The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1880-03-18
(From the southern Planter and Farmcr)
DOES FARMING PAYp AND IF
NOT. WHY NOT

in it9 When, even now that large
portion Of the world are fed b?
America, aud the great balance OF
of trade is so much 10 orr favor. and
then say farming does not pay 7 II
can't be so !, for one, and can't
believe il. There are vast numbers
engaged in it and upon it, and can
it be possible that, as class, they
are getting poorer every day 7 1t 50
how are we 10 continue to live, and
who ia TO buy us out, and how can
the merchant and mechanic and oth-
ers live if we stop Where ~ill The
manufacturer get his raw material,
and how will the merchant live and
prosper il we all 90 underY Does
all else pay except farming oup~
pose men allow this doctrine to be
taught and believed, what will be-
come of our lands 7
But again, what is it to pay p
What is meant by the phrase does
pay That every one who follows it,
as a business, must necessarily make
a fortune to prove that it does pay
Are there no cascs in which men
have accumulated fortunes by farm
ing +? And arc there not plenty Of
men who are making good livings out
of farming7 Please tell me Of any
business that is conducted so care
lessIy. Suppose the merchant, or
any other class, we're TO neglect their
business as much as the average far
mer does. where would they be in
twelve months 7 Could they live at
all 2 And yet the farmer lives. Ard
/ fear there are too many that don
make any calculation to see whether
il does pay or not.
The merchant or mechanic has
his house to rent, wo9d and coal to
buy, every egg, chicken. turkey,
duck and everything else he eats or
drinks, even the water. Now, let
the farmer credit himself with all Of
these, and see how matters stands -
How many merchants or mechanics
have three or six months provisions
by them, and how many farmers
have from six 70 twelve months RAJ
tions on hand Many farmers have
a'capital etoet no, exceeding 81 500,
and yet they roise families, feed and
clothe them. and if an accurate cal
culation Vas made, many Of them
could show fifty or more per cent.
per year in gross receipts. Can any
other class do better !
= am sorry to say it, bat il is even
so, that verytmany eo>called farmers
do not have the care and industry 90
have half a garden, no milk or but
ter for even one third Of the year,
and there are no small number in
this class, and it is 10 the power Of
most any man, not a cripple, to have |
these things in abundance. We have |
ten whites iu or family, and only |
three cows, and have great abun
dance of milk and butter to ca, three
times day, and are never without
vegetables, fowls and eggs, and be-
Iieve it is in the power Of most every |
farmer to do likewise If he would. -
If there is 80 clear money in farm
ing, there certainly good living foe
every one that will trJ to get it, and
hat is all we get in this world after
all you can say. Il is useless to hold
,ur hands, go to the crossNroad stores
% drink mean whiskey,cutse the me-
,roes and Yankees, and let the
louses end fences go down, the land
20 to poverty and broom-sedge,
cave the taxes unpaid end cry out
farming don't pay = How can it
t is the farmers fault and not the
anda help the lands ard they will
lelp you.
Formers need encouragement, but
lon't give them this cry do your
BEST take the Scripture for your
guide, Whatsoever thy bsnd tindcth
o do, do it with all thy might Let
his be your motto aud you will nev>
,r wait for any thing You deserve.
Il you don't believe it, Try it. Learn
% improve your lands and stock, and
attend we'll to your own business
10 not hire negroes aud leave them
% idle their time away while you
ride about Such farming don't pay;
i can't.
To show you what can be done,
will give an instance of young man I
in tho county of Isle Ct Wight, by |
telling you what he did last year, in
his own words;
"Iaving been solicited BY you to
give my first experience in farming, |
hereby endeavor to do 500 ! bad
no capital to begin with no land Of
my own to cultivate, nor any farming
implements a. all, and only owned
one horse. rented Of friend about
nineteen acres Of land, for which |
paid 1925 five acres Of which
planted ia corn, and made twenty
barrels and Loco ponds q fodder
he remaining fourteen acres plant
ed in peanuts, and made 1900 bush
els. | borrowed money 70 procure
labor end implements with which to
cultivate and harvest the crops,
which amounted to $500. ! realized |
from sale Of peanuts $1,000; from
corn and fodder $40, After paying
all expeusse, have So45 left as
clear profit.
Hoping he above lines may be Of
Il