The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-11-21
BETTER FARMING METHODS.


r. }. Merriam in Tri-State Farmer.
1T is only a question of time when
better farming methods will be forced
upon the farmers of the South. The
price of land in this section is bound to
advance as its productive capacity and
many other advantages become better
know If the present farmers retain
the ownership of their farms, larger
and more profitable crops will have 20
be gown, or else others will come in
and take their places, while they will
be rclcgatcd to the position Of wage
carners.
The best intellect of our Southland
has been directed toward the cities.
Farming is looked down upon as a
manual occupation beneath the dignity
of a Southern gentleman. The negro
has been considered good enough to
grow cotton and corn. lie did this
work in antc-bcllum days, and he should
do ii now. The few Southern gentle
men who tried TO continue farming un-
der the new regime, but with the old
methods, have seen their lands slipping
from their grasp into that of the city
capitalist with the inevitable conclusion
on their part that the city was The
place to live and make money. The
old place was rented out to 90 to rack
and ruin, while the family moved to
town, often to live in extremely
Strengthened circumstances.
And SO the tenant class, composed
mostly of negroes, has grown larger
and larger IN the Southern States, un-
til now they compose over half our
farm population. Our agriculture
languishes for the want OF intelligent
directing; the brains of the South, in
stead OF being used for the production
Of new wealth, is applied to swapping
dollars, the changing of money from
one mans pocket to that of another.
These city people are very enthusiast.
lc when you mention agriculture. En-.
thusiastic for some one else to 90 into
it. Their heart is still with the soil.
but they are afraid to venture on the
land themselves. This simply ilu-
strates their ignorance Of what intclli-
gent farming can be made to pay, and
what delightfully."- independent life it
is. If they are SO fortunate as to make
money in the city they very often in
vest in farm near by, and hire some
ignoramus to spend their money for
them. Here they exploit their theories,
lose their money and become more than
ever convinced that farming will not
pay.
The want Of exact knowledge Of sci
cntiiic methods in farming, both with
the real and would-be tillcrs Of the soil
is most dcplorable; as IS also the scar.
city of opportunity for acquiring this
knowledge.
One of the encouraging signs of the
times is that people are beginning tC
recognize the fact that profitable farm.
ing cannot be done by main strength
and stupidncss, and that requires &
practical and scientific knowledge o
the business, the same as in other call
ings, in order to succeed. The ncccs
| sity for education along this line is
recognized fact, and efforts are beins
made in some States to introduce tn,
elementary branches of agriculture in
TO the public schools, and laws hav,
already been passed by the Legislature
Of several States to this effect. Here
tofore the whole tendency of our schoo
and college courses have been &
| educate the child away from the farm
and cultivate a taste for literary, pro
fcssional or business life.
Fortunately perhaps for the happi
ness Of the human race, the great ma
jority are compelled 10 live by physica
as well as mental toll, and when w
come to contrast the different calling
into wh'yn the exercises of musci
goes, how infinitely superior life on tin
'arm appears. Here man is an in
dependent being, free to exercise hi
mental faculties and not reduced to
mere machine like The toilers in tn
city. Moreover, he must exercise hi
mental faculties If he would succeed.
Agriculture is calling to-day for me
OF brains, and the exercise of this brai
force on farming is destined TO revolt
iionize the industry and transform q
occupation once looked down upon, il
, to the most honorable and desirable
professions. To hasten this end "
must have agricultural education N
only in the country but in the cite
so that the hundreds now living
want in our cities may be encouraged
venture upon the land. A larger choi
5 of occupation is what our boys nee
and chance to learn how To condu
8 it proftably.
4 We cry out against country boys 9
a ing TO the city. Why not give the CT
Q boys chance TO go to the countr