The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1886-09-16
agricultural.
1T DON'T PAY,

we presume every reader OF tn eSe
lines, says the Monroe Advertiser.
has often heard the expression
farming don't pay, and this too by
men who have pursued no other yo-
cation and who have studied no 9th
er profession. If, from shortage Of
crops, or from other cause, the result
Is not satisfactory at the close of
each years labors, the declaration is
made that farming don't pay"
In many instances the truth Of this
declaration, as to the parties making
it, is too true. But IN "a broader
sense its truth is net admissible.
The South is, and during its past his
tory, has been an agricultural coun-
try. The bulk Of the money invest
ed in improvements in the South for
more than twenty years was made on,
or realized from the farms in the
south. Where has this money been
invested ! Has it been put into i'm
proved buildings, and other conven-
fences on the farms, or in cnriching
and building up the same =! Not to
a great extent Then has farming
paid during the period specified
The answer to this is furnished in
large measure by the towns and cit
les. II We take into consideration
the improvements that have been
made in divers ways in, even, our
smaller towns and villages, as well as
larger cities, it will readily be seen
that money has been made some.
where and by somebody. And when
We remember that in our south land
the farmers are and have been the
financial feeders and supporters of
these cities, towns and villages, we
can but be driven to the conclusion
that farming does pay. And if it
pays, whom does it pay? And if
farming does not pay the farmer him
self, then why not! Is it because
his vocation is an Improbable one
This is an important question that
well deserves the consideration Of
every man who tills the soil for a
livelihood. The bare and indisputa-
BILE fact that some farmers are max
ing and have made money in almost
every community by farming is suf-
ticient proof that farming does and
will pay
The declaration by 50 many tillers
of the soil that farming don't pay
them, should give rise to an imyesti-
CATION to ascertain the cause. And
when this investigation is had, in
most instances, it viii be found that
the causes are various.
Extravaganza in various ways, on
a small scale, is a cause iniudicious
expenditure Of small sums Of money
for little things is a cause and fail
ure Of refusal to produce on the farm
food supplies for man and beast is
the chief cause This latter cause
neccssltates the purchase, on credit,
OF the neceSsaricS of life OF a rate Of
interest so burdens0me that no az
rcultural people can carry it an5
prosper. Many farmers in Monroe
county to-day have no idea what
large amount OF interest they have
paid during the last eighteen years
for necessary supplies purchased I'M
der the credit system which has pre-
vailed.
These, with others, are the leaks
which are a constant drain npon a
large number OF our tillers of the
soil, consuming the results Of their
labors and which cause them to CON
clude that farming don't pay" To
stop these various leaks above men
toned should be the constant effort
OF every man who strives for the com
forts Of life by honest toll in the field .
and II these leaks be stopped and
their efforts continued. farmers will
soon learn that farming does pay.