Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-11-12

As time passes We realize more aud
more the importance OF a better kn0wl-
edge by the farmers OF modern practical
methods In farm practice We see our
population increasing without proper
tionate increase In production. We see
the various enterprises other than farm.
ing demanding labor and, by their thor
ough orguaziatidh aud management, iu-
crcasiug the producing capacity OF the
labor they employ so that they can ai-
ford 10 pay prices for labor that are
prohibitivc 90 the farmer who fails to
inteligently direct the labor on his
farm 10 increase he producing capacity
proportionatcly
In the past, aud at present, too many
OF our farmers, while they applaud the
splendid system, thorough understanding
and organization of the working force
In public institutions, act AS though it
were not worth considering ia their own
business Now, brother farmer, We must
realize that TO be a success farming
must wv NlN'H lN' 7hiNf lHNNEHbt INV
same thorough organization the same
attention 10 detail necessary in other
lines of work If We hope TO succeed
We have had am unusual season this
year for growing crops While the rain
fall has been about up to the normal
and ample for the growing Of normal
crops, yet it has been regular and We
have been unprepared 20 conserve the
moisture that has fallen and our UMPIRE,
pareduess has cost MS dearly.
Since ] have been CONNECTED with the
Department OF Agriculture have been
emphasizing in every way ] could the
Importance of deep blowing. turning I'M
der vegetable matter subsoiI.ug thor
ough pulverzng, keeping dust mulch
on the land during the growing season
and cover crop during the winter sea-
/ son. Those who have done so have had
a decided advantage over those who have
/ not. They have conserved their moist
ure, they have made available plant
food in their soil, they have prevented
/ their land from washing, and Just in
| proportion to the extent they follow
those directions win their advantages
increase.
We have some striking examples in
several counties in Middle Tennessee,
where they have done the simple things
suggested. There is not a farmer today
that can not do so, and no one can do
so without profit to himself in proper
ton to the thoroughness of his work.
Now, | know you can not rightly cul-
tiyate as many acres as you can scratch
over, but ! can guarantee that you will
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 mora profitable to them
to pile up their acres than to spread
them out that there is more profit in
cultivating one acre with ten inches OF
fertile soil than in two or three acres
with five inches of a hungry soil.
l wish our farmers could appreciate
the value of our climate and rainfall
and profit by them as they should. ON
climate enables any farmer who will to
grow a money crop during the summer
and a feeder crop for his soil during the
winter
i'll $50. for,,,o,. ,,,o,,I1 L., A., Gin,
pie practical things they can do, before
they waste time trying to solve prob
lens they are not ready for. Do not
worry about soil anylsis until you have
made available the plant food in youi
soil. Then by an examination of you;
crops you can better tell the deficient
elements Of plant food than by sol
analysis, because your soil does not run
uniform One hundred samples taker
from one hundred different places in {
ten-acre field would each vary in plant
food If we will turn under vegetabl,
matter, and subsoil, we will find We
have made available plant food ampl,
for profitable crop production and mucl
cheaper than by injudicious use of com
mercal fertilizer.
Thousands of dollars have been vast
ed by Tennessee farmers every year by
the unintellgent use of fertilizers, no
because the fertilizers were not all tina
was claimed for them, but the farmers
using them did not give the fertilizer {
chance to feed the crop, | donot car,
how good the fertilizer may be, the sol
conditions must be right to make tn
fertilizer available for plant food.
There is one more fundamental prin
ciple of agriculture that want to EN-
phasize, and that is, we must cutivat
the soil to grow crops to fed animals t.
feed the sol--thus completing the agri
cultural cycle law of nature that cal
not be violated without paying the pen
atty of depleted soils and decreased cro
productions We are paying that pen
atty now and until we grow more liv
stock on cur farms.
There was born on the farm of II