The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-16
SUCCESSFUL FARMER.
Story of Mr.. j ]. Laugnipghouse of Grimes
land, Modern Instance.

To the Editor: 1t has been said and
experience has taught its accuracy that
if the farmer would apply the same dill
gence and system to his operations on
the farm as the successful merchant.
al man success would more often prove
the rule than the exception.
Tor some vars past / have been in a
position TO observe the operations of
most of the farmers of the eastern part
of the State. and while do not claim to
be an agricultural critic. l have seen
enough to justify me in drawing the con-
clusion that loose, careless and shiftless
methods on the farm are, not any more
productive of good results than in any
other profession or calling of man.
We have here in the county of Pitt,
| numbers of successful farmers men
who are making money farming by hard
work perseverance and the application
of sound principles to their methods, yet
on the other hand we have numbers of
failures attributable in the majority of
cases to careless, Indifferent and aimless
methods.
| want to cite one instance that has
come under my personal observation
wherein farming. even on very large
scale through an, era of unprecedented
scarcity of very trifling labor, has been
made a very profitable industry.
A good many years ago. Mr. J. J..
Laughinghouse. ofs Grimesland, Pitt
county realized that cotton could not
be made q profitable crop at the pre-
vailing prices. He. therefore, abandon
ed cotton culture entirely and com
menced growing tobacco as his sole
money crop
His first work was to secure first
class tenants who thoroughly understood
tobacco culture. then from the beginning
by his open, frank and candid conduct
with them he inspired their confidence
and respect.
This was his first step toward sue
cess and while at the time he COM
menced tobacco was selling "a great deal
better than in subsequent years, yet he
has never planted any other money crop
except tobacco and through an era of
extremely low prices, by diligence and
industry and the application of sound
principles he has made some money
every year. even in the face of reverses,
and some severe ones.
The object of this article. however. is
to recte his operations last year, and to
show what can be accomplished on the
farm by the use Of brains and energy.
Mr.. Laughinghouse last year planted
enc hundred and sixty acres in tobacco.
entirely on the tenant system, from
which he sold a little over twenty thou
CO.. An tlN5e lNo
has grown sufficient corn. fodder and
feed stuffs for a fifteen horse farm and
raised pork enough to supply this farm
thrce-fourths Of the year.
Mr. Laughinghouse employs the tenant
system because the lumber and milling
interest of his section is so extensive
that labor cannot be secured except at
eXorbtant prices. His tenant system, |
however. is Very thoroughly systema
iized. In word. that entire farm is
just as much under his personal super
vision as if the tenants were hired He |
has nothing but verbal contract with |
them and he has never had to discharge |
one yet. has not had but ono to leave |
him in twelve years and there are a |
number working with him now that
commenced with him in 1869, old ex- |
slaves of his father
His tobacco land is thoroughly pre-
pared before planting by breaking deep !
with a horse plow and crossing with |
disk harrow. He has anano made to |
analyze per cent ammonia, 4 per cent !
phosphorie acid and 6 per cent potash |
He says he long ago learned that tobac- |
co required more potash and less phos- |
phoric acid than was found in the or0i- |
nary tobacco guano. and as q result OF J