The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-09-20
The New Methods Of Farming.

The time when the manuring of the
land and the feeding of livestock had
to be done without any guido but ex-
perience is coming to an end, and very
| fortunately SO, since the old farming is
becoming improbable on all worn soils.
j The science of fertilization and the sci
| ence of feeding had their birth just as
| the old-time farming was declared not
| to "pay." 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-yard. 1t re-
] yealed also the fact that by 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 it's most difficult
problems, and has much more than ac-
complished the proverbial feat of max
ing two spears of grass or grain grow
where one grew before. The immense
aud constantly growing use of COM
mercial fertilizers all over the civilized
world attests what science has done in
that direction, which is yet but drop
in the bucket to what we shall see. The
wonderful Improvement in every species
Of or l. 10 IS
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 q
cause of wonder and mark of the prog
ress of this new age as are the mechani-
jcal 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 the other won
ders of the time.
But as the old-time stage-driver can
not, without much instruction. become
locomotive engineer, nor the old-time
postmaster become the skilled telegraph
er without training, so neither can
the work of the farm now be successful
~ conducted without the possession of
more knowledge than was attainable by
our fathers. Farming is rapidly becom-
ing a skilled profession, success in
which will require a liberal training,
equivalent to, thodgh 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 all
this really means. 1t is no wonder that
so many old farmers have thrown scoru
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 o.
fertility which should last until man
kind grew out of its infancy. But now
the time has come for all men to oper
their ears and learn, by the study O
| Gods works and ways in nature, u
, provide for their own wants.
} This then is what we must do: we
must study nature, and in doing thi!
, the farmer becomes an educated, anC
{ may become learned man-as learned
as Solomon. who was said to have
known all the plants in his day-and
T more learned, for we must not only
know of plants and animals, bu
t we must learn the laws of their life ant
7 growth; and not only that, we mus
D have skill to apply those laws practical
ly. and make both plants and animal
{ grow according to our viii, so as t.
9 give us slstenance and wealth.
In short, the day is now at hand il
which the farmer is to be raised through
; knowledge, not from labor, but from
: unintelligent drudgery to intelligent pro
duction, and mastership over natur
in the place of his old slavery to nature
L Understanding natures forces, we ar
to direct them, instead OF being directe
: by them. With more than the subtlet
of Jacob. we are to mold the cattle t
our will and profit. With more than tn
wisdom of Solomon, we feed and nouris
L as well as study the plants of the field
Are the middle aged and older farmer
Z of the time rousing themselves to thes
: great facts and taking them in in tilei
. full significance? If so. they will b
Q found aiding and favoring every mean
10 lit the growing generation Tor the
new and wonderful inheritance ]
Examiner.
AT the present rate of consumptio
II it is estimated that the supply of whit
- pine timber in the United States will