Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1891-12-10

this mean in any particular section or
upon each individual farm? II the first,
think II should be encouraged, but OF
the last am not quite so sure. Is II
not asking rather too much of the aver
age farmer that he shall understand the
cultivation of dozen plants, roots or
fruits, with the most OF which he may
be unfamiliar, having spent good por-
ton of his life In cultivating and study
ing The characteristics of u single one.
A man possesses large fund of agri-
cultural knowledge who can plant and
cultivate, gather and market a single
crop successfully, Now TO ask him to
undertake the cultivation of Il num-
Der, each differing, perhaps, widely
from the other requiring knowl-
edge, skill aud tools he may not pos
sess, and untitled, perhaps, often by
situation, age or ability to acquire
them Does he not run good deal OF
risk in abandoning the single crop with
which he is SO familiar, and with which
he has been moderately successful, pnd
in an effort to cultivate something else
which may be native t. the manor
BORN but to which, perhaps, he has
given very little thought or attention?
If we look outupon the world we will
find that the man who is making n sue.
cess in life is pursuing some speciality;
if he labors with his hands he concen'
trates his efforts upon u single thing,
and with skill and adaptation he is
enabled to produce Il better and cheaper
article than those who combine the
same industry with othor manu-
features. 1t is concentrated skill
and thought and energy upon special
things that has so multiplied and cheap
ened and bettered modern manufac-
lures, and these in turn have been the
most powerful factors that have in
creased the knowledge, lightened the
burdens, and added to the comfort and
pleasure of all mankind. And this is
as true of agriculture as of any other
occupation. The system has every
where been improved, the growth of
plants has been scientifically studied,
and their characteristics carefully
noted, and all the knowledge thus
gained has enabled men to intensity
their efforts upon Il single plant or
crop, in such a way that whilst the
price has no doubt been reduced they
are enabled to produce it at n cost
much less than ever before. lntensi-
fed farming is doubtless the proper
thing, but men must concentrate their
efforts, their skill, energy and knowl-
edge in the main upon some certain
crop for which their situation, their
land or market may seem best adapted.
This is the viewI take of this sub
ject. 1t may not be pleasant or seem
desirable but it is in harmony with the
spirit and tendency of the age; the de-
sire to improve upon the world is, we
find, universal, and well-nigh resist
less. 1t does not follow that change is
Improvement, but the hope that it may
be is strong within us, and out of this
tremendous struggle TO better our con-
dition it needs must follow. We take
no step backward. What our fathers
had or did was all well enough in
their day or generation. 1t an
swered their purposes and supplied
their wants, but the sun never rises
! but on world better than the ono
l on which it set. New conditions in
life are constantly being imposed upon
us, new wants arise. or are acquired,
: that we seek to crafty. We are never
a contented, and there would be little
a progress in improvement if we were.
1t is your restless discontended men
S that have moved the world for good OF
!, ill. Men who had hobbies. Who de
r voted time and thought to single
e thing. who made speciality of it, anc
= by close application and persistent en-
r deavor made succ ess of it.-G. j
!, Greene, in Southern Farmer