The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-09-21
The New Methods OF Farming.

The New Methods or Farming.
The time when the manuring of tho
land and the feeding of livestock had
to be done without any guide but ex-
pcrience is coming to IN 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-timc farming was declared not
to pay 8 natures bounty seemed
to be exhausted, and the earth to refuse
her increase all along the eastern edge
OF our continent as we'll as in Europe,
the Investigations of science revealed
the TACT that there were other manurcs
besides those of the farm-yard. 1t re-
vcaled also the fact that by proper ad-
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 10 each
, distinct purpose for which such animals
are desired.
Scientific study applied to farming,
though yet i'll its infancy, has done
noble work i'll solving its most difficult
! problems, and has much more than 40
! Compishcd the proverbial feat of MAX
! ing two spears of grass or grain grow
Wncre one grew before. The immense
and constantly growing use of COM
mcrcial fertilizers all over the civilized
world attestS what science has done in
| that direction, which is yet but drop
III the bucket TO what we shall see The
wonderful Improvement i'll every species
OF live stock is. to the eyes of every
mddIe-aged farmer, q constant subject
of surprise. The fat oxen, the strong
or fast horses, the decp-wooled sheep,
the round and bulky swine, the milk
yielding COWS with their great records
OF butter and cheese, are as much q
| cause OF wonder and n mark of the prog
rcss OF this new age rs are the mcchan:-
| zeal discoveries, the steam engine, the
! iron steamship, the railway. the cleo
| tllc telegraph, electric light and electric
motors, the moving machine and the
scwing-machine, and all the other Won
ders of the time.
llut as the old-timc stage driver can
not, without much instruction, become
locomotive engineer, nor the old-time
postmaster become the skilled tclccraDh-
er without training, so ncitler can
the work of the farm now be successful
ly conducted without the possession of
more knowledge than was attainable by
our fathers. Farming is rapidly berom-
ing skilled profession, success in
which will require liberal training,
equivalent 10, though not the same as,
that which has heretofore been given in
what are called the learned professions.
nd oil
now about to be applied to the produc-
ton OF farm crops and their profitable
use and disposal, rs ever went to make
the best lawyer, minister or doctor of
medicine.
1t is hard to realize, at first, what all
this really means. 1t is no wonder that
80 many old farmers have thrown scorn
upon book-farming. The history of
the world from tho time of Adam re-
vcals the tiler Of the soil as always an
unlcarned man. The times of this
ignorance > God provided for by stor-
ing up in the primeval soil fund Of
fertility which should Int 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
Gods 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 q learned man---as learned
as Solomon, who was said to have
known all the plants in his day--and
more learned, for we must not only
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 will, so as to
give US sustcnance 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
unIntell!gent drudgery to intelligent pro-
duction, and mastcrShip over nature
in he place Of his old slavery to nature.
Understanding natures forces, we are
to direct them, instead Of being directed
by them. more than the subtlety
OF jacob, VIC are to mold the cattle to
Onr will and profit. With more than tho
wisdom of'Salomon, VIC feed and nourish
as. well as study the plants of the field.
Are the middle agGyag and older farmers
OF the time rousing themselves to these
great facts, and taking them in in their
iuIl significance? If so, they will be
found aiding and favoring every means
to lit he growing generation Tor their
new and wonderful inheritance. N Y
ElUIHi0cy. ....
AT the present rate Of consII,nDtion