms and indomitable
"pluck" which our farmers are now
manifesting? This one thing of cen
silage" we hope and believe is destined
TO work great good to our farmers in
increasing and fattening stock, and in
improving their lands. Virginia farmers
have been passing through dark
period-we hope the worse is over Let
them take courage, remember our ances-
tors how they struggled and economical,
how they cleared and titled their lands,
with the hoe in one hand and the rife
in the other, until they conquered sue
cess. Heavy taxation of course detracts
from the profits of agriculture, and
makes it more difficult to make farming
pay. We are not a heavily taxed peo-
pie except by the general Government
which in the form of internal revenue
and the tariff" laysupon the farmers
heavy burden. We pay to the general
Government more by nearly two millions
of dollars than all the New England
States, though they have nearly three
times our population. A large portion
of this is derived from tobacco; the
manufacturers of tobacco pay to the Gov
eminent tax of seven million of dol
lars, upon six millions of value of tobac-
co. showing that our manufacturers nav
more tax than the farmers receive for
their crops. This is strong argument
IN favor of our farmers giving up tobac-
co, and leaving the Government to get
their revenue from other sources, one
proper source being from large capital
lists, with their millions, who pay no
tax on their enormous incomes There
are other reasons why our farmers should
give up tobacco, or at least greatly
diminish the areas planted. 1t is very
difficult to improve farms generally,
where tobacco is raised all the manure
goes on tobacco lots, and the time which
would proftably be taken up in getting
together materials for manure, in drain
ing, cleaning up ditch banks, and fence
corners, keeping open bitches, lining,
attending to stock, ETC., must be devoted
to tobacco, whose cultivation is endless
until it reaches the sales room. At this
time, (August) when other farmers usual
ly have some leisure time, the tobacco
planter is working tobacco, suckerinp,
printing, and aQormaing, and as soon as
the feld~is gone over, the hands must
turn around and go over to destroy an
other brood of worms, and another crop
of suckers. 1t will be asked what shall
be substituted, which will pay better?
We answer clover, the grasses, and the
stock, trying ensilage of fodder corn. as a
means of increasing stock. Then the
whole farm can be improved, and not
alone few lots.
If farming did not pay, Governments
could not derive such revenues from this
interest. 1t is true they sometimes i'm
pose unjust burdens, as in the instance
OF tobacco just alluded to. The i'm,
mense indemnity imposed by Prussia
upon France, and paid off in a ew.yearg
was IN the main, derived from the agri-
cultural class. 1t is true that France
has valuable manufactures from which
the Government derives large revenue
particularly silk and wine manufacture
but they are directly supported by the,
farmers, who raise the cocoons, and the
grapes for the manufacturer. Some
years since, Mr. VIM. S. Clark, President
OF the Massachusetts Agricultural Col
lege, was requested by the Japanese
Government to go to that country to found
there an Agricultural College. On his
return he wrote an interesting account
OF the country, principally it's agricul-
ture, published in the proceedings of the
Massachusetts, Board of Agriculture.
The area for cultivation is about four
times as large as that of Virginia, and
yet these people pay to their Govern
ment a tax Of fifty millions of dollars
annually. This is principally derived
from land tax. Previous to this system,
the Damlos or rulers, took a portion Of
the produce of the farmers ranging from
4O to 70 per cent for the support of the
Government. This tax, take notice. Is J
6ftv rnillIopo orO,,o1I-. IL