The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-02-25

the axiom depends much upon the
standpoint from which we look.
In this, our day and time, he who
puts in practice the means of produc-
ing two ears of corn, two pounds of
cotton, two blades of grass, ETC., with
the same labor which produced only
one before would be the benefactor-
or better far would it be to produce
the same amount of cotton, corn, hay,
etc., with half the labor now expended,
for the amount of each now produced
is in excess of the demand, hence the
low prices for agricultural products,
now complained of, and greater pro-
duction would not cure out increase
the evil.
Can we not do something to i'm
prove our condition, or shall we con
tinue satisfied to plod along in the
"old rut" without an effort to help
ourselves, and be forever considered,
by those who govern, fit subjects only
to be taxed for the benefit of the few
special pets of Legislation. If some
means can be devised and put into prac-
tice by which the farmers could make
the same crops with much less labor,
giving them more time to devote to
improving their homes, making them
more comfortable and more attractive;
more time for mental and moral cul-
ture, reading and study, it would
greatly benefit millions of agricultural
toilers.
Much can be done towards this de-
sirable end, and it must be done by
the farmers themselves. They need
not look to government aid, but rely
on their individual and collective
efforts, like men. Government should
tax them ight-all taxes should be
light.
Would not some change in the
manner of cultivating our farms, now
in use by most of us, go a long way
towards reaching the desired end?
In this State, and in most of the
Southern States, the land in cultiva-
ton is generally broken or rolling, so
much as to be greatly damaged by
the rains. There is generally no effort
made by the cultivators of the soil to
prevent this. The rows are run up
hill and down hill, regardless of work
ing off the soil, etc. The rows are
changed with each crop, the manure
put in the row for this years crop, is
exposed in the middle of the row for
the next year, and both it and part of
the soil is again swept down the rows,
which soon become gull'@s and in a
short time the land fails to pay for the
cultivation, and the farm continues to
| grow worse.
I have recently seen sixty-nine
gullies to the acre in the field, and
the soil almost entirely worked away
before the stumps were half rotted
out. Good, generous soil allowed to
be swept away by the negligence of
the owner. By a proper system of
leveling the rows the injury from
working off the soil could be greatly
prevented, the soil and manure re-
tanned, and the soil improved by ma.
nuring and made more productive,
better crops with less labor, our farms
and homes would improve and in
many cases thrift and content would
appear where poverty and dis
content prevails. If our Alliances
and farmers clubs would teach this
method of preserving the soil, and
teach and urge it as it's importance
demands, it would be of incalculable
benefit to III State and to our people.
If the Alliance would take hold of
this important subject with half the
VGm and determination that they did
the Infamous CUTE trust" it would re-
suit in untold benefit to our farmers.
Alliancemen try it, teach and urge it
and good results will be sure to fol
low. Now is the time to begin it.
AGRICoLA.