The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-01-25

ened self-interest requires this of us.
but if that is not motive strong enough,
the duty we owe posterity, for whom
we hold these lands in trust demands
it at our hands. In the best portions
of the older Cotton States the former
owners have left us very little Of the
cream. Shall we continue in the same
course and leave our successors moth
ing but the buttermilk to churn? 1t is
in vain that We spend millions of dol
lars every year for guanos, even il they
were always worth what they cost when
we will persist in blowing the land to
death. There are some general prin-
ciples governing the cultivation OF land
everywhere, and no farmer can ignore
them without his land suffering in con-
sequence. The most important of
these, without which any improve
ment of the farm as whole is an i'm
possibility, and guano delusion and
a snare, is systematic and judicious
rotation Of crops. This is one of the
"elments of both intensive and good
farming )" their very basis, l may say,
for without rotation cultivated land
loses its humus, and every sensible man
knows or ought to know that humus
to land is like blood to animals, the
source of life and heat.
Alcohol is a most powerful and
effective stimulant. 1t has often saved
life by bracing patient till nature
could assist herself. But the physi-
clan who would recommend alcohol
as diet upon which to support life,
would justly be considered as being
crazy. Is the use of commercial fer
tilizers on lard constantly under the
plow, and therefore scant of vegetable
matter, any more sensible than endeav-
oring to support life with alcohol? l
do regard phosphate of lime, potash
and ammonia, the three substances for
which the South has paid so much
money, as more stimulants. I know
they are essential elements of plant
growth. and pay handsomely when
there is vegetable matter present. But
l assert that fully one-half the money
spent for them by Southern cotton
planters has been thrown away, by
reason of their application to land
lacking in humus.
But l can not dwell longer on this
point. l will only emphasize what l
have said about rotation by repeating
Without rotation, with the crops we
grow in this country, vegetable matter
becomes scant, and on hilly lands the
rains carry off more fertility than the
crop. The candle burns at both ends,
and barrenness soon results. Without
humus, guano only stimulates, aud
with it nourishment is obtained and
success rewards the farmers labors.
If could l would burn the word into
the brain OF every farmer, young and
old, in the South, and print it in
colossal letters of light upon the sky to
remind them that "by this sign only
can they conquer"
AS l am generalizing, l can not
enter into details regarding what rota-
ton l think best; but almost any rota
ton which may be adopted will cause
more corn and small grain to be
grown. These naturally lead to stock
raising, and stock raising is sadly
neglected "element of good farming"
among US. The pitiful spectacle Of
almost an entire people, numbering
millions, who very brief while ago
tried to set up for themselves as an
independent nation, now voluntarily
dependent upon other sections for their
bread and meat almost entirely, while
they blindly pursue the ignis fataas
cotton, and continue to pursue it in
spite of everything, has served to cast
a we'll deserved reflection upon our
good sense, which we should no longer
invite. 1t is easily demonstrated both
on paper and on the farm that we can
raise our meat and bread cheper than
we can buy it. Our young farmers
should never rest content until they
have driven Western meat and corn
from our markets. The South will
never, perhaps, export these things,
but she should not buy them.
But grant that stock raising, as a
rule, can not be made profitable, ex-
cept to the extent of supplying home
demand. Shall we ever build up our
impoverished lands again by the use
of commercial manures alone? Level
lands, not subject to washing away,
may, perhaps, be thus improved, but
on hilly lands do not believe it posi-
Bile. The old English maxim holds
good, at least with them-"He who
farms without manure will leave his
land and children poor" BY "ma-
nure," they did not mean " fertilizers"
but the droppings Of cattle, horses and
sheep; and freeing the land from the
plow while growing grass and grain
to feed these animals, has more to do
with the improvement of the farm
than the manure. More pasturage
and less tillage is the great need Of
our hilly lands.
Having touched upon the necessity
of rotation Of crops, stock raising and
manure, constituting the elements of
good farming, l shall only mention
the remaining factor necessary to the
fullest success, and that is thorough
tillage. Jethro Tull, more than
century ago, promulgated the doc
trine that "tillage is manure"
can not 60 SO far, but know that with
out thourough preparation and cul-
ture, manure is of little service. They
are fwin hand I'm IdepS of eDliphtcned