The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-25
SOIrrUEUS ACRICUITURF.

SOUTHERN AGRICULTURE.
In is his address before the Legislature Of
South Carolina on the subject Of the relation
Of agriculture and free schools, which has
recently been printed by the order of that
Assembly, DR.. Curry, with the ability and
thorough practical knowledge which distn-
guish every public utterance that proceeds
from him. has dwelt at some length on the
agricultural condition of the Southern States
and the means that can be employed to i'm
prove II.
He very Justly points out that scientific
farming does not mean that one should dis
pense with common sense. with careful per
sonal observation, with accurate reasoning
upon the data furnished Scientific know
ledge is correct knowledge, scientific obser-
walton is correct observation, and scientific
farming is correct farming on application Of
principles to facts. Agriculture Of the
South needs skilled labor, improved tillage,
cheap transportation, competent manage
ment of business How few farmers keep
account of debit and credit. of profit and
loss, of rotation or value Of crops, of cost Of
different crops. or in the fertilization Of landy
Farmers need shrewd sagacity, cultivated
powers. wise understandings. and especially
if they become politicians and take charge of
the Federal and State Governments. Away
with the dishonoring tradition, the debasing
opinion. that lawyers, doctors. preachers.
engineers, should be educated, but that any
2 clodhopper can be a successful farmer"
II is fact only too well known that agri-
culture has not been making u degree of
progress that is in proportion to the develop
ment of the mineral resources and the growth
of the manufacturing interests in the South
ern States in the course of the last few years.
For many reasons agriculture has been de-
clining rather than advancing, and at rate
which has excited the most widespread con-
Germ, This decline in agriculture, IA DIR.
Curry states is most clearly revealed in the
general falling of in the productiveness of
the soil. and the total inadequateness of our
public road system rs now kept up to fulfil
the purpose for which it was established 1t
is in these particulars that the improvement
must begin in better methods Of tillage and
greater facilities for transportation. In con-
nection with the latter, DIR. Curry shows the
incalculable benefit which has been conferred
by the extension Of great railway systems, not
only in reducing the cost of transportation,
but also in increasing production.
In addition to slovenly tillage and wrctched
roads, unintelligent labor has in his opinion
been a leading cause of the present condition
of agriculture in this section, for il has dis
couraged the diversifcation of crops. Labor
and capital being concentrated on a few sta
pies wherever there was failure in these
products general paralysis followed. No
people who devote themselves practically to
one form of agricultural industry can prop
erly expect to enjoy stable and permanent
prosperity. Moreover, the closest attention
should be paid 10 economy in consumption.
I'VE guard against ignorance and care
leSsness in production and distribution" re-
marks DR.. Curry; I'VE avail ourselves of the
best inventions. but waste continues in what
we consume. II is an educational problem of
the greatest importance to learn to save earn
ings Half of food supply for man and beast is
thrown away for want of instruction. Economy
in domestic life is more needful than economy
in public life. We need a higher standard of
living a sense of more urgent wants. How 10
prepare food for table and for animal, how TO
buy and mend clothing. how to have comfort
able houses and better homes, is what educa-
ton should apply itself to. Production
touches at few points. Consumption
tOuchesall around
In closing his address, DR.. Curry declared
that education is the basis. the grand con-
dition of wealth. No ignorant people was
ever prosperous. A mans true value is Just
what he is morally and Intellectually. and a
school tax is convertible into dollars and
cents, houses and lands, and the wise legis
lator eyokes this element of power and pro-
gress and prosperity. Among ignorant people
there are no patents, nor copyrights, nor in
veutions. That which will give the highest
productive capacity is the training Of the ill.,
tellect Of the producers.
The industrial changes in the South are a
revolution, compelling a reorganization of
activities the partition of farms, changes in
agricultural methods, development of mining
and manufacturing industries. All these
create demand for labor of q kind and quail
ity not hitherto 30 obviously needed. They
create demand. also. for technical training:
for instruction in those artistic principles
which underlie the industrial occupation of
the people as well as instruction in the manual
practice involved in the application of those
princinlaA"