Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-01-26
AN INTER STING LETTER
ABOUT FARMING.
Written for The FISHERMAN & FEAR

Written for The FISHERMAN FEAR
NER
To discuss the Agriculture
question sfully as its inportanc'
demands, would entail more time
than lies at our disposal; we vii
therefore, at the suggestion of
friend, in yoli good town, simply
touch on the salientpoints involv
ed in progressive, successful
farming. And, let me ask i'll al
seriousness, has the time not
arrived i'll these, the closing
years Of the nineteenth century
when the farmers OF these East
ern counties, should fOrsake the
long beaten tracks oftheir ances-
tors and strive to get abreast of the
times? And this leads me to ask
what is the cause OF the depress-
ion, that has existed in the agri-
cultural interests of these count
les for some years? Are your
many failures all traceable-to ad-
verse seasons, to put it in popular
phraseology, bad crop years?'
Mo- say, one thousand times
no. OK years residenCei Ill North
Carolina, ought to enable one to
pronounce a tolerably correct
verdict OH its climate; and, after
a rather extensive experience, in
countries widely apart, unhesl-
tatingly say that no70herr, have l
found its equal, from the agricul-
turalists standpoint In all this
Eastern section of the State, the
products Of a semi-tropical, and
temperate cline, may be grown,
side by side, to great perfection
You have soil, that readily res
ponds to intelligent, practical
management, and the markets Of
the world are open to you.
To one, who has seen farming
conducted on thoroughly prac-
teal, scientific, principles and
brought to high point Of excel
Ecncr, III a climate chiefly charac-
terized by its adverse nature, it
is hard to believe that a system of
farming should prevail i'll this
aforementioned section of this
great Republic, unworthy of
bygone age.
These are no idle words.
Show me the farm where the
drainage has been carried out, as
demanded by progressive farm
ing! Show me the farm where
the cultivation is thorough and
systematic; where a regular rota-
ton Of crops is strictly adhered
to; and where stock receive the
minimum of thel care which our
natural instincts ought to teach
us they merit!
know not of one, i'll Chowan,
Tyrell, or Washington counties.
This leads he to diverge a lit
tie. \ few weeks ago whilst rain
fell III torrents, and the mercury
stood at freezing point, stock of
all descriptions were to be seen
i'll that truly inviting shelter
the cornor's Of a rail fence
shlVering we'll nigh to death.
Poor, miserable, e1raciated
calves, that had been deprived of
their rightful Legitimate nourisll-
ment during the Summer and
Fall by selfish, greedy humanity
were now turned to face the pitt
less blasts of Winter. Friends,
lies there not spark of feeling in
your breasts for these dumb ami
mails that a bounteous Providence
has placed i'll your care? Let us
hope there is, and that it will be.
made manifest.
Among the points naturally
occurring to us, involved in sue
cesstul farming are these First
ly. Draining. Imperfect drain
4gc means Skb-shod, hab-Aa@ard
farming. A great trusting to
uck, the moons changes, and SO
.o1th.
By the way, it is quite start
ing, in these parts, when an I'M
favorable phase of weather etsin,
low much invective is poured
orth OH the great lu1ninary. !
Tile drainage is the most thor :
ough system Of draining the land.
They (tiles) possess the property
IF extracting S0nDueSs, Occasioned
BY a superhuity of moisture from
he soil, and which is highly det-
to the roots ofall plants.
IN general way, they are placed
It depths, varying from "A to 50
according to the nature Of
he subsoil. The inherent fertil-
ty, existing i'll your black soils,
and bottom lands, in the form of
matter, can now be
made available (but to very
limited extenD for plantfood, IN
til tile-drained, and lined lean
almost hear some one say, "our
lands are not of sufficient value,
to justify the outlay" In reply,
| would say, if this is the case, I'M
til you learn the true value of
your lands, let your ditchung be
o,r,>1a aud thOrO,,ob