The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-05

Prom the NicksbuTg Commcrcial.llcmld.
II has been the custom in many quarters
TO scout ut book farming, "a some farmers
delight TO term scientific farming. This
same custom Of treating lightly all advice
to try science in the cultivation OF the soil,
prevailed twenty years ago just as it does
now. The writers In our agricultural
publications aud in the newspapers were
made sport Of no dreamcrs and theorists,
and the land owners stuck TO their old
methods, and they are Clinging 10 them
today. The world is told that science will
do for the pulpit, the press, law, litcrn-
tutc and 80 forth, but book farming" is
10 be- treated with a snccr and aconiemptu.
Gus guiIaw. Those pandoring TO the pre-
JUDGES against science were upheld rs
masters OF common sense and praised ~
practical people. Many In this State
ccrcd at the Agricultural and Mechanical
College, an institution 10 instill science
into manufactures aud agriculture, and
they are still belittling IL before the people
~ "high-hocled" college. Perhaps they
couple book farming and "high.hcclcd
colleges together ~ worthy OF the con-
tempt Of the horny handed sons OF toll.
Notwithstanding all this skepticism Of
science, the present proves that II Is rs
indispensable 10 success IN agriculture,
and possibly more 40 than IN any other
calling. The farmers Of the past who
were failures secuted at science, ~ do the
farmers OF the present. Industry and
energy are, OF course, essential In planting,
but they are not more ~ than the knowl.
edge Of how best 10 take every advantage
OF soil, fertilization and cultivation. Those
who possess this knowledge, In addition
10 enemy and industry, are the only sue.
ccssiul tillcr OF the soil. Those who dis
regard scientific laws In agriculture may,
by persistence and great waste OF effort,
get along, but they will never make the
calling the success II ought 10 be-. Those
who sncrr at "bOok farming" complain
and groWl also ut their impoverished con.
dition.
II il the beginning oi new year, sup
pose they try a little scientific farming
alongside OF the usual sloyenly scratching.
suppose they Try at least enough for an
experiment II They will raise all cotton,
they can surely afford q small piece Of land
or thorough and scientific cultivation.
We assert what h true when W. say IL will
pay very little, Il anything, TO raise less
Than bale Of cotton 10 thr acre. II the
HillNAIu ~ SGT NJ n NulN ana uNli or TWO
10 the acre, II will nay just that much bet
ter. iiut, say those who have grown
poorer aud poorer planting cotton, "wo
can't possibly cultivate our lands M TO
that standard" Then cultivate half or
third oi the usual quantity Of land In cot.
ton and the balance Ia corn, peas, oats or
oven IN grasses for stock. Rotate the
ctups, icrlilize cotton Land well, il IL
equal 10 two wo,kings, pillow It very deep
la winter aud Il will make twice ~ three
times rs much, w either dry season or
wet season. Scratching q large surisce il
the failure that i making the cotton raiser
pporcr aud poorct II % h continued, Il II
only o question ol fine when he will bc
sold out to make way Tor others who will
rely more upon fertilizers, scientific, thor.
ough cultivation Hnl large crops on small
acreage, than Q misomblo failure, year
after year, ON glar,c acreage.
There is another unansNcrablca argument
In favor OF larry crop on small surface, II
Is Just twice ~ Oasy 10 pick.