Year: 1877

straw and rich surface earth, until all oul
wants are supplied.


But there is another branch of the sub
ject to which must refer. There are GER
tain plants possessed of great value for fer
tilizing purposes. Those now used among
us are, first, the cotton plant of which we
use the seed and stalks, secondly the pea
plant, and thirdly the weed which naturally
succeeds cultivation. AS to the first we
need not descant upon its value; it is already
appreciated. Nor is it necessary to urge its
production for the purposes of manure
We supply ourselves with che seed in our
efforts to produce the staple. will only
say that every good farmer husbands his
cotton seed rs he does his corn, and uses
all he can get for manure. But as to pea
crop tor manure We need some urging WI
have here crop unsurpassed by any other.
Very rich in Nitrogen and Potash and Phos-
pilates, tap rooted plant, deriving large
portion Of its nourishment from the air, it
is admirably adapted to gathering and stor-
ing away the elements of fertility which are
wanting in the soil. We have thought
we'll OF this crop as q food crop, but have
not appreciated it as means of restoring
fertility to the land. cannot too strongly
press upon you the importance in this re-
spect. Plant it; resist the entreaties of
those who advocate green lnanuring, and let
it fully mature; then consign it to the soil,
burying it we'll and you have applied what
is more valuable than five hundred pounds
Of the best commercial fertilizer with which
We are familiar.


But if you cannot spare SO large and so
valuable crop for manure, feed it off to
hogs and even by a steady rotation of cotton,
corn, small grain and peas, with the use Of
both homemade and commercial fertilizers,
We may rapidly improve our lands.


Aud now as to the weed crop, it is for
those who are willing, or perhaps arc una
bic to undertake the expense and labor of
planting and cultivating crop solely for
manure.


Rest portion of the land, and you will
get valuable crop sown by natures hand
and grown without mans labor.


You perceive that 1 have tried to be
practical in this essay. 1 might have told
you of many new theories for manure ma
king at home, of many new plants highly
recommended for improving land, but am
firm in the opinion that no plants have as
yet been found adapted to this locality,
Tts MheA ass Sss ana for @snpsnS
suggestions are such that our farmers may
adopt them without any violent changes in
their arrangements. They need not tear
up their stakes and begin anew. do not
believe all our former practices arc to be
condemned. 1t is now quite tho fashion to
denounce the Southern farmer. He is
called slothful improvident, unmethodical


He is told that if Northern man were
in his position, he would show him how to
be cnterprising and successful. The South
eruer is said to be all wrong in his meth
DDS and his opinions, and is exhorted to im-
itate the Northerner, or the Englishman or
even the Chinese. Have you noticed wheth-
or or not these monitors, often Southern
men, and farmers, are themselves eminently
successful with the plans they commend to
others? If not We will prefer to follow the
50cccssru rarmers wn0m we
know. We believe the Southern farmer
has done as well as any others could have
done under similar circumstances. DO our
citizens appear to disadvantage beside any
others when they occupy the same ground.
Do they in business circles in our great cit
les? Do they in our armies as soldiers 2
Do they in our halls of Legislation as states
men ? Do they in the colleges of the land
as students? {? If not let US stop this self.
depreciation, and with confidence in our
selves and in our God who made us the equals
ofany others, let us copy after none, but work
out our own methods and go on bravely to
success


"Is THIS SEAT OCCUPIED ?"-An old
but vigorous looking gentleman, seemingly
from the rural districts, got into a car and
walked its full length without receiving an
invitation to sit down. Approaching one
gentleman, who had whole bench to him
self, he asked "Is this scat occupied Pr
eyes, sir, it is," impertinently replied the
other. "Well," replied the broad shoulder
aI ooxricn 1kursak Ill La, kl.1 nook ..s:l