Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1899-06-16

the morse or engine III inc pLtce OF the
human muscle.
In considering whether we shall use
any particular machine, we must first
satisfy ourselves that it will do the
work it claims TO do. Then we must
consider the cost of doing this work as
compared with the cost of doing the
same by human labor or with cheap
er machine. Then we must settle the
question of our skill in using it, Very
many excellent machines require a
higher degree of skill than the average
farm hand has. Hence there is often
disappointment and loss, the fault be-
ing in the laborer, and not in the inn
plement.
After considering all these ques-
tons, we are still often puzzled to de-
eide which to do-use human muscle
and cheap tools OF more machinery
and less muscle.
This question is largely one of econ
omy. Which can do the work cheaper?
AS a general proposition, machinery is
cheaper. Particularly is this true
where large crops of anyoae kind are
considered Machines do not eat; they
need no clothes or expensive houses
While not at work they do not cost
anything. Human muscle and animal
muscle require to be kept up by con.
stant food and care. Improved ma
chinery does more work, and general.
ly better work, and often cheaper
work.
We do not hesitate to use up-to-date
gins and presses. The cotton-planter
has almost entirely substituted hand.
planting. The oil-mill has become q
necessity. The travelling thresher and
cleaner are everywhere recognized and
welcomed. Little by little machinery
asserts its claims. The question real.
ly is not shall we use machinery? but
how much shall we use il?
This is the age of improved machln-
cry. Inventive genius is active and
constantly offering new implements.
The up-to-date farmer must use up.
to-date tools. The extensive use OF
hay presses would revolutionize south.
ern farming. The horse-rake and
mower can hardly be done without.
Manufacturers, railroad men and
every other branch of industry keep
right up with every new improvement
in their respective lines.
Farmers must do the same.
The successful use of improved I'M.
plements requires higher order OF
intelligence than the average farm la
borer has.
So wherever we look W efind the
farmer needs more education. He
needs to know something of many
things, and much of one hing. He
needs special education about farming
The schools should give him the
groundwork and the colleges the
higher training. We need educated
meE on the farms all over the south
We should see that the coming genar
alton are better prepared than the
present
As those now running the farms car
not go to school, the best they can dc
is to learn by reading and by coop
eratiye organizations.
Farmers institutes should be or
ganized in every community.
BY reading southern farm journa
| of high order you can keep up will
the rapid improvements in agricul
tural lines of all sorts. We say south
ern journal because you need home
paper. Much that is good in northern
publications for that section is not Al
all suited to southern farms.
We should try to find out what viii
help us to make our farms pay better
Experience compared with experience
is very helpful in this matter Get to
gcther in the institutes and compar,
plans and discuss methods. Find on
the best and pursue these.
In every community there are somC
successful men. Almost every mar
succeeds in some one thing. Palkini
over these things together will be 1
good schooling.
When the seasons are so differcn
from the ordinary, we need to thinl
and to study and to change our plan!
to suit the changed conditions. Where
we have been plowing deep, we mus
now plow very shallow. Instead of th'
two-horse plow and subsoiler, we neeC
now use the harrow. Light, swift cul
tivation will be in order this spring
Repeated harrowings will hasten thu
growth of the crops which have start
ed so late and need to be pushed for
ward.-Southern Cultivator.