The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-09-04

N. Carolina. Minnesota.
Corn, 27,215.OOO bush. 19, 9O5, 600
Wheat, 100000 AZ, 1856, 600
Rye, rj3af $4,000 1852, 600
Oats, 6,276,OOO Isl" 40, 1850
Barley, 1000 S,455,OO
Buckwheat, $1,000 $4,000
Potatoes, 1,273,OOO 5,3O6, 900
Hay, ~ l1I,OOO tons 100000
Tobacco. 31,559,OOO 80 4 p.
Cotton, - 365, 1852 bales ~
Value, $4o,92o,543 $51,674,41O
The manufacturing industries of
the two States in 1880 were:
.,, ,,dM Carolina. Minnesota.
Capital, ,E$7s,o 45, $50 ss1, oo4,s 81
Products, a 2~o;o95,O37o rss 76,O65,l 1913
Materials n .II h noaant s.
wages, i15,sal,7o5 f.o, 64,273,7 rs
The progress of this, young North
western State in manufacturing indus.
try during thirty years is simply mar.
v~yellous, and the secret, is no doubt the
aid rendered by agriculture in afford
ing a home market for a great variety
of products and a supply Of food pro-
ducts for consumption as well as the
support of an intricate network of rail
roads, of which twelve main lines
converge at the one point of the city
OF Minneapolis, which has a popula-
ton of 100000 souls. There is no
city in North Carolina having 20, 900
population, and only four exceed 5000.
This State IN. c. is the most rural in
its occupation of all the United States,
but it has only 1000 miles of railroad
against 5000 miles in the State of
Minnesota. Ihave chosen this COM
parison by mere accident and because
these are two typical States, which ex-
hibit several points that may be use.
full in this present enquiry and dis
cussion. ~ ..--,r.~f ..-f
Agriculture is an educator, and it's
influence upon the physical and in
tellectual condition of those persons
who are engaged in it is most con-
spicuous, It conduces (when intelli-
gently p~racticed) to habits Of observa-
ton and study; it tends to make q
mans mind receptive, thoughtful, and
inventive; but in this respect it only
reflects the condition Of the men who
are, engaged in it, for it is clear that
q dormant mind must remain inactive
and insensible to all the beautiful and
interesting operations of nature, which
are always going on upon the farm;
just as it could experience no sensa-
ton of interest or delight in a gallery
OF art or at q rendering of the finest
masterpieces Of the musician. 1t
tends, however, with every person
engaged in it, to a wholesome con
servatism in every respect, to peace,
order, law-abiding conduct, and that
general aversion to abrupt changes, or
disorderly proceedings, which is so
conspicuous q characteristic (perhaps
too much SOY of the Southern agricul.
tural population. But as in all the
changes of matter, there is a mutual
reaction of one kind upon another, so
in the relation of men to agriculture,
and agriculture to the farmers, there
is a certain reaction, which when it
goes on favorably, improves and ele-
Yates both; but when it is weak, there
is stagnation, want of energy. and
waste of resources. Now let us con
slider, it you paease,S~the condition of
Southern agriculture with a view to
determine if this reaction is going on
favorably, as to rapidity and force, or
if it is weak for want of some vital
energy that might be infused into it.
The condition of any industry may
be estimated exactly by the value of
it's products and by the returns it
makes for the labor expended upon it;
taking, Of course, into account what
ever facilities, it may enjoy or what
ever drawbacks it may be subject to;
and also, of course, considering it's
relation to these. other industries mot
including commerce which is a mere
accident of locality and natural and
peculiar advantages) which grow out
of it. Then let us compare the fol
figures, which while they re-
late to the year 1880, yet have changed
very considerably since then to the
disadvantage which they show to
agriculture. Let us bear in
mind that of all the tangible wealth
in existence in this country, agricul-
ture represents about 20 per cent.
Then we find that the real estate Of