Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-02-04
Every farmer should have at least one ex-

Every farmer should have at least one ex-
perimental acre, and keep correct record
of seasons and mode of operation and re-
suits. Submit this record to his club, and
the club could submit the most successful
ones to the county society; and again, the
county society could select from these the
most profitable, and have published for the
guidance of the farmers of our county.
About year ago number of farmers of
The object of this club was to work out the
most profitable, practical and accessible plan
of intensive farming. Recognizing the fact
that this must be done by experimenting,
the club offered premium of $40 for the
highest yield of lint cotton on one acre, and
SIS for the highest yield of corn on one acre.
By this means experimenting was induced,
and a degree Of interest awakened that
could not have been aroused in any other
manner. / submit these thoughts for the
thinking farmers Of the different parts of
our county. Communities will not organize
unless some one takes the lead. So would
perity of the county, to consider the plan,
and, if reasonable, take the lead and organ
ize their community. I would like to see
the views of other farmers on this subject.
SIN union there is strength" and the
farmers prospects, which are enveloped in
so much gloom, and which seem to many
an impossibility to scatter or remove,
would be, by the plan have suggested, but
the work of pleasure and ease.
| Some farmers may claim that it is no use
to 20 to such trouble. Farming has pro-
gressed wonderfully within the past fifteen
years. "Why," they may say, 81 make
/ made to the hand and horse fifteen years
ago. 1t is all foolishness to make any extra
effort, for natural causes will bring about
greater revolution in the next fifteen years
than has been in the past fifteen" would
ask such farmers to pause fora moment and
see where this progress in farming has been
made. l admit that farmers have learned
to use better tools and work more land to
the hand, and use more guano, and by this
means make larger crops. And l would
also ask if progress in this line has not
reached it's highest point? Would it be ad-
visable to undertake to work more land
| with the same force, than we work at pres
ent, or would it be advisable to use more
guano? Without more light as to the kind
and mode of application, l am inclined to
think we have already advanced little too
| far in this direction, and that we had better
turn back and take a new road.
Another question would ask is, Has the
science of farming advanced" The answer
to this question may be yes; but the pro-
gress represents the hour-hand of the clock.
I mean by science of farming, the natural
laws of production, assisted by the use of
means, applied by knowledge as to their ef-
feet and cause. Is not theapplicationt to the
plant OF both food and cultivation, a kind
of guess work yet, as to theexact effect they
will produce? Farmers are not entirely lg-
norant of the science and art of farming,
but there is room for great Improvement.
The labor and money lost or misused by
farmers for the want of practical scientific
knowledge of how to use it economically,
cannot be estimated. The hand needs the
light of the eye, that the tool may be placed
where it is intended and the eye needs the
light of an enlightened mind, to direct the
tool where it should 60. So let the farmers
of York county organize and make an effort
to give the mind this light. that our labor
and money may not be spent in vain.
E. d. THOMPSON.
ZENO, York county, S. G.