Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1913-07-11
FARafRS OF TENNESSEE
Live Stock Essential for Maine
tanning Fertility Of Soil
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a great many FARMERS are undeT
the impression that they are pros
pering, and their friends think
they are making money, when, in
fact, they are growing poorer
every year. They grow good
crops. they live comfortably, there
is an air Of prosperity about Sham,
but when the real conition is
shown it will reveal the fact that
they are really growing poorer.
To illustrate: / have ten thous-
and dollars which | place in the
bank and as | need money | check
on my capital at the bank. | can.
live along comfortably for a time,
but after awhile my capital will
be exhausted. Just so with a
great majority of our farmers to-
day. Their capital is invested in
farm lands, they grow and market
crops year after year, each crop
taking some of the plant food out
of their soil; the system Of farm
ing they practice takes away plant
food, the fertility of their farms
and returns nothing to the soil.
The same thing happens to the
soil that happens to the bank ac-
count when all is taken out and
nothing is returned. Both will be
exhausted in time.
You all know farmers who are
doing just such farming and every
one, 50 far as his farm is concerned
is poorer each successive year, If
we could get our farmers to realize
this, they would want to change
their system of farming and adopt
one that would give them a profit
and at the same time build up
their soils. They can do so by
giving the proper attention to the
live stock industry. Tennessee is
rightfully the home of that in
dustry and the sooner our farmers
get to appreciate our advantages
for producing live stock and the
importance of returning vegetable
matter to our soils, the. sooner we
will stop a losing game and 90 to
making a real profit on our work.
We should get fixed in our minds
the Fundamental principle and first
lw for successful agriculture to
cultivate the soil. When we do
this our lands will grow richer
with intelligent handling. Our
crops will be better and the farmer
will really be making money in
stead Of simply living off his CAPT.
tai.
Conditions are all favorable for
Tennessee farmers engaging in the
live stock industry. The western
grazing land is growing Jess every
year. Because of the vast areas
Of level land, they can farm with
labor-saving machinery and make
crops at less proportionate cost.
! They have not yet learned the
lesson we have learned, that we
can exhaust the humus in our soils,
and the need of live stock in our
spstem Of farming to rebuild the
soil. Our forefathers thought the
same about their lands, but we
have learned better. We can
afford to let the western farmer
grow his grain crop for market.
While live stock are 50 much in
demand at fancy prices we have
an opportunity to make money and
rebuild our land at the same time.
If we are going to raise live
stock, let US 60 at it right. Blood
will tell. Let's get good blood.
| 1t does not matter 50 much in
cattle if you are raising for beef,
whether you select the Shorthorn,
Angus, or the Hereford. But de,
eide on the breed, then get 4
thoroughbred with goodindividua
points. And let not every farmer
select a different breed; but let
the farmers in a community agree