The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-05-21
SOCIOLOGICAL VIEWS OF
FARMING AND FARMERS
AS A CLASS.
The Lamentable Lack of Proper
General Information of the
Masses Engaged in
the Industry.
No. Z.
[By Maj. R. l. Ragland, Of Hyco, Val

One main reason why agriculture
has not fourished is the want of in
formation necessary for its successful
conduct. The oldest of all the indus
tries, it has not, as might reasonably
have been supposed, kept pace with
other Industries, in the thorough
equipment of it's followers, for sue
cessfu work. In the first place, the
occupation is one of the most CON-
plex, and requires more extensive in
formation than almost any other which
has ever engaged the mental and
physical powers of man. To under
stand thoroughly the science of farm
farming, the husbandman ought to be
geologist, so he may know some
thing 'aoout the soils on which he is
cropping, their formation, constituent
elements and adaptation to particular
crops and their proper preparation
therefor. He ought to be acquainted
with botany, the science which de-
scribes and classifes plants, their char
acters, properties, peculiarities, etc.
He should know something of chem
istry, so as to enable him to properly
prepare and apply manures best suited
to soils and crops. He should know
enough Of biology to enable him to
properly select and care for his stock.
And enough of architecture to plan
and arrange his farm buildings, and
enough of Typographical engineering
to lay off the drainage, SO as to re-
lieve the soil of excessive moisture
and prevent the washing and gulley-
ing of the hillsides. And all the bet
ter, if he knows enough of masonry,
carpentry, blacksmithing, wagon and
farm implement manufacture, to en-
able Kim to select the best and most
improved implements with which to
carry on the work of the farm.
What wonder, when we note the
multiplicity of qualifications above
enumerated, that so few attain to sue
cess and emlnence as practical farm
ers! 1t is not necessary, however,
that the successful farmer should be a
graduate in all the sciences above
named, but their knowledge will the
better equip him for his work. Much
can be learned by observation, in
quiry and reading by persons who
theoretically know nothing about the
sciences. And this brings us to the
practical part of the subject.
ORGANIZATION AND ITS ADVANTAGES.
The assemblages of farmers in coun-
Gil, club, society, Institute, Grange
and Alliance-made obligatory by the
organization of all other industries
constitute the best schools in which to
gain and disseminate useful informa-
ton among the masses engaged in
husbandry. Here the best informed
relate their modes and experience
how they achieved success here and
failed thereto the learners, to enable
them to start right, keep in the right
track and to escape errors which would
be inevitable 20 the uninstructed. The
old way of " Every man for himself
and the devil take the hindmost," is
being discarded for,
LET Us PLAN TOGETHER, PULL TOGETHER
AND SUCCEED TOGETHER, 50
which we suggest as motto for alive
Alliance.
THE PAST.
In the early days of the world,
progress in the industries, arts and
sciences was slow, mainly because the
serf was stolidly ignorant, and the
baron or rulers ignorant IN many
respects as their vassals- far more
concerned and engaged in predatory
activity and conquest than in efforts
for the good of the masses or welfare
of the State.
But in time the yoke of oppression
was thrown off, and the people OF
nation after nation became free; new
institutions were organized, new &C
tivities sprang up, and new ideas, SEN
timents and habits prevailed. The
social revolution deposed robber kings
and bandit barons, to the relief, ad-
vancement and improvement of the
people, indGstrially, socially, intel
lectually and morally.
DIVISION OF LABOR.
One of the first notable changes in
free society, as distinguished from
serfdom, was that labor became diver
sifed and specialized, to meet de-
mands which grew and widened, as
intelligence created new wants, hence
the division of labor became recog-
nized principle in sociology. For, as
society advances, Intellectually and in
dustrially, it sub-divides, step by step,