The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-07-12
The Future of Farming.

1Uo
It has beeen a current remark that
The farmer was the backbone Of the
American republic. However TRUE
this may be, it is beyond question that
the farm is the place from which a
large portion Of the food Of the COM
inunity comes. No one can stand for
an hour early in the day at the exit Of
the great ferries that lead into New
York city without being impressed
with the magnitude of the enterprise
that pours into condensed New York
such an enormous amount Of food as
the great metropolis daily consumes.
Activity, begins soon after midnight,
and from that time on until some
hours after noon the tide Of ebbing
and flowing humanity, trucks and
teams, is at its height.
And this rush and hurry, this hand
ling an amount Of produce truly enor-
nous, is but the final act Of long Sc
ries Of processes and operations.
Months before the seed was provided
and the ground made ready. At suit
able times, cultivation, irrigation, har-
vesting and preparing for market went
on in the most regular sequence, re-
sulting in the great aggregation Of eat
ables and drinkables that constantly
pour in upon this large city.
1t is quite worth while, in view Of
all existing facts, to give little in
telligent attention to the people who
furnish all this material, what are
their lives, their hopes, aspirations
and aims, and how nearly do they reap
the expected reward of their toll.
The farmer Of America unquestion-
ably has a great future. Half CEN
tury hence his condition will be inn
measurably improved in every respect,
and it is not too much to believe that
the tiller of the soil and his family
will, at no distant day, fill a much
more important position in the eyes of
society and the world at large than
they now occupy. Marked changes
are predicted in the general arrange
ment and management Of the farm OF
the future. That the area Of cultiva-
ted land under the charge Of any indi-
vidual will be very much less than at
presents seems inevitable.
Careful experiments, have demon.
strated that,improved methods Of cul.
ture and judicious adapted fertilizers
will increase the productiveness pet
acre from two to four-fold on an aver
age. That it will run in many cases
far beyond this is a point on which
many experimenters arc perfectly well
satisfied.
If man can raise as much on ten
acres as he now raises on forty Or fifty,
it certainly would be the sheerest
folly for him to continue the effort to
spread his labors over the larger num-
ber. It seems to be more difficult
with every passing year to get compe'
tent help, and this is another reason
for the diminished size Of farms ada
cent to m stropolitan centers. The
Worlds Fair will be great enlight-
ener in this as we'll as in other re-
spects. The agricultural department
is to be specially exhaustive, and
every farmer and farmers son should
make this the Mecca of his summer
pilgrimage if he can in any way make
it possible to get there. A week in
the agricultural department will be a
liberal education and, if the farmer
himself finds i difficult to go, he
should at least send his boys and girls
and give them the benefit of the
world most advanced ideas.
Some day, and that soon, the farm.
ing communities all over the country
will be centers not only Of agricul-
tural production, but Of brains and
ability in other directions as we'll.
When this day comes it will not be
necessary to make an effort to keep
the boys and girls on the farm. Hav-
ing once brought intelligence and cul-
turc to their notice, they will not ex-
change the pleasures Of suburban liv-
ing for all of the glitter and turmoil OF
the business, noisiest cities in the
world.-M Y. Ledger.