The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-04-21

large bank accounts and draw checks
for thousands of dollars-they then
give up farm life.
Now let us see what the result is
of all this moving on the part Of the
country people, what a sad mistake
it is, and how happy they can be,
and ought to be in their country
homes. In the first place, the far
mers of the Bright Tobacco Belt of
North Carolina have made more
money for ten years past than per-
haps any other agricultural commu-
nifty in the South. They have not
saved as much as they should have
done, owing to their reckless extrav-
agance and neglect to raise p%rovis-
ions, but there is certainly no mistake
as to their having made much money.
Ask commercial travellers, book
agents and peddlers, of our success.
In one county of this portion of
the State the sum of twenty-five
thousand dollars worth Of patent
churn powers, and rights to sell the
invention, was made by agents in
three months time, and in the same
county about fifteen hundred dol
lars worth of a book on Bible his
tory was sold in'a short while, and
except students Of divinity, not an
individual that bought the book, we
suppose, has spent three hours it its
perusal.
There is no business more proita-
BILE or more certain, with prop
er care and attention, than the
cultivation of yellow tobacco, in the
counties in North Carolina where
the soil is adapted to it's growth.
This town fever must subside after
a time the reaction will take place,
society will improve, churches and
schools will be established in every
community, in all probability. Our
farmers have better teams, better
vehicles, better houses, and are GER
tainly, as said above, making money,
and there is less reason for them to
change their pleasant and success
full occupations than ever before.
Why should a farmer who is doing
we'll, with a good plantation, com
Portable dwelling, all necessary out
buildings, out of debt, with money
to lend, living in the neighborhood
in which he was raised, with local
attachments for his homestead, pleas
ant friends around him, become dis
satisfied, sell his property and move
to town and risk a new life, it is diff
ficult to understand. He makes new
ventures, he takes new risks, and
greater risks, forms new acquaint-
ances, gives up a certainty of making
a living, and even OF making money,
where he was, to making a support
in town. If his children have more
advantages. they are subjected to
the influences Of more vices, and it
is indeed much cheaper to employ a
teacher in the country than move to
town to educate your children. AS
for society, with good horses (such
as you can easily keep on a FARM
and a comfortable vehicle, you can
visit with much pleasure, distance
being no object. Churches are be-
ing built up rapidly, and there is
scarcely to be found a post office
without a church or a prospect of
one being erected soon. The town
friends who appear SO happy and
excite envy, have many troubles.
Speculations are often fatal, and not
more than one merchant in twenty
succeeds. Daily expenses r to be
met. Dry goods merchants, gro
GERS, butchers, wood and coal deal
ers, t~ailors, milliners, dress-makers,
and servants, are to be paid. Where
your expenses + one dollar in the
country they are three or four in
town. Health is another important
consideration in flavor of the country.
But for the increase Of town pop
ulation by additions from the coun-
try, towns would soon die out.
Nine tenths of the great men of our
country were born and raised on
the farm. Our presidents, our judges,
our senators, u governors, our mil
itary heroes, were nearly all, with
rare exceptions, born and reared in
the pure fresh air of country homes.
The general prosperity of our sec
ton is being much decreased by in
telligent farmers withdrawing from
agriculture and falling into the error
Of speculation. The producing ca
pacity is diminished. Our bright
yellow tobacco supply is small this
year, while the amount Of very COM
mon, undesirable stock is almost un-