The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1913-11-07
Farmers Letter.
BY CAPT. TIE. PECK
a*&&*tt%s*St$%*& s$****a*x.

and more the Importance Of d
better knowledge by the farmers
Of modern practical methods in
farm practice. we see our pop
ulation increasing without pro-
portionate increase in production.
We see the various enterprises
other than farming demanding
labor and, by their thorough or.
! ganization and management, in-
creasing the producing capacity
Of the labor they employ SO that
they can afford to pay prices for
labor thatare prohibitive TO the
farmer who fails to intelligently
direct the labor on his farm to
increase lits producing capacity
proportionately. ''''' !
In the past, and at present,
too many of our farmers, while
they applaud the splendid sys-
TEN, thorough understanding
and organization Of the working
force in public institutions. act
IS though Sit1were not worth con.
sidering il their own business.
Now, brother farmer, we must
! realize that to be . success farm.
ing must be given the same
thought. the same thorough or.
gahization, the same attention
toAietail necessary mother lines
Of work II we hone to succeed.
We have had an unusual sea.
son this.year for growing crops.
While the rainfall has been
about up to the normal and am.
pie for the growing Of normal
crops, yetsit has been irregular
+, and we haveAbeen tlnprepared to
{ conserve the moisture that has
fallen, and our unpreparedness
has cost Us dearly.
Since ! have been connected
with che Department Of Agricul.
tnre / have been emphasizing in
J every:way 4 could The import
ance Of deep blowing, turning
under vegetable matter, subsoil.
ing, thorough pulverizing, keep.
ing dust mulch on the land
during the growing season and
/ cover crop during the winter sea
son. Those who have done so
have had q decided advantage
over those whoshave not. They
have conserved their moisture,
they have made available plant
food 10 their soil, they have pre-.
vented their land from washing,
and just in proportion to the ex.
tent they follow those directions
will their advantages Increase.
We have some striking exam,
Piles IN several counties in Mid.
die Tennessee where they have
done the simple things suggest
ed There Is not a farmer today
that cannot do so, and no one
can dc 80 without profit to him
selfin proportion to the thorough
ness Of his work. ta@.1 Y ~
Now, I know you cannot right.
~ cultivate as many acres as you
can scratch over, but I can guar.
ontee thatiyou can get more crop
and profit On the few acres you
prepare and cultivate right than
the many acres you scratch over
and put in shape to wash away.
! wish the farmers could get it
into their heads that it is more
profitable ITO. them to pile up
their acres than to spread them
out; that there is more profit in
caltivating ,one acre with ten
inches Of fertile soil than in two
OF three acres, with five inches
Of . hungry soil; that eighty &C.
res Of q deep rich soil are more
profitable to cultivate than 100
acres of q shallow soil, with an
impervious hardpan to run off
oil the moisture that falls on it.
! wish the farmers Of ,Tennes-
s.e would understand that their
soils are similar to their bank ac-
counts--that if they take out Of
them all the time and put moth
ipg back, it is but question Of