The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-11-03
The Labor Problem Continued.

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iarm labor in the South is the inyeterate
wasteiulness attached 10 many phases o
1t. The trite saying of Ben. franklin
take care of the pence and the pounds
Will take care of themselves" )" has no place
In their system Of farming. This vice oi
wasteiulness extends not only.sto the
crops raised, but to the tools used in the
cultivation Of crops. Wherever hoe
or plow, or any other tool, il last used
there it is left-it may be in the middle
of the unfinished furrow, or in the fence
corner, Or along the passway to the field.
In either case the loss of time in fruit.
less search, at so cents per day, would
soon purchase another tool to he handled
as carelessly rs the other. So with the
crops raised. Many farmers are too hard
pressed for time to take proper care of
crops after being raised. The small
grain is frequently badly damaged in the
shock from being carelessly put up, or
allowed to stand too long exposed to the
drenching rains Of harvest season. The
forage and hay crops are often ruined for
want of attention at the proper time.
ihia species of wastefulness extends to
all the crops raised, but to none is it
more palpable than in the great leading
crop Of the Soulh-cotton. Here lies
the great loas to the Southern farmer, in
the careless handling of the heccy staple.
Instead of gathering as it opens, the
beautiful white locks are LEI; 10 DC bio":,
out by the winds and rains of Heaven; to
be sold afterwards as stormed or stained
cotton, ut depreciation of to 2 cents
in the pound. Here is tho first serious
loss which the farmer experiences from
the wasteful and careless habits too pre-
cedent amcng Southern farmers. Mr..
Atkinson, the father of the Atlanta Ex-
position, estimates that the cotton crop
OF the South might be enhanced in value
to the planter nearly one-third every
year by careful haudling and improved
machinery for ginning. Shall we not as
farmers learn the lesson now that it is
more important to cultivate we'll and
handle carefully than it is to stretch the
area of the production and add to the
number of bales. Perhaps it would not
be too much to say that million Of bales
is lost yearly to the Southern planter in
the careless handling and deprecated
value resulting thercfrom.
But the greatest loss to the Southern
farmer by the present system of farming
at last ID the loss Of time. "Time is
money" il another true saying, but the
Southern farmer has yet to learn its
money value. 1t has been estimated by
some shrewd observers that the average
laborer loses about onehalf the year, in
which he realizes nothing for his labor,
because he labors not Perhaps this is
over the mark little, but we think all
will agree that one-third of the year is
total loss-loss to the laborer, loss to the
proprietor. Can any business in the
world prosper and thrive with 80 many
and such tremendous leaks as we have
alluded to? What would the manufac-
turer think if his success was dependent
on the caprice of laborers, who felt at
liberty to absent themselves from his
employ at any time they choose? What
would the merchant say if his employees
were to absent themselves capriciously
from his business without consulting his
wishes? If such were the necessary re
sults Of investments in these branches Of
TRACE and industry, but few capitalists
would be found willing to embark in
such enterprises. So, too, with the far
mer. He must learn, us he never knew
before, the great value of time. Mother
earth claims the attention of her de-
yotees from January to December, aud
for such fostering care she will pour out
her fruits in rich abundance in the laps
II her devoted followers. We do not
orget the adage, "all work and no play
m.-es Jack dull boy" Recreation is
necessary in all departments of trade and
industry, and in none moro so than farm
ing. But the farmers must learn the
great necessity of method in businesss,
as does the merchant, the manufacturer,
the banker. Our times of labor must be
systemized, AS we'll as hours of recrea-
tion. The details of the farm, from day
to day, must be as carefully noted rs is
the business of the railroad, the manu-
fao!urer, or the merchant. In this way
alone can the farmer succeed in elevating
his occupation to the position OF inAu-
ence to which it is justly entitled.
A E.pnrD