The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1919-04-04
PERMANENT AGRICULTURE.


PERMANENT AGRICULTURE.
In his admirable address to the
farmers assembled at the Indiana
Live Stock Rally, recently held at In
iianoplis, Gov. Frank o. Lowden, of
Illinois, gave emphasis to the doctrine
that The Herald has urged in season
and out. He declared that perma-
nent agriculture in America must be
based on live stock. 1t ought to re-
quire little argument to convince Maui
ny county farmers that this statement
cannot be successfully controverted.
This statement is supported by the
historic experience of all foremost ma
lions. In this section where nature
has been unusually lavish in endow-
ing the lands with water and pastur-
age we are sadly missing our oppor-
tunity IL we neglect live stock farm
ing. It is truly the basis of our per-
manent system of soil building and
soil maintenance.
1t is refreshing when the governor
OF a great state, one of the leading
statesmen of the country, evinces an
intelligent grasp of fundamental agri-
cultural problems. Gov. Lowden
knows the life and the language of
the farm. He knows how to farm and
he is proud to call himself farmer.
It is unfortunate that more men of the
broad understanding and splendid
abilities of Gov. Lowden are not taken
from the farm to serve in high public
places. The following extracts from
his notable address are given to the
farmers of Maury county to reinforce
what this paper so often says:
Men everywhere are beginning to
realize that we must have better ag-
riculture if we are to meet the de-
riands for food which are already
upon us. We at last are learning that
we cannot forever substract from the
soil, adding nothing to it, without hav-
ing impoverished fields. We used to
feel that mans land was his own,
to do with as he would. We begin to
see now that there are limitations
upon this right. Land does not be.
long to one generation. alone. 1t be-
longs to all the generations of men.
We have no right SO. to farm our own
land as to pauperize the generations
to come. No farmer can feel that his
life has been rightly lived unless at
its end he can feel that the land he
has held is the better for his kindly
care.
ANY system of farm tenantry
which results in the depreciation of
the soil will have to go. In the fu-
ture no form of farm tenure will be
permitted unless that form insures
the highest possible production of
food. Great nations have sunk to de-
cay because of the neglect of their
land. OF all forms of conservation
conservation of the soil is the most
important. A permanent agriculture
SO planned as indefinitely to maintain
the fertility of the soil is demanded if
the nation is to endure. The surest
and easiest way in which we can
maintain, and even improve, the pro
ductiveness of our lands is by turn.
ing more and more to live stock. The
BREEDER of good cattle, therefore, helps
to permanent agriculture, and is
among the most useful Of men. Go
wherever you will the most prosper.
GUS communities, with the best homes
and best farm improvements and the
largest production of the fields, are
found where live stock has received
the greatest care. We have heri
tage rich beyond compare. Unless
we shall hand down our farms to our
successors unimpaired in their rich
ness, we shall have lived at the ex
pense of our children, and all who
come after us. Unless, too, we shall
preserve an orderly government, bas
ed upon the principle of equal
opportunity to all, our rich fields, our
Increased fiocks, will be of no value. y