The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-11-15
FARMERS PROBLEMS.
1Earnl Journal

In all The countries of Europe the
f,ruino class is not rated very high III
the social and political scale. IIllers OF
the soil are called peasants, who, III
Germany. and some other countries. are
deemed inferior to artisans, and perhaps
are so in respect to education, intellIgenN
and social standing
In this country it is different, no class
is ahead of farmers III intellectual ac-
ouirements, III enlightened citizenship, III
social responsibility. Any one that looks
upon IN American farmer and feels that
he is his superior. is a conccited fool. and
proclaims his own ignorance and lnfe-
riority.
II dcpcnds on the Farmers themselves
whether this condition is permanent, or
whether they shall gradually sink To Il
lower level and eventually become peas
ants. as in Europe. One thing IS GER
tain. if they are to maintain their
ground. and remain ut the head Of the
social and political fabric. they must not
depend on the grace of others. the good
will of others, but upon themselves.
They must be worthy of Il better fate
than the farmers of Europe, on such
may he their own. The same int'uenc"
which have made clods of the agrlcultu-
rists of the old countries, will be found
TO exist here. even under our Republican
institutions, and must be vigilantly com
bated. We have got TO look out for our
selves, for certain it is none Will look
out for us.
We have been reading something of
conditions in Spain. and they are de
plorahle indeed. Agriculture is at Il
low ebb. lower perhaps than for nun
dreds Of years. The reason is that coun-
rnY bo, h,,,, njSr,varnnl and rahhp1 TO
such an extent that all classes are ruin-
ed and the nation is i'll despair. Here
is the story told by one who has lived
in Spain, ii. :. McInto>h). and Intimately
knows the conditions that exist there:
To drive over the old and now scarce
paSsable roads. ut times to cross afoot
the hills. to stop at the wayside inns,
or to spend Il few days on an estate or 4
farm, gives You the opportunity OF seeing
what neglect, increasing poverty and
general unrest are producing III many
portions of Il land that might be made %
TEEN with plenty. Some of us know full
we'll what the Worn out lands We're, often
seen in the old plantation days. But
never so melancholy SpeclmentS We're
here seen. as You very often must look
on in Spain. Districts which We're very
gardens in the days OF the busy Saracen,
anu NlllCl1 NtIc dbjlIltitlIItlI ItitIlS y
many after centuries. are to-day practi-
caIly wastes. yielding here and there a
scant heritage for a few weeks III spring
to the lean sheep that range over the
almost bare earth. North of Madrid,
around COrdova, to the east of Seville,
and about Granada \eres and Cadiz, cX-
haustlOn and b~arrennesS meet the eye On
all sides. 1t is not change of climate. 1t
is not that the soil will not bear If cared
for. Neglect. thriftleSSneSS. abuse Of the
soil. ignorance Of the most elementary
farming. pride. self-conceit and American
competition explain the present condition
of thigS. Lethgary and procrastina ion
everywhere reveal themselves.
IGNORANCE of any improved methods
of caring for and cultivating the soil
rules. The farming and implements are
of the Oldcn days. The pride that counts
the farmer honorable toll Il disgr3c"
holds in lundage the small proprietors.
The idea of outstanding the resources
Of the land rarely shows itself in either
lane renter or gardener. Get all out pos
sible and give nothing back. Then
great depression and in some cases hope
lessness. have arisen from the growing
competition OF our farmers and fruit
ranchcrs. American grain and pork,
fruits and even wines. have made Il Sc
rious inrOad on the markets open To the
Spanish huShandman and fruit growers.
Prices have fallen. Orchards. olive
yards, vineyards, with orange groves and
lemon gardens. are now seen frequently
abandoned or half neglected. Irrigation
which would make this sunny lane bri2"
forth by handfuls, is not only not pushed
and increased. but the old channels and
Waterways are uncared for. If to
all this neglect YOU add the
wanton destruction of forests and
woods, it is not very hard to realize
that which the industrious Moor made ;
garden and what long was a very grana
ry to Europe is to-day a wasted and de
caying land. The King lives by thu
field This widespread and CROWN:
agricultural decay. and this progressiv
exhaustion of the land, work mischie
all around. The small trades. industri
Gus manufacturers that are linked wit
and live by successful and profitable
farming and fruit growing are eithe
dead or dying. Large numbers of per
sons are without their natural cmplo,
in the fields. Food is scant and of in
fpfior quality. Money even in the form
of small silver. is scarce. Hence arts
the circumstances when fools betak
themselves to silly ways of gain. such a.
gambling and lotteries. and desperat
men to robbery and ~brigandage.
THE landowners are to Il great ex
tent held in the bitter bonds of deSp4rat
debts. In Spain for years Il wretche,
system has prevailed OF borrowing none
on the growing crops and the timber fl
to be felled. Very often the crop WA
deficient or failed altogether. \ neI
bill or Il larger debt, or a new mort
gage resulted. The bankers are fir,
quently the money lenders. and foreign
erS hold the mortgages and the bond:
Because of over-hurdened condition tn
land-owener have been able to do In
very little to develop the resources of tn
country. One direct cause of this real
bankrupt condition of many of the Ian,
ed gentry. is the crowding of the younge
sons into the army, the navy. and til
colonial offices. The military. the nava
the official life is adopted of necessit.
and seldom with one clear object. Th;
purpose is to secure some post in