St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-07-28
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.



education of his faculties originally
the same everywhere. Language. the
principal means of intelligent COM
munication. draws men together. and
common interests cement the relation
ship so necessary TO the stability Of
government from the family roof-tree
to the integral and general ligaments
that bind a nation in unity. liberty
and a common prosperity. We must
acknowledge that the elements of
sociality are not SO favorable as in the
North We do not wish to be under
stood that sociality is not feature
of Southern life. only that its fire.
quent repetition. more particularly in
the country. is measure prevented by
isolation; nor do we insinuate that
general hospit ality is not general and
sincere. The most important reasons
for this are found in the fact that large
tracts of land arc owned by single IN
dividuals which makes the isolation of
the whites inimical to that everyday
sociality existing in the North. Those
accustomed TO daily intercourse with
their neighbors feel there is some
thing lacking in the social atmosphere.
This condition will be gradually
amended as large plantations become
divided up. as a natural influx from
the North win pretty surely accom-.
Dlish. The negroes in the country in
many places are greatly in excess
of the whites and their general lazi-
ness and improvidence. con Joined with
their proclivities for yellow-legged
chickens are somewhat annoying.
The negro problem is as yet unsolved;
but surplus of white farmers. accus-
toned to personal attention to their
farms. will compel them to be honest
and industrious or get out The COM
parative desolation of the country.
quite large portion of once-tilled
land has gone back to its wild state;
the fences and orchards mainly de-
stroyed and the buildings for lack of
attention. are greatly dilapidated. All
this requires much labor of brains and
hands. but can. and will. be re medied
IN time. The land in many places
since the war has been allowed TO
wash SO that great gullies exist. which
must be filled up or many farms will
be cut up into all imaginabl shapes,
spelling the looks and wasting land.
As the negroes are a majority in
many places, and whites and blacks |
form separate classes of society which |
socially do not intermingle, the schools
for white children in the country are
comparatively few. which is rather
serious difficulty 20 those accustomed
to school near at hand in every neigh.
borhood. There are a good many black
schools in the country which speaks
favorably of the interest taken in ed
ucation. A more dense population of
whites will remedy this to- bc-recretted
state of affairs. Owing to the waste
fuincss of the negroes and the mat
teniion Of land owners. the timber has
been shamefully destroyed. yet there
is much excellent timber in the
To persons brought up
in the woods. rs it were. such de-
vas,ation OF timber would not
present much attraction. Numerous
trees from ten to thirty feet high have
sprung up during the last twenty
years. and if properly cared for. will
replace much that is gone. in the near
future.
The use of the rude implements of
husbandry and the decp-seated SUPER
s,ition Of the necessity of "bcdding
up" for cotton. corn. potatoes. etc.
is TO be overcome by positive demon
by the use of the improved
which experience has
proven the best adapted TO farm
work. The necessity of filing the
land to avoid the evil effects of con-
linued rain on the growth of the crops
will be apparent to all correct observ-
FRS. In nearly all this section of coun.
Try the original soil is underlaid by
a tenacious clay mixed with mari and
limestone which makes the
water slow to get out of the roots of ,
plants Since thing has become gen.
'rai at the North. the testimony of its :
good effects on lands not considered
vet has been general and positive.
It seems from the testimony of experts
t actually makes the earth more por- J
'us. thus admitting excessive rains TO
ret away from the fbrous roofs of I
'l ants before they are watcr-roitcd.
True. thing is mcwhat expensive.
nut we are assured that ut most, two I
ears more than pays all the expense,
md tile-drains put in under a little
ivil engineering will last for many q
ears The South once thoroughly /
rained. we shall expect the bottom i
ands on rivers. now rife with q
ever and aguc. will become vastly i
more healthy and cxuberantly rich in i
he production Of all farm products. 4
will be healthier because the home l.
t the bacteria will lie invaded and
heir natural indus for unlimited null !,
iplica,ion in great measure de- :
troyed. Negroes. bed-bugs and fleas \
re conjoint socialists of the general. l.
miserable habitations they occupy. :
mt war of determination waged by \
piritcd and industrious white ladies h
vii clean the premises of these pests. a
nj they would be no moro aggressive :,
han Northern insects bearing the !;
anne name. Partisan politics per- /,
APPS here in the South are worse than !,
the North for The greater
lumber of unqualified voters en-
~ the ballot and may be y
owed or bought cheaply TO cast their u
otes for they know not what, and y
ave no idea Of the sacre lncss Of tho s