The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-11-15
Nothing Mada at FARMING


1t is, to our mind, very strange
that this apothegm-'Nothing is
made at farming"-has taken so
strong hold on the minds of men
engaged in the profession of law,
medicine and divinity; and, indeed,
of the merchants, tradesmen. and
manufacturers of the country. As
to the men of the professions, they
may hold themselves above the oc-
cupation of a farmer from superior
education and social position; and
yet they are wrong in this. There
is no higher education required, or
social distinction more worthy, than
that of an educated farmer. They
judge by the masses, or say a
majority of farmers, who, it must
b. admitted, do not strive to ele-
vate their calling by a proper edu-
cation of their children or them
selves, and, by consequence, social
qualifications. AS to merchants
and tradesmen, they ignore the life
and business of the farm, because
their dispositions lead them to Sc k
occupations which they regard as
less laborious, and which will bring
them money each day, whilst at the
end of the year they may be far be
hind good farmer in substantial
comforts and real profits.
Ii nothing is made by farming,
the whole of the farmers, or about
two-thirds of the people, would be
bankrupt. 1t cannot be said that
the farmers work and delve and
produce large results towards the
general wealth of the country, and
that the pr ducts of their labor are
wholly lost to them; and yet, such
a declaration is involved in the
apothegm quoted. Such a PROPOSE
ton is really preposterous, for if
true, it would lead to the speedy
bankruptcy of every nation on the
| globe, as well as the starvation OF
the whole of mankind. The truth
is, that agriculture sustains and
supports every other occupation,
and the wealth of every nation is
greatest in proportion to its agricul
tural production. The people must
live by food. This is an in, xorable
law of nature; and this food must
come from the tillage of the earth,
which brings forth grains for
bread and nuts for eating, with the
incidental rearing of animals whose
flesh is also food. Balance the
account as you may, and these pro
ducts of the farmers labor must
control and underIie all others.
Then why depreciate an occupation
on which so much depends? Edu-
cate it and elevate it to all that it
deserves, and it cannot be regarded
as a mental OF even Improbable
profession.
The true principle which should
influence every liberal minded citi-
zen outside of the farm, and his
| duty as well, is, that he should en-
courage the farming pursuit in
every possible way. Its profits may
be, and are, small, in comparison
with high-fed lawyers and doc
tors, and high salaried diVines, the
stock spectators, large and mono
polied manufacturers; but still they
are the drops which make up an
ocean Of wealth to the nations of
the earth.
There are some prominent rea-
sons, and a number of less conse-
quence, why the profits of farming
are apparently, and in most cases
really, small. The most important
of these reasons are embodied in
the words-imperfect cultivation,
imperfect manuring, and imperfect
rotation. These branches Of cul-
ture in their perfect or improved
condition bring to the farmer .fulI,o
increasing, profits. 1t is not within
the scope of this article to discuss
these subjects, and they are men
toned only for the purpose of
awakening an interest in their con-
sideration by farmers individually,
and by farmers clubs.
Another of these reasons is, indi-
viduality and the need of co-opera-
ton, as in other occupations and
professions. The information of
neighborho9d associations for the
discussion of crops, the best meth
DDS for disposing of products,
arrangements for correspondence
with similar associations, and just
and judicious legislation in respect
to agriculture, are all means by
which farmers may be consolidated
in interest, protected in their rights,
enabled to learn from one another,
and thus secure the legitimate pro-
fits of their labor and investments.
Planter.