The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-20
More Capita, on .nc Farm.

Prom the Tennessee Farmer.
There Is an ever-increasing necessity for
employing larger capital in farming.
Every step in the progress OF agriculture
involves the investment OF more money in
machinery and the spending Of more
money for manures. Every year increases
the difficulty OF farming successfully with
put capital. In England it is now esti-
mated that good farming cannot be done
with Il less capital than els or $50 per
acre. England leads the van. The agri-
cultural progress OF nations or communi-
ties, or even Of individuals, may be accu-
ratcIy measured by the amount OF capt.
tai employed on the land in the production
of crops or cattle. The prime object of all
agriculture is the production OF food and
clothing materials for man and his domes-
tic animals. In this business it is
true, as in all others, there can
be no reasonable expectation of large
profits without large outlay of
capital. 1t is also true OF agriculture, as of
all branches OF manufacturing, that the
tendency OF the age is TO substitute machin-
cry Tor hand or horse labor wherever IL is
possible. The extent to which machinery
HIS been introduced is register Of the
progress made in either manufacturing or
agriculture. SO rs the machine is to do
the work oil many men, or horses, 1t re-
quires a corresponding increase OF capital.
Small farms will not support machinery,
hence they cannot compete with the large
farms that IRE runby machinery. But the
introduction vi machinery on the farm is
much slower process than the introduction
of machinery into the shops of the me-
chanics. An notions travel slowly among
farmers. They are conservative par ex-
ccllencc. They cling to the old and tried,
and are slow TO change either opinions or
practices. This is virtue common to the
class the world over. Ii is not without its
drawbacks, however.
The notion was once universal, on the
furln and off the farm, that all that q man
needed TO 20 TO farming was q farm, few
plows and mule or two. The notion still
prevails largely on the farm. So it was
supposed that ell that a man needed TO go
into the business Of shoemalling was
small kit Of tools and side or two OF
leather. The shoe factory has changed all
that. Just 80 improved plows, cultivators,
harrows, rollers, rcapers, mowers, hay
Takcs, haryesters, steam threshers, straw
aud onsilage cutters, hay prcsses and horse
powers IRE fast rendering IL impossible for
a man aud a mule to run farm and make
aIying. Capital must be added. Small
capital, small profits; large capital, large
profits.
The common talk about reducing the
size Of farms is mostly foolishncss. The
current OF progress sets the other way.
Witness the wheat or stock farms out west,
or examine the statistics in England. or
any Of the older States Of the Union. As
men Of capital take to farming, first for
recreation, or TO indulge q fancy, perhaps,
small farms arc bought up, and capital is
employed to introduce the most improved
machinery. Business practices are intro
duced, and farming becomes truly bust
ness II is quite true that in many in
stances the fancy fags and We business
fails, but in many more instances some
one Of the sons grows up 10 the business Of
farming and makes IL success. These
are but the leaders exceptions now-that
viii in time come 10 bc the rule.
When IL comes 10 be universally recog-
nizcd that rs the wealth OF the country
comes from the land, 50 il must gu back to
the land, IL will also be understood that
the men who manage the land and make
the wealth must be cducated-mon OF
Trained minis