The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-25
SUCCESSFUL FARMER.
Story Of Mr.. J. J. Iaugnir ghouse. of Grimes
land, Modern Instance

To the Editor: It has been said and
experience has taught it's accuracy that
if the farmer would apply the same dill
gence and system to his operations on
the farm as tho successful merchant,
lawyer OF other business or profession
al man success would more often prove
the rule than the exception
For some vars past l have been in a
position to obCerve the operations of
most of the farmers of the eastern part
of the State, and while do not claim to
be an agricultural critic, | 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
eases to careless, indifferent and aimless
methods,
| want to cite one instance that has
come under my personal observation
wherein farming. even on a very large
scale, through an era of unprecedented
scarcity of very trifing labor, has been
made a very profitable industry.
good many years ago, Mr. J. J.
Laughinghouse, of Grilncsiand. Pitt
county. realized that cotton could not
be made a profitable crop at the pre-
Vailing prices. He, therefore, abandon
cd 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
mcnced 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 recjte 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
one hundred and sixty acres in tobacco.
entirely on the tenant system, from
which he sold little over twenty thou
sand dollars, and in addition to this he
has grown sufficient corn. fodder and
feed stuffs for fifteen horse farm and
raised pork enough TO supply this farm
three fourths of the year.
Mr.. clearinghouse employs the tenant
system because the lumber and milling
interest of his section is so extensive
that labor cannot be secured except at
exorbitant prices. His tenant system,
however, is very thoroughly systema-
tized. In a 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 one to leave
him in twelve years, and there are q
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 two-horse pillow and crossing with
a disk harrow. He has guano made to
analyZe 4 per cent ammonia, per cent
phosphoric acid and s 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 ordi-
nary tobacco guano. and as a result Of
the use Of this formula he has made on
an average of % per. cent more pounds
to the acre than the average farmer, and
as his tobacco was all sold on my ware
house floor | can attest the fact that he
has grown the largest quantity of the
finest wrappers of any one l ever knew.
The poorest tenant he had last year
cleared above all expenses one hundred
and fifty dollars, besides his corn, while
there were some who cleared as much
as ave hundred dollars. They all seem
to realize that the landlord knows best
what is for their mutual interest and
cheerfuliy leave everything to him. A