St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-01-28
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
EYES AND EARS.

" Through East TcuWes SOC. West Virginia,
Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
{, A recent trip through East Tennes-
sec. West Virginia. Pennsylvania and
New Jersey. where spent two weeks
on farm anil among the farmers.
greatly encouraged my hopes in
Southern. farming. The crops from
Georgia throughout Tennessee. Vir-
ginia. Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
were fine-that is the corn crops
Wheat and oats had been harvested
and reported good. and grass looked
luxuriant. meaning the grass pastures
More anon about grass and stock.
We hear much about Northern farm
ing and thorough cultivation. bnt ]
saw no corn on the whole route
from Georgia 10 New Jersey better
cultivated than our crops arc cultivat-
c.l in Georgia. The culture seemed
the same. but as YOU proceed north
ward the thicker the corn was plant
ed; in some places it looked like
planted broadcast upon the ground.
but all looked fine. After leaving
] Georgia you SEQ nothing but grain.
grass and stock farms. and such
farms and farmin: look like living.
Grain. grass and stock in abundance.
/ saw no Jersey cattle after leaving
Georgia; all were Of tho Large breeds.
and i'm Virginia the Dnrhams seem to
predominaie; in Pennsylvania and
New Jersey. Shorthorns and Devons
intcrmixed. spent two weeks
in New Jersey. and never
saw better mixers and. finer,
butter made anywhere and in
great abundance. I asked why they
did not have Jerseys. and they said
they preferred the larger breeds Of
cattle. for they were good for milk.
good for butter. made good work ami
mails. and good for beef; they were .
cattle for general use which they
found more profitable than the Jcr-
seys. lagrced thoroughly with them.
and could bnt think that in Georgia
the Jersey craze would result in time
in ovcr-running the Stale with 2 pig
my breed Of cattle At only for butter.
My fasorite cattle were. always the
Dcvons for. for general use, they
were unsnrpsssed and made the best
of all work apilnals. either In the
wagon or the plows. and would
keep Ia fine order even in o.
binary pastures The vermonters
are great stock-raisers. and they pride
themselves on their fine Morgan horses
and Devon cattle. There it was saw
the Dyvons in their greatest perfection
and beauty. and that Is the cattle that
would do the Georgia farmers the most
good. Bat cotton farms will never
raise or have fine stock. Grain and
grass and fine stock go together; cot
ton and scrub cattle are one and insep-
arabic.
In Virginia saw the largest NUM-
Der Of cattle. The harvested fields Of
wheat and oats were pasiurcd with
large droves Of cattle, mares and colts.
and in some places with sheep. and
there l also noticed the largest
clover fields. In Pennsylvania and
New Jersey they farmed more on the
truck order. Irish potatoes and cab
bages and other vegetables and corn
and grass were their chief crops. In
all States where commerce and manu-
featuring were the principal pursuits.
the greater the demand for food crops,
and such in time will BE- the chief pur-
suits in the Piedmont range Of North
Alabama and North Georgia. when
the farmers in those sections If coun-
try will raise chiefly food crops. !
noticed also at the North that progress
and prosperity were confined 10 the
towns and cities, like now doing in the
South; there the wealth Of country
had concentrated. and the rural poru-
laiion was struggling IS best they
could. The farmers there. who were
dependent on farming for their
support. were no better OF than our
Southern farmers; it was hard work
10 make both ends meet So in look
ing around. and closely observing
every thing. came to this conclusion.
that the farmers of the South, taking
into consideration the advantages Of
climate and the greater variety Of
crops we could produce. that we had
all the advantages on our side. If We
would only use the energy and in
dustry that the Northern farmers
used. and observe their systematic
economy. They wrstc nothing; every
thing on the farm that can he utilized
is used to sdvantsge. even in making
their manurcs. and they never do rs
we do in depending on the merchants
TO feed them and run their farms for
them. The Northern farms
are self-supporting. SO far
IS their food supplies are con-
ccrned. so what surplus they make
II their own. be il small or large. and
IL the Southern farmers would adopt
and pursue that course. and made only
ten to twenty bales Of cotton clear.
they would be entirely independent
and live as comfortable and bountifal
n any class Of men. No pursuit on
earth. barring providcntial mishaps.
could they be more the architect Of
their own fortunes. than the farmers
could be. would they but farm and
manage their own business as it should
DO done. economically and using
proper industry. energy and perse-
vcrance. looking closely 10 all details
and If possible pay rs you so and
raise your own food supplies. We
have the climate and the country If We
would only make the proper use Of our
opportunities and advantagcs-Joh"
H. Dent. ia Southern Cultirdt0E.