The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-08-17
The New Methods Of Farming.

The time when the manuring of the
land and the feeding of livestock had
to be done without any guide but ex-
perience is coming to an end, and very
fortunately so, since the old farming is
becoming Improbable on all worn soils.
The science of fertilization and the sci
ence of feeding had their birth just as
the old-time farming was declared not
to 'tpay" As nature bounty seemed
to be exhausted, and the earth to refuse
her increase all along the eastern edge
of our continent as well as in Europe,
the Investigations of science revealed
the fact that there were other manures
besides those of the farm-yaFd. 1t re-
vealed also the fact that by a proper adj
mixture of the old and the use of some
new food materials, domestic animals
might be reared far more economically
and satisfactorily than before. And
this latter work has been also very
greatly helped by the application of
science to the breeding of these animals,
by which breeds are now produced
which are especially adapted to each
distinct purpose for which such animals
are desired.
Scientific study applied to farming,
though yet in its infancy, has done
noble work in solving its most difficult
problems, and has much more than &C
complished the proverbial feat of max
ing two spears of grass or grain grow
where one grew before. The immense
and constantly growing use of COM
mercial fertilizers all over the civilized
world attests what science has done in
that direction, which is yet but a drop
in the bucket to what we shall see. The
wonderful improvement in every species
of live stock is, to the eyes of eve ry
middle-aged farmer, a constant subject
of surprise. The fat oxen, the strong
or fast horses, the deep-wooled sheep,
the round and bulky swine, the milk
yielding cows with their great records
of butter and cheese, are as much
cause of wonder and mark of the prog
ress of this new age as are the mechan.-
ical discoveries, the steam engine, the
iron steamship, the railway, the cleo
trio telegraph, electric light and electric
motors, the moving machine and the
sewing machine, and all She other Won
ders of the time.
But as the old-tine stage-driver can
mot, without much instruction, become
locomotive engineer, nor the old-tine
postmaster become the skilled telegraph
er without training, so neither can
n
ly conducted without the possession of
more knowledge than was attainable by
our fathers. Farming is rapidly becom-
! ing skilled profession. success in
which will require a liberal training,
equivalent to, though not the same as.
that which has heretofore been given in
what are called the learned professions.
As much and as varied knowledge is
now about to be applied to the produc-
! ton of farm crops and their profitable
use and disposal, as ever went to make
the best lawyer, minister or doctor OF
medicine.
1t is hard to realize. at first, what ali
this really means. 1t is no wonder that
so many old farmers have thrown scorn
upon book-farming. The history of
/ the world from the time of Adam re-
veals the tiller of the soil as always an
unlearned man. The times Of this
! ignorance = God provided for by stor-
ing up in the primeval soil a fund Of
fertility which should last until man
kind grew out of its infancy But now
the time has come for all men to open
their ears and learn, by the study of
God works and ways in nature, to
provide for their own wants.
This then is what we must do: we
must study nature, and in doing this
the farmer becomes an educated, and
may become a learned man-as learned
as Solomon. who WAS said to have
known al eIf9 plants il his dav--ang
msrc learned, Tor We .za1setv ssas- oil
know of plants and animals, but
we must learn the laws of their life and
growth; and not only that, we must
have skill to apply those laws practical
ly, and make both plants and animals
grow according to our win, SO as to
give US sustenance and wealth.
In short, the day is now at hand in
which the farmer is to be raised through
knowledge. not from labor, but from
unintelligent drudgery to intelligent pro-
duction, and mastership over nature
in the place Of his old slavery to nature
Understanding natures forces, we are
to direct them, instead of being directed
| by them. With more than the subtlety
OF Jacob. we are TO mold the cattle 10
our viii and profit. With more than the
wisdom of Solomon, we feed and nourish
| as well as study the plants of the field.
/ Are the middle-aged and older farmers
of the time roUsing themselves to these
! great facts, and taking them in in their
| full significance? If so. they viii be
/ found aiding and fayoring every means
to 1T the growing generation Tor their
new and wonderful Inheritance. IN r
Examiner