The National tribune., 1882-08-26
Letters to the Editor.

Letters to the Editor.
Nothing gives the editor of THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE greater pleasure than to
hear what his readers and subscribers have
to say concerning it's conduct. A shrewd
Yankee once excused himself from attend
ing church On the ground that the minister
gave him no chance to "talk back" and
while we are very far from conceding the
validity of the excuse, it must be admitted
that the desire to "talk back " is very
natural and, under most circumstances, a
very laudable feeling. 1t is at once an evil
dence of intelligence and of interest in the
subject. Moreover, something is always to
be learned from the opinions of others, and
it is the mark of fool to be wise in his own
conceit. For this reason we are always glad
to receive letters to the editor" Our sub
scribers are welcome to Z" talk back" Just as
much as they please and they may be
sure that, no matter what they say, the col
umns of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE will
never be closed against them. We are al
ways willing to answer their questions, no
matter on what subject, so far as we are able,
and give due consideration to their cora
plants and criticisms. Up to the present
time these letters to the editor have had ref
erence chiefly to matters connected with
pensions, bounties, the Grand Army, and
the history of the late war, and we have
reason to know that the contents of "Our
Soldiers Column" has not been the least
attractive feature of each issue We should
be happy, however, to see our subscribers
display an active interest in other matters
also. Our Agricultural Department, for in
stance, offers an inviting field for their spec
ulations. The majority of our readers, we
take it, are directly or indirectly interested
in agricultural pursuits, and doubtless their
experience in the management of the various
were disposed to make it public 1t is safe to
assume, also, that there are many points as to
fuller information. Such being the case, we
invite them to exercise the same freedom in
propounding questions concerning the til
lage of the soil and the management of crops
that has characterized their correspond
ence in regard to army matters. The editor
of our Agricultural Department, himself one
of the most eminent authorities in the
country, will take pleasure in answering
through the columns of THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE any letters that may be addressed
to him on the subject, and the information
thus supplied will no doubt be of great
practical value to our readers generally. In
this country agriculture long ago attained
the dignity of science, and iu these days
of improved machinery for the sowing til
lage and harvesting of crops, of improved
varieties of seeds, and of improved methods
of cultivation, the farmer, in order to derive
the maximum profit from his labor, must
study the experiences of others beside him.
self. Time was when our farmers made
light of book learning" and had profound
contempt for the agricultural editor as q
person of impracticable ideas, but they have
learned better, and the discoveries of expert.
mental farming are now received with con-
sideration and respect. We cannot of course,
devote as much space to the treatment of
agricultural questions as journals which are
published exclusively for that pupose but
we shall be glad to answer all inquiries
that our readers may be disposed to address
us in regard to the subject and they may
rely upon the accuracy of the information
furnished 1t is our desire to make TIE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE not merely entertain
ing, but useful to every subscriber, and as it
grows in circulation and influence we shall |
endeavor to make it more and more inter
esting and instructive.