The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-03-04

FARM LAND DEPRECIATI0N.-Th
recent session of the Kentucky Farm.
ers' Institute, among other important
subjects, discussed "The Cause of the
General Depreciation Of Farm Land
in Kentucky" 1t was the sense of
those who participated In the discussion
that the unprofitableness of the busi-
ness, largely superinduced by bad leg.
islation, was the chief, not the sole
cause. .
The writer was a deeply-interested
auditor, and in the main he agrees
with those who spoke on the SUBJ
ject.
1t is undeniably true that farming is
not as profitable as it should be, and
that this result is brought about very
largely by legislation against the far
meT in favor Of other classes Of citi-
zens.
But in point Of profit the case is by
no means as bad as some believe 1t to
I've. Energetic, Industrious, intelli-
gent farmers have always and are yet
making money about as rapidly as
men in other pursuits which are not
aided by favorable legislation or have
not a monopoly on some article. Ev-
cry farmer who attends to his business
as closely, as industriously and as in
telligently as the successful merchant,
is making as much money. If mer-
chant was at his place Of business on
ly during busy seasons, and spent the
remainder of his time in idleness
aronnd some loafing place, he could
not remain solvent one-half as long as
the farmer. The president of the In.
stitute, himself one of the very first
farmers of the State, declared that
while he recognized the fact that the
farmer was ill-used and robbed under
the forms of law, still he found little
difficulty in making money charming.
A Nelson County farmer told the writ
er the other day that he could make
more than five dollars day on his
farm.
While all this is true, the fact re.
mains that there is q wholesale rush,
especially of the young men, from the
farms to the towns and cities. Every
exchange containsa number of farms
offered for sale, and in many cases the
owners are willing to sell them far be-
low their value to get them OH. ii
unprofitableness is not the sole cause,
what other cause is operating?
The Record believes that by far the
greatest reason is the strong and ever.
growing but false idea that farming is
less respectable than many pursuits
followed in city or town. Sons OF
wealthy farmers secure inferior places
i'm stores and offices, and regard 1t as
an upward step in point of respectable
ty. The farmer parent has failed to
provide the home with comforts and
attractions which he is abundantly
able to enjoy, and has made home
life unnecessarily rigorous, consequent'
ly the home is without any attraction
whatever.
From earliest infancy false idea OF
responsibility has been taught. and nc
attempt is made to impress upon the
young the dignity and importance o.
their own calling. The son of the far
mer has imbibed the idea that educa
ton il unnecessary for farming, and
that if educated he is intended for
higher ~ calling, and he puts out to 6
town to be lost in a maelstrom of we'll
dressed poverty and dependence,
This social trouble is not alone pecu
liar to the country, but year by yea
the number of boys in towns ant
cities who are taught to disrespec
honest labor, and who degenerate int
genteel idlers and loafers, if not worse
is increasing.
If the homes are made pleasant, th'
boys and girls educated especially TO
their work, surrounded by the com
forts of life, like a city home, ,ant
taught wholesome respect for hon
eat labor, in few years the countr,
will he teeming with an independent
thrifty and progressive people tina
will prove its salvation.-Home, Farm
Factory and Live Stock Journal.