Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-12-05

Present Exigencies Of Agriculture.


Cor. Country Gentleman.
In all industrial affairs old things
have passed away and all things have
become new. The change has been
most wonderfully rapid and pervad-
ing. But agriculture has Jagged be-
hind, to large extent, and in many
respects the old fashions still prevail.
The present more favorable condition
of things is no real guide to a just
judgment in this regard, for it is due
to Il phenomenal state of affairs in all
those countries which are now de-
pending on the American farmer for
an adequate supply Of food. What
would be our condition had the
European crops been up toa fair
average? With our exceedingly pro-
life harvestS how would the market
prices compare with those now cur
rent? And where would be the con-
gratulatory condition Of the farmers
which just now exists? 1t is quite
safe to say that it is to the actual
starving state Of millions Of UNI
fortunate people in Europe that we
owe our present prosperity, and the
satisfactory prices Of produce that are
expected TO free the farmers of their
load Of debt and set them firmly on
their feet.
Considering this unquestionable
fact, we cannot justly feel that the
American farmers position is vir-
tually or permanently improved, or
that he is no longer under the abso-
lutte necessity of improving his
methods so as to bring him in line
with the advanced condition Of other
industries which have such a close
connection with his prosperity.
When we look over the present con-
ditiOn Of our agriculture and study
its most pressing needs, we cannot
lose sight of the fact that our methods
stand in need of much change to
bring them into a condition, pdri
DGsSu, with all the improvements OF
other industries, and by reducing
costs and increasing profits to make
farming in all its branches more
profitable. | wish to point out to
your readers a few things which are
typical of what seem to be pressingly
needful in this direction, as tending
in the direction of improved and
more profitable methods in our prac
tice. And there is no more suitable
time for this than the present when
the expenses of the farmer are such
as to wholly eliminate in a multitude
Of cases, all the profit for the sum
me.'s work.
For instance, how many farmers
and even dairymen, are now feeding
cattle that will cost quite as much a
their value in the spring to carry
them through the winter? And it il
quite possible so to manage them a
to keep them in profit through tn
whole year. 1t is still too much tn,
custom to have all the cows go dry a
this time of the year when their pro
duce might be made to support then
profitably, and the prices of dair.
products are the highest. With al
the new appliances of the dairy, but
ter, and even cheese, may be made al
through the year; and in the winte
the skill Of the dairyman may max
the actual cost of his product at thi
season considerably less, and the Ia
Dor involved also less, than in tn
summer. The present demand of tn
public is for the highest quality {
dairy products, supplied fresh an
newly made, and presented in I'll
most acceptable shape to meet tn
higher style of living. And it
those dairymen who meet this d.
mand that are prospecting the mos
At the present time the supply is e,
cessive in the summer, and then til
market prices necessarily fall belo
the profitable margin, while the su
plus carried over depresses the price
of the winter make. To equalize II
supply with the demand,a to avo
the Improbable feeding of millions
COWS through the winter, is one
the pressing needs that may be poin
ed out.
Another is the feeding of cattle ar
sheep during the winter, for the d
rect profit and for the manure mad
1t may be that the prices oflive-stot
are low, but this is to be met by I
improved way of feeding, by whit
severe competition may be met al
3Sercome. This is not by al
means impossible, now that Il