The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-07-09
Condition of American AgricuI-

That the prosperity of agriculture
has kept pace with the increasing
prosperity of everv other industry
ir our land is manifest. The activ-
ity of the great grain growing sec
tlons of our country has been great
for more reasons than one; and the
demand for the products of the pas
ture and the stall has been most en-
couraging to those who supply the
provision market at home and
abroad 1t may be that the encour-
agement of local and special crops
has not been as great-and that the
farmer is called upon 10 consider
how he can secure a suitable re-
ward for the labor which he applies
to the careful and systematic tillage
of the soil to supply local markets
with what they require, and for the
care which he bestows upon the or
chard and the dairy. /
am aware that great discourage
ment has fallen upon this class of
farmers in whose hands rests that
system of agriculture which must
prevail as our country increases in
population. And yet the condition
of the farmer here is looked upon as
so satisfactory in every point of
view, that the lesson taught by us
is engaging the minds of some of
the most thoughtful statesmen and
publicists of the old world. 1t has
been discovered that the American
system of land holding, for instance,
is the foundation of great popular
content, and accompanied as it is
by great social and civil opportuni-
ties, surrounded as it is by the free
institutions of our land, attended as
it is by the school house and the
meeting house, and by the constant
call to public service which leaves
but few among us, it constitutes the
foundation on which rests great
mental activity, great dignity of
character, great enterprise and am
bition. To the practical work of
the agricultural community here,
widespread disaster. moreover is al
most unknown. The local domage
of drought or a flood is not, in
deed, unusual, but the extent of our
territory is such, the diversities of
our soil and climate are so great,
that the disasters seem to be cir
cumscribed and accidental, while
the prosperity is widespread and
constant. With landed possessions
which are obliged to bear the bur-
thens of heavy taxation, with the
wages of labor vastly greater than
in any of the countries of Europe,
with the personal requirements of
the farmer and his family increased
by social obligations, and the natu-
raj demands of a free and response
BILE people, we have been able to
compete in the grain markets of
the world with those who in some
instances are furnished with land
free of rent and taxation, and whose
necessities are SO small and whose
duties are SO low, that the former
seem intolerable and the latter seem
Insignificant and trivial. The skill
of the American farmer, supplied
as he is with the most ingenious and
graceful and effective machinery,
has become an object of admiration
and imitation. The well organized
home of the American farmer is
looked upon as model. The place
filled in the community by the
American farmer is considered SO
important or honorable, that other
nations inquire how it has been at
tanned. The crops of the American
farmer are looked upon as so sure
that all anxiety with regard to the
supply of food for people less fan
vored has passed away --25I71o1z Tie.
Problem of Amer-r,6ttn E.tad 99Ko5zafne,
BY Hon Ga69lBaK 7t11,ng 6f s1t1iaISSsa-
fh9seffs,