Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-01-31
A coon TIME COMING, BOYS.

There is some difference of opinion as to
the practice, now become go frequent, O
dividing up large Southern plantations into
moderately-sized farms, practice that ex
perience in many countries shows to be
highly advantageous, not only to the wealth
but to the comfort and general welfare o.
families. In Mississippi, from 1860, the
aver &c size of farms had been reduced from
three hundred and seventy to enc hundred
and ninety-fve acres in 1870, and one hun
bred and eighty-fve acres in 1880. Upor
this statement the Starkville (Miss.) Stocj
Journal remarks: "a gradual reduction il
the size of farms argues well for the State
the acreage of each individual farmer being
diminished, will encourage, and even
force farmers to diversity their crops
more, in order to keep up the fertility
the essence of prosperity TO any ex-
elusive agricultural community or State"
Our contemporaries inference is sound. A
family cultiyating a moderate amount Of
land finds it to their advantage to make the
farm support all who live upon it, employers,
laborers and stock. This makes it necessary
10 grow vegetables in the garden, raise pota-
toes, have corn TO feed the mules and the
cows that supply milk and butter. Then
there must be hogs and chickens to supply
meat, and, with all those, what cotton or to-
bacco is grown becomes clear gain. The
small farmer finds all this necessary, be-
cause experience makes him learn whether
he likes it or not, that his success or ruin de-
ponds upon how much or how little he does
with the store. His farm will not supply
two profits, one for the storekeeper and one
for himself. Well would it be if every
Southern farmer would write out, put over
his desk, and read every time he sits down to
it these words: "a mans prosperity comes
not from what he gets, but from
from cotton when corn and meat and
interest, and everything else man, woman
and stock about the farm consume, have to
be paid for out of it? The man with small
farm, who does that, is on the way to ruin.
Good prices for cotton cheer him once in a
while, but take one year after another, and he
finds that, in the long run, he is sinking.
With large farm the process is slower, but
not less sure, for the sentence has gone forth,
plain and implacable: The farmer who will
not grow on his own farm the Farm supplies
he wants for consumption in the end will
have to sell out to those who will. We
know farmers complain of being advised
overmuch, so we do not advise-we
Our Starkville contemporary sees ma.
proofs of the arrival Of better days, espe-
ciaIly in Mississippi. He says that the
methods of the farmers are improving. an
the matter of live stock especially can we
discern bright future for the State. A few
years ago it was only an isolated case
here and there where could be T,
fair specimens of thoroughbred o.
high-grade stock of the various breeds. Ii
Is not the case now. In nearly every county
can be found a good number of pure bred
animals, and fair proportion of high grade
cattle, sheep and hogs. In fact, 10 branch
of agriculture is receiving more encourage
ment Ths minds of the farmers are more
and more convinced Of the truth that stock
The best stock-is to become one OF the chief
branches of profit from the farm" They are
learning that nothing they can produce pays
equal to the stock department, and this con-
viction leads 10 the necessity OF growing
grass, clover and other necessary forage, and
so they have ceased to ridiculs such neces-
,sry care. The people are also awaking to