Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-05-13
Farming.

There are In the world but three primitive,
original sources Of wealth---agrioultur como
merce and manufactures. TO these, It is true,
might be added mining, but It produces only
some metal the representative Of wealth, which,
too, needs the work Of the manufacturer before
u Is In proper exchangeabe shape. Ofthcse agri-
culture is tho basis, Tho foundation, without
which mankind GOULD not live, and no othor
avocation can supply Its place or exist without
1t. The professions, as the doctor, tho lawyer,
tho minister, create nothing, though they con-
tribute respectively to the physical, social and
moral elevation Of mankind. The merchant,
too, is moro convenience, supplying for o
reasonable profit tho wants Of his neighborhood
with such comforts and luxures as cannot DO
grown in every locality. For this reason from
tho day our fore parents wcro driven from the
Garden of Eden and commanded that in tho
sweat of their brows they should cat bread all
the days Of their life, farming has engaged the
attention of o large proportion Of tho human
race While this is true, ihero has doubtless
been less progress in this important industry
than in any other. In fact, until within tho
past forty years there has been little Improvement
in tho tools used and modo Of fnr,oing from that
which existed in the days of the Roman Empire.
We road that Coriolanus was called from his
plough TO tako command Of tho Roman army
against tho invading enemy. OF latc years thcro
have been many improvements in tho mode of
Turning and the appliances used. The subject
hns been attracting more attention and agricul-
lural colleges oxist in many States, one being
about to DO opened in our own State. This is a
step in tho right direction, for farming is q
science and one Of tho highest callings known.
The reasons, in our opinion, for tho slow pro-
gress in agriculture arc the natural ndisposition
Of men to labor, and that labor in the South,
during slavery, was by many regarded rs dis
honorable. Every branch of labor is honorable
and if our farmers would devote the same zeal
and energy TO their avocations which the mer-
chant displays behind his counter, tho lawyer
in the court house, the minister in the pulpit or
the doctor in his professional visits, we would
soon realize marked Improvement in our con-
dition. Is it not true, however, that the farmer
only dcyotcs n few Of tho summer months TO
making his crop and few weeks of the fall
months to harvesting the crop, while the remain
der Of the year is virtually lost? Instead of
making manurcs, fertilizers are bought and the
profits of tho farm arc expended and sent abroad
for what VIC ought to make at home. The
farmer is tho l,appicst and most Independent Of
all mon. Labor gives him good health, sound
sleep and a sure living. One great element OF
success in farming is to diversity our crops,
being sure TO make corn and meat enough for
homo supply. Another element OF profit is the
raising of stock, horses, mules, hogs. cattle, &c.,
for this costs but little on farm and is sure to
pay well. To make farming rcmuncraiyc every
thing properly belonging to or grown on farm,
should be locked after. When this is dono it is
sure to prove both profitable and plcasan.
pursuit.