The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-08-02
THE POULTRY YARD
CHAT FORFARMERS.
Brains and Methods in Farming
Persistent FOllies of Southern Ag-
rlcul
Southern CultiyatOr,


Persistent Follies of Southern Ag-
riculturests. -
lSouthern Cultivator.
Could talking or writing have availed
enough has been said and
written long ago to have depopulated
the towns and established an impassa-
bic blockade for bread and meat
around the Cotton States. We do
not propose now to waste ink arguing
the point Our purpose is, if possible,
to aid those who are content to stay
in the country and work. We believe
that farming, properly conducted,
does pay-that its profits are reasona-
BILE and sure, when the brain and
Drawn cooperate cheerfully, in,elli-
gently and energetlcally; but we be-
lieve just as fully, that speculative,
careless, routine, uncalculating, un-
scientific farming will not pay, but
will, with fearful speed, make bank
rupts of those who practice it. Illus
trations of the latter proposition
abound on every side-those of the
former, whilst far from being so nu-
merous may be seen in almost every
community-a few farmers standing
head and shoulders above the un-
thinking crowd.
Ever since the war, the land has
resounded with complaints of labor
with more justice it should be of lack
of brains-brains to plan, brains to
calculate, brains TO execute-brains to
decide what crops will pay, how much
labor will pay-what rest should be
given to the soil, what restitution
made for its depletion by crops, what
rotations will pay best and longest
maintain fertility of the soil-what
stock will pay, best and most econom-
ical modes OF feeding-these and hun
dreds of other like questions call most
loudly for strong, educated, thoroughly
trained brains. Away with the prac-
tice of making tenants or partners of
negroes, and delegating to them the
direction and management of our
Southern agriculture. What would be
thought of merchant or contractor
who would put negroes in charge Of
his business? Does farming require
less judgment, less perception, less
tact than buying and selling goods?
Whilst brains are called for on the
farm every day of the year, they are
especially needed this month to plan
the years campaign. If the past has
been failure, what must be done to
make the future a success? A de-
cision on this point is not always
easily reached. The weather, the kind
of crops, the time and manner of
plowing-the manure used and its
mode of application, the lack of ma
nure, using too much labor and pay
| ing too dearly for starting crops a
little too late or laying buy little too
early, a deep blowing when it should
have been shallow, rows too wide
too many or two few stalks to the
acre, good or bad seed-how great
the factors that enter into the prob
lem! Think you that any but care
full observer, a close calculator, pa
tent and profound thinker can solveit
With the light of past experience
before US, what crops shall we plant
A part Of the answer is as plain as the
MONDAY sun: provision crops of some
kind, sufficient at least to run the
farm. Everybody sees and admits
that. In this connection, we would
urge again the manuring of all corn
lands, not likely to suffer from drought
to very high degree. Very much i:
to be gained by pushing such lands to
a yield of IS to 100 bushels per acre
On dry upland the benefits of high
grade manuring may be lost through
drought. Not so with valley lands
Seventy to one hundred bushels o.
cotton seed and three to four hundred
pounds of acid phosphate per acre
may he very safely and proftably ap.
piled. The cost will be from ffteer
to twenty dollars per acre-the gair
with same hoeing and plowing) from
sixty to seventy-fve bushels of corn
Will not those who doubt, try the ex
pertinent on one acre this year-or i
their faith is weak on half or quarter
acre? We want, friends, to get 20,
out of the old ruts-the draft is toe
heavy and you are about to stall
There is no wisdom, no common
sense, in pursuing the same cours,
year after year, when the end is moth
ing but failure-utter failure
Another proposition, palpable t.
every rejecting man, is that ever,
ones operations should be brough
sharply within the limit of his means
Credit at all times is hazardous-dur
ing periods of great financial disturb
ance it is almost invariably disastrous
Creditors then become unusually clam
orous, and properly brings little wher
forced to sale. But what should b,
done if one is already in debt it ma,
be asked. Sell if need be everything
over and above what is needed to ruI
a one horse farm, and start from tn,
bottom. Show yourself honest ant
you will not need homestead or othe
laws to protect you. Creditors ar
exacting because they fear dishonesty
When one firmly and cheerfully re
solves to secure course like this, it i
surprising how little is required to ri,
farm and support a family till tn,
crop is made. A cow and a garde,
will keep starvation long way off. Jus
think Of the quantity of Irish potatoe
that can be raised on little patch O
ground-how early in the season the,
, are available-and how nearly thi
tuDer can SyDDlv the placA of hr>,d