Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-03-17
Farming.

'fs The heathen mythology abounds in in-
structiye fables and among them now is moro
suggestive than that Of the God Atlas, who
10 represented as doomed 10 support the
heaven on his head and hands. The farmers
are Che Atlas of this age, for they truly bear
up the earth, aud oil it's ayocations by the
labor Of their head and hands. Tho return
ing seasons call for more active exertioDs,
but there is no time when they can afford to
Rbe idle IF they by neglect or delay should
z loss'one crop. famine, desolesion aud death
would face every avocation and profession.
When the planting season comes they cannot
farmers works this great calamity, and the
delay Of one means to him the loss of one
year of his whole lifo, which no man can
:, repair.
fa. To no pursuit is idleness and neglect moro
injurious. To no pursuit is promptness and
industry more beneficial. In this avooaton
o stitch in time saves more than nino. but
we are sorry to believe that as rule few
realize or PRACTICE this caution in it's literal
terms.
The cry is abroad in the land that farming
docs not pay, and yet whom our foreparents
were driven from Eden the curse was pro-
nounced, in the sweat of thy brow shalt thou
eat thy bread all the days of thy life, with
the promise that the seasons ehould not fail.
The institution is Heaven appointed and will
pay and has paid from the beginning of time.
Why, then, do we hear tho complaints that
farming is unproitable2 There are many
answers to this question and among them
the first lies with tho farmers themselves in
falling to devote their whole time to their bu-
siness. The farmers, as a general rule, arc
the only avooation or profession who feel
that their time is their own and fHat they
can at any time leave their work at their will.
The seasons arc fixed and if they fail to em-
ploy precious moments to their Drops the
consequence is failure Of the crop. In the
preparation of the soil, the planting and
tillage Of the crop thoroughly and in proper
fertilization, rests the success Of farming
proper Next to this rests on tho farmer the
importance Of diversifying their industries.
By this We do not mean they should grow
or attempt to grow everything without re~
gard to soil or climate, but that the farmer
should grow whatever no needs so fur as their
requisites exist. Whore is there richer
and more prosperous section than the North
West. which is o purely farming community
They annually exhaust large portion Of the
profits Of our community in the purchase by
us of bacon, corn and flour, which we con
grow as we'll as they or better. Do not our
farmers also buy their mules and horses
from abroad, which they should grow for
eale2
Who supports the lawyers Of the country
directly or indirectly? Who supports the
doctors Of the country in tho same way2
The farmers. Who supports aud enrichcs
the liquor sellers and the merchants. The
farmers They always have money to law
out fancied grievance or to pay the doctor
for bloody nose or broken head due to
liquor bought with money from the farmer.
They never want for money to purchase GIN.
cracks, jewelry and fnery from tho fsrm,
enriching the merchant in tho purchase of
articles not necessary to comfort or neat ap-
pearance. Who supports the numberless
avocations which are now producers in the
proper sense of tho term2 Why multiply
words. when oil admit that the farmer builds
the cities and palaces of the earth, whitens
our seas with the commerce of nations and
feeds and supports all.
1t is true offencos will como and lawyers
are necessity. Sickness will arise and wo
can't dispense with dictors. We can't grow
tea, coffee, sugar, salt. &c., and merchants
benefit the country. Let, however, every
man regulate his conduct Alright; buy only
what his family needs or his means justify,
and the farmers will soon be tho richest as
:hey llways have been the most independent
of our citizens.
The farmers have money to do oil these
things and yet generally they work not
above six months in the year, whilo tho law.
yer, dootor, manufacturer, merchant, &c.,
are engaged from early morn TO dewy eve
through every year. They can have no leis.
ure.
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