The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-04-02
FARMER AND PLANTER.
FARMING.
One of the Most Pleasant Though Not the
Most Profitable of Pursuits.

OHo VI tht MOST Ilehshnt luouSh Tsot 'he
Most Profitable of Pursuits.
Farming, when conducted in an in
telligent manner, is one of the most
pleasant pursuits in which man can
engage. While it is not one of the
most profitable, yet, when judiciously
conducted, it Is the sure source of a
profit sufficient to maintain a man and
his family in comparative luxury.
Agriculture is truly said to be the
mother of all the arts. The Importance
and necessity of agriculture is realized
when we reflect that almost every
thing essential to mans physical well
fare comes either directly or indirectly
from the soil of the earth. The bread
he eats and the clothes he wears are
produced from the soil of the ground;
the former directly, and the latter
indirectly. For these reasons, agricul-
ture is the most important industry
that can engage the attention of man
kind. 1t is the surest foundation of
the prosperity of nation, and re-
wards with happiness those who pur-
SIZE it.
Wealth is not generally acquired by
farming, but it has other advantages
which compensate for this deficiency.
For those of the industrial world who
wish to acquire wealth, manufacturing
is the most certain road to that result
for them to pursue. More and larger
fortunes are made from manufacturing
than from anything else. 1t would
seem that the one who first produces an
article or commodity should derive
more profit from his labor upon it than
he who afterwards, by some process
of manufacture, converts the same
article or material into another form
which renders it fit for use or con-
sumption. But that is far from being
the case. The profit of the producer of
the raw material is small indeed, COM
pared to that of the manufacturer of
the finished product; and this is true,
although, in the majority of cases,
greater labor is required in the produc-
ton of the raw product. Illustrations
Of the truth of these facts are found in
a comparison of the profits of the grow
er of wheat and the manufacturer Of
flour; of the grower of cotton and the
manufacturer of cotton goods; of the
one who raises cattle and the one who
sells dressed beef, and so on with many
other products.
This is the age of corporate enter
prise, and almost every large business
is conducted by incorporated compa-
MES. The principle of incorporation
has been found, in the industrial
and commercial world, to be re-
markably advantageous. 1t les
sens the expense of production
and increaces its profits. 1t is by the
corporate principle of limited liability
that great commercial undertakings
can be safely and proftaably con-
Quoted. But farming is business to
which incorporation does not apply,
and it is therefore deprived of the adj
vantages of combination and co-opera-
ton.
Farming is probably less profitable
at the present day than it ever was,
and the prices of agricultural products
are scarcely above the cost of produc.
ton, 1t is not proposed to discuss here
the causes of this condition; but it is
undoubtedly true that the excessive
production and the invention of labor
saving machinery have contributed to
lower prices.
But we now turn to consider our
subject in another light-as a souE(
of contentment and happiness, and
one of profit. 1t is probably in
respect that farming excels a
employments; for it may be
to be the most conducive to
Happiness probably dep
on the temperament Qf
than upon his surroY
ton; but if it were
certain it would
that as genera
al class are til
there to ma
the farmer
and fertj
good h
childrl
alb