The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-03-29
WHAT A NORFOLK NAN THINKS OF
EASTERN CAROLINA.

EAClCnN CANU11.NA.
In our last issue we gave a littl'
space to our trip to Norfolk. W.
promised to notice later Whist Nor
folk man thinks of Eastern Carolina.
We shall notice some of his suySes
tons on the general customs OF oui
people and their systems of farming
We have been saying very much
recently about farming, but think l."
never out of place to say whatever
we think pertains to the material
prosperity of the community. An"
we al know that tn farmer is the
only true support Of this country, so
he deserves as much notice as an!
one else and If he is failing to he
successful he ought to be set right II
possible. In the first place, our frienu
thinks that Eastern Carolina is one
OF the choicest sections in all the
country. The people here are all that
ANY people need to be, i'll point oi
energy and general intelligence, t"
make them as successful as this fast
age requires. But their energy and
Intelligence are in many cases mis-
:,ppliei. This is the cause of the
failures among the merchants. The
wording men, those who work on and
superiutend the farms of the country,
fail to make their Labor AMI the capt.
tai employed bring them what il
ought.-t:ey fail and the merchant
fails with them. There is too much
cotton raised. There Is too little corn
and small grain raised. There is not
enough meat raised for home supplies.
There is too little attention paid to
fine gardening. There is not enough
fine stock. Too many families fail t"
learn and practise home economy.
Men engaged in farming dom: drive
their business hard enough. Farming
requires untiring study and tact as
we'll as any other business. Too many
think that the cotton and corn will
grow without constant work after it
is planted. The most successful farm
er is net the one who always waits
for q surplus hant to be hunted up
to do this or that little job in the gar
den, at the barn.yar.l, or even in the
field. But it Is the one who takes
hold himself whenever it is necessary,
and turns things up side down like
he was paid to do it. Not enough
attention is pail to the lite things
on the farm. These and macy other
like suggestions were made; but we
will iorbear, as our frlend mi 5ht think
that we are putting him in the Ii hit OF
a dictator for our people. All he said
was quite sensible and very apprecia
ble.
Now. we know that the above suy
gestions will be subject to some sucl
comment as the following: That i:
all very nice for the business man 4
talk, seemingly valuable suggestions
these. But just let your business
man try farm life for himself and III
will soon find out that preaching thil
is much easier than practising it.
We are sure that some such will b.
said. The farmer says it is all cas-,
enough tor the man who has plent,
Of money. And some go far enough
to Say, What do you editors know
about it 2" This has been aaid to US
We know that it takes experience 70
one to know very much OF omy thing
And perhaps our Knowledge and ex
peri nee O: matters in general hav
not been such as to justify us in say
ing more about farming than we hav,
in this and former issues, but some O
our experience happens to acquaint u
with real farm life, AMI we do know
from personal observation and exper ri
ence, too. that the suggestions of GU
Norfolk frienl are worth the consi,l
Grafton or even our best farmers.