The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1911-09-15
To the Farmers Of Tennessee.
III
By CAPT T. F. PECK Commissioner of Agriculture

neSSee KNOW tnat we are especially !
favored in all; so we must look else
where for a reason why we are not |
producing as much of the various !
crops, per acre, as we produced ten
years ago.
While in some sections of the state !
we find farmers who are improving |
the land who are keeping abreast
of the progress in Agricultural
al science and methods we find in
other sections more who cling to the
methods Of their fathers; methods
that could be practiced then because
rich land was cheap and when field
was exhausted it could be abandoned
and fresh land cleared. Now, that
cannot be done and the sons have to
continue working the same lands that
become more exhausted of plant
food each year and as the humus in
the soil becomes exhausted with shall
low cultivation the ground washes
easily, yields smaller crops and only
failure can result.
1t has been shown that the run
down, neglected farms can be re-
claimed and produce a profit while do
ing So To do this requires intelli-
gence and energy, but | want to ask
what business can be successful with
out them. | want to say right here
that a man with a knowledge of farm
lands, subsoils and favorable natural
conditions, can make his time and
money earn more by selecting neglect
ed farms and improving them and sell
| ing again than he can in other
lines of business. | have repeatedly
bought neglected farm, improved them
and doubled my money on the invest
ment. This neglected land is not as
bad as it looks. In many cases where
it has been cropped at loss the
fault was in the method of cultivation,
or rather the lack of cultivation, In
the majority of cases the ground has
been cultivated too shollow; poorly
plowed, the soil not pulverized, work
ed when too wet, locking up the plant
food, added to that Indifference as tt
selecting seeds, then during the cul
tivating season allow such crops t
> wait too long between workings, ant
especially the farmers in the majorit,
1 of cases over crops themselves. Their,
4 is much land in the state that neglec
: is the worst charge that can b.
r brought against it. Buildings an
e fences have become delapidateC
briars, weeds and sprouts nave grow,
e briars, weeds ana sprouts have bee
u allow to grow unrestrained, expose
PAGES have been washed bare leavin
gals, drains have been choked wit
y rubbish; in fact there is nothing a
J. tractive in the prospect to the buye
u who is looking for neatness and orde
. but it is the opportunity for the ma
,. who knows soils and natural az
II vantages, because he knows that
IL can get rid CT the briars and brusl
L he can replace the buildings an
{ fences, he can reopen the drains, h
3 can heal the CALLED spots and he ca
u break up the hard pan with subso
u plows, thus turning an eyesore into
:, thing of beauty at a fraction of til
u cost of farm that had been INTEL
d gently handled and farm that undC
- same handling not so productive.
n watn to sally TO theft, ao,e en-
want to say to the educated your
II farmer who is looking for results fl
n your money, your technical trainir
10 and your energy that YOU will fir
% in the neglected farms of Tennessee
20 your opportunity for financial success
for yourself and opportunity to prov
is to the country that Tennessee's agl
% cultural advantages and possibiliti
Is are broader than in any other sta
% in the Union
lie We have discussed the nature, us,
)r and composition of soils Next wee
lie we will talk about the preservatiC
n and Improvement of soils.