The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-17

The South self-su-taininG.
Southern Clltivator.1

~N4A9 SAC AG'lA#aL Abl At& u" ID A@t.
is not disputed Her climate aud
resources give her decided aivan~
tage over every other section.
Before the late unpleasantness"
the people Of the South paid very
little attention to diversified agrical>
ture. bat seemed devoted exclusively
TO the culture Of cotton. The pro-
ceeds of their years labor went to
the purchase Of more land and slaves.
Since the close Of the war between
the States" it would seem that the
South has received for her cotton
crop four billion dollars. This has
gone, to large extent, towards
building up the whole country, and
tue South has, therefore, been large
factor in enhancing the general
prosperity Of the entire Nation,
Now, we would be slow to urge
the striking out from the list Of
products of the country, such an
important one as that OF cotton. it
is, say what we please, an eIemen. of
power. AS an American, we would
not advocate any policy that would
deprive the entire country Of the
benefits of growing SO valuable q
crop. As q Southern man, we would
still be less inclined to urge such q
line of action, as we of the South
grow the bulk and finest quality OF
this grand article that the world
must buy.
Tie So,ltheru Culttgator, from its
first Issue, has been en- ardent advo
cate Of diversified agriculture, and
has eGdeavored 20 stimulate the
people to raise at home everything
required for the sustcnance OF them
selves and stock. To achieve The
best results, under surrounding cir
cumstances, requires the c0nstau
exercise Of thought and skill in ou
modes of farming. The use Of i'm
proved labor saving implements
thorough preparation and cultivation
Of the soil; better preparation 0
prod1ce for market: In fact, in ever,
detail Of farm economy, the mos
rigid scrutiny and constant improve
mentls rendered necessary.
1t is folly for a man to use steam
power where horse power could b.
employed as well, and equally so t,
employ the muscles of men to Il
that which can be accomplished b.
machinery as well as more econom
jcallY. 1t is not necessary to aban
don the culture of cotton in order tt
diversity our agriculture 1t is
however, essential that we bring ou
agriculture up to the point that tn
capacity Of an acre will be tested t
its utmost. Our system must thei
be intensive. II we can make a.
acre produce enc bale Of Cott0i
instead OF one-thrd or One-nalf Of
bale, then the other acre or two acre
can be used for other products.
1t does not follow that becaus
we diversity our agricultural prod
ucts, we are exclusive, and propos
non intercourse with the other sec
tious of the Union, the outsld
world and "the rest of mankind"
The march Of science and tn
progress Of the age is tending t
bring tae nations Of the earth NOR
closely together. No nation IS inde
pendent of neighboriug nations
They cannot afford to be, Just as
man cannot be his own halter, shoe
maker. tailor, dentist, lawyer, do1tO
etc. There must be exchanges Ih
i people Of the South can, howeveI
make the effort to reap some of th
fruits Of their own labor in prOduCin
cotton. Whatever they can pvoduc
on their own farms they should d
so, and if It costs them more to rails
it than they can buy it Of the
neighbor5, they should diIiyelt
seek to cheaper the cost Of its pre-
duct;on.
The interest alone Oh the amour
; received by the South for cotto
since 1855 would enable the peopl
} to become rich indeed. The amour
! received for her cotton crop woul
, give the South a working capita
that would develop her vast mimi
and manufacturing resources, utili2
all her waste water power and giN
employment to thousands of the a
= employed and non-p1oducing classe
In order that we nay receive Il
full advantage Of oar cotton GRO
we should raise everything poasib
on our own farms aad strive to p-
! duce tnem at the least possible cos
More good can come to as fro