The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-08-01
The NEW AGRICULTURE.
LACK OF METHOD IN FARMING OPERA
TONS,
Prof. Williams, of the University.
Reports the Result of His Observa-
tions Along this Line-The Farmer
as Compared With the Mill Owner
and Other Business Men.
correspondence News and Obseryer !

FRANKLIN, N. G., July 10th.
For several years my vacations have
been spent among the farmers. The
condition Of the farmer interested me
and was sure that the only way to
understand him was TO live with him
And now have few observations to
report.
All over the State the farmer is in a
back way.
He is not improving his farm. His
bank account has gone years ago.
The children are not being educated.
Debts are accumulating.
What is the cause of this state OF
things?
| answer without any hesitation.
The farmer himself.
The method of work and manage
ment Of the average farmer would
wreck any business in the world.
do not think there is any other bus
mess in which there is SO much waste
as in our farming.
For example, in making manure the
farmer loses all the urine from his stock.
Now ton Of urine is worth ten times
as much as ton OF solids. This is
one example. l could name fifty more
in which the waste is simply ruinous.
Alongside Of waste place lack Of
method. The farmer does not keep
up with his business. He does not
know what his products cost him.
He does not know what products are
best suited to certain conditions.
And the result of that lack of method
is two fold. In the first place he has
boarders among his stock and luxurics
among his necessities. In the second
place we have the absurd condition of
the consumer setting his own price on
the necessities Of life, grown by the far
mer.
The farmer does not know the act
ual cost of bushel of corn, hence the
consumer, knowing the value of it.,
sets the price.
No other business in our State is
conducted as farming is. Hence there
has been prosperity in all the lines
of life except farming. The factory
running in a rigidly business like way,
has made rich the owner. A revolu-
ton in teaching methods has brought
an educational awakening to our peo-
pie all over the State; and as a result
every good school is prospering. The
farmer alone has been left behind, and
rpeat it, the cause is with the farmer
This letter is headed the "New Agri
culture.' 1t has taken me several
years to see that there are forces at
work now strong and confident that
will bring in brighter day for the
farmer. am satisfied that my title
is not imaginary. Let me make good
this assertion by examples.
| have visited and studied three
farms this summer. The first was stock
farm i'll Rowan. Five years ago this
farm would produce five tons of ensil-
age to the acre, now it itproduces seven
teen tons. The cost OF this ensilage
stored in the silo is eighty cents pei
ton. The proprietor of this farm can
tell you to the cent about everything
on the farm. His methods are exactly
like the methods in a successful bank
or factory.
And this is the result: When told
him the salary of the President of the
University, he laughed at me and said
he could make more money raising
stock.
The other two farms are in the
mountains and are given to variety
Of Crops-that is, 10 the crop thai
pays.
On one of these farms the take:
when the present owner bought it wa:
fifteen dollars; now the amount i
one hundred and fifty dollars. ThI
tells the story.
The other farm, bought seven year
ago, produced when bought five
bushels cf corn to the acre. Las
year eightysev bushels to the acre
was gathered. The proprietor tole
me that the farm is now paying eigh
per cent.-and it is sure to do better
Now for the explanation. 1t is in
few words: Stock, no waste, busnes
methods. The basis of our agricul
tural revival is improved stock. Ever,
farm should have a dozen good COWS
put these in good barn. Save al
the manure, urine and solids. Max
hay to feed them. Have improved
hogs for the surplus milk the hog
cost nothing, feed the family, ant
buy the groceries, and the manur
from the stock means rich land, AM
rich land means heavy crops, and bi
crops mean profits.
In brief these are the results Of IN
observations. They are offered in tn
desire TO bring help and suggestion t
our farmers. H. H. WILLIAMS.
The inhabitants Of certain count
in Virginia are neither male nor female
, They are all Of the Middlesex.
1t is a big thing to say, but neverthele!
true that great multitude of people la '