Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1882-09-23
Lecture Last Monday.

ness, some to hear the candidates TOR
Governor, and many others to hear the
Rev. V. M. Metcalfe lecture on agri-
culture. II was expected that Messrs.
Beasley, Russell and Hawkins would
arrive in time to speak first, and that
Mr.. Metcalfe would lecture at 3 o'clock;
but as the candidates for Governor did
not arrive till the evening train, he
commenced his lecture at about one
o'clock to a good number Of our best
practical farmers and thinking men.
After his introduction (Which we did
not hear he began with a contrast Of
the importance Of agricultural pursuits
compared with other pursuits, in which
he showed the farming interests not
only of the most Importance Of all pur-
suits, but also an honorable occupation,
requiring not only science but the best
educated and thinking minds to insure
success. He showed in forcible man.
ner that success in farming depended
largely upon the intelligence and prop
er education of the farmer. His adj
dress was especially directed to the
young farmers, to encourage them to
educate themselves thoroughly as to
the nature and character of their soil
that they might understand its def
ciences and its excuses, and be able to
correct by taking away or adding such
elements as might be either in excess
or wanting, so as to restore their lands
to the highest and most satisfactory
state of fertility. He showed the i'm.
portance of knowledge of agricultu-
raj chemistry, and a thorOuA h acquaint
ance with the true nature and chGrac
ter of soils.
He urged the Importance of the State
establishing an agricultural college fol
the purpose of educating our sons fol
farmers. We have our law schools
and medical schools for the purpose O
educating our sons as lawyers and ply
sicians, and why not have agriculture
colleges with competent teachers to edu
cate our farmers? He opposed tn,
practice of farmers educating thei
brightest and smartest boys for profes
sional men, and making farmers ofthei
dull and lazy boys. He advocated tn
use of such books and papers as ar
best calculated to give clear idea c
both theoretical and practical knOwl
edge in farming. That we should nc
keep our knowledge unknown to oil
neighbors and neighbors' sons, but con
municate what we learn of value t
Others.
He showed that griculture has ee
reduced to science, and gave illustri
tions of what science had accomplish
for other branches of industry. II
showed the Importance of KNOWN
how to analyze the soils, and Of unde
standing the nature Of vegetation an
how it was produced and its value as
fertilizer when plowed under, He &C
vocated the use of improved machiner
and improved cultivation. He advise
to pillow deep or shallow according t
the depth of the soil. If soil is deeI
pillow deep; if shallow soil, pillow sha
low, going little deeper each plowinG
turning under something each time
improve the soil. Continue this pr,
cess until a good rich deep soil is made
He advised farmers to cultivate LEI
land and cultivate better. He gay
examples of men on small farms VII
were getting rich on these small farm
who were making a few acres ric
every wear and cultivating well. i
urged every farmer to save everythin
about the place that could be utilize
as II manure, and buy artificial fertil
GERS when they could not make ar
save enough at home. If you hay
plenty of good barnyard manure yC
need not buy fertilizers.
He advised the blowing under
green crops of clover, peas, corn, buc
wheat and other vegetable matt
where the soil was deficient in veget
BILE matter, and not take away the Gro
until the land is rich.
After getting through with his reg
lar lecture he invited farmers to as
any questions they might wish to as
about farming. Messrs. W. T. Mu
ray, G. NJ. Smart, Sam McRamse
and others asked questions which we
answered promptly and SATISFACTORY
q NJ S,nnrtt NJ I'd thn host WOW