The Advocate and news., 1898-09-14
STOCK IN THE SOUTH.
How Wool Might BE Made D Valuable
Adjunct OF Cotton.

Adjunct OF Cotton.
Among the causes which retard prog.
ress In southern agriculture and prevent
the increase Of stock doubtless the ten
ant system and the crop mortgage sys.
tenn are among the principal factors,
These methods have doubtless been neo-
essary in the progress of the change
from the plantation to the farm, but the
sooner these methods cease to be neceH-
sary the greater will be the progress Of
the several states. In Arthur Young's
we'll known treatise ON the condition OF
agriculture in France just before the
French revolution he constantly re-
marks on the evils of the great holdings
of land then abused by privileged classes
beyond anything we have ever known
in this country, even under the slave
system.
The pocket nerve is the most potent
factor in promoting improvement and
will ultimately work better methods,
but If at present (through the combined
action Of the skilled farmers, who are
very numerous in the south, even if
they bear but small proportion to the
whole number, and the press) the sheep
eating dog cannot be suppressed aud
the progress Of agriculture in diversity
and value cannot be promoted, then all
progress must wait until the schoolmas-
ter Of hard times or Of relatively poor
conditions shall arouse the people to
a recognition of the fact that tho old
darky was right who explained to me
q very beneficial change in the govern
ment Of one Of the southern states
"Yer can't put ign 'ance ON top Of 'telli-
gence and make it stay dar." This is
true in politics, but in agriculture it
is not true. The ignorance and inca
pacity which tolerate the cur dog will
stay the progress Of agriculture, the me-
chanio arts and manufactures until they
are surmounted by industrial intelli-
genCe.
In the treatise on "Wool Growing In
the Cotton States" called attention to
the contrast between the state Of Texas
and the Atlantic and gulf states There
are many indications Of greater progress
in a true method Of agriculture in
Texas than in the upland cotton section.
Texas is taking the lead in the produo.
tion of cotton. 1t has q long start in
the production Of wool, both on the in
tensive and extensive methods Sheep
are being carried in large numbers on
the refuse Of the cottonseed oil mills
even on the cotton seed itself, which ia
less desirable. The staple Of Texas cot
ton is, as rule, longer and stronger than
the staple Of the upland cottona The
long cottons necessary for the manufaC-
ture Of fine fabrics, both from Egyptian
and American seed, are being raised in
increasing quantity in Texas It is very
plain that unless equal force and intel
ligence are applied to agriculture in
other sections Texas will control the
production both Of southern cotton and
Of southern wool. Its fields being, 80
far as cost is concerned, nearer to New
England than to the Piedmont plateau,
where most of the southern mills are,
the competition Of Texas and New Eng.
land combined may hereafter be very
severely felt both in the agriculture and
of cotton and cotton fab
RIGS in the Atlantic cotton states. Ed
ward Atkinson in County Gentleman.
Ages OF Breeding Stock.
The age at which mares and stallions