Newspapers / The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, … / Oct. 12, 1906, edition 1 / Page 6
Part of The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
r Our Farm Department | I Devoted to the Interest of Those Who W Till the Soil m M CONDUCTED ?Y J. M. BEATY | I The Young Man's Chance. In a recent interview. Thomas A. Edison, the great inventor, declared that there is a better chance for the young man of to day than there was when he was young. This idea is contrary to the oft-expressed opinion that the young man is now held down by the great corporations and business monopolies. Mr. Edison is right. He is quoted in Pearson's Magizine as follows: "I can't for the life of me un derstand why any one in the United States should think that the poor man's chance for suc cess is less than it used to be. It's just the other way; no doubt about it. I would rather begin now as a poor boy than to start again in the conditions which surrounded my early life. The world is crying for men of intelli gence. It is searching for them everywhere. The door of oppor tunity is open as it has never been open before, for men who have even a fraction above what is necessary for a routine muscu lar task. This is a golden age for men of brains, even a little brains, and I'd rather, much rather, take my chances now, without a friend, or a dollar in my pocket than to go back even twenty years." No one realizes the truth of Mr. Edison's statement unless he has had the responsibility of hiring labor and has discovered how great is the demand and how limited is the "visible sup ply" of "brains, even a little brains." farmers experience tnis situa tion no less than do other em ployers. See the great mass of men now coming to help harvest the crop! How few there are who show ability to use their beads as well as their muscles. Farming in recent years has be come a business so completely requiring skilled labor tha'.j more and more, it is found that j there is no room on the farm for 1 the tramp and the bungler. "Brains, even a little brains," command a price, therefore, in the agricultural markets where mere brawn is a positive detri ment to the work. Better a boy with a knowledge of machinery and of stock, than a dozen braw ny men fresh from the city curb stone. In the mass of harvest helpers will be found a percentage of earnest, honest, faithful workers ?men who are willing and able to do what they have learned by experience to do?they have been told how, have done it and there- j fore know what is deeind. But: how very few there are with auy j initiative or power to go ahead ? and plan even a simple part of the work! How fewer still there ate on whom the farmer dare put the responsibility of taking a j field ami deciding when it should j be harvested, how it should be | handled and protected ami threshed. This, then, is an object lesson for the young man m the couu try teaching that "the world is crying for men of intelligence." iSays the Honorable II. C. Ad ams, the farmer Cougrrsaman from Wisconsin: "Farming has become an occupation for brains as well as muscle. Inventive geuius has turned the business bottom upward and inside out during the last fiftv. years. The true philosophic spirit which first saw day in Lord bacon is turn ing a flood of 1 ight upon every principle uud detail of the farm er's vocation, from the process of plant life to the killing of po tato bugs. That spirit of in (juirv, of research, of painstaking investigation, is constantly at work, undermining and blowiug up popular humbugs, laying firmly and deeply iu right reason aflft sound sense the foundations of agricultural science, and run-1 ning leads in every direction for | the golden grains of truth that 1 may enrich and beautify the farmer's profession. For farm ing is a profession. I know places where "it is almost a sin to have a new idea." But in this country, where intelligent | labor is honored, and where la boratories and colleges and ex-; periment stations and newspa- i pers and the active brains of the I i farmers themselves are constant ly moving the business to a high er and broader plane, it is a pro fession of such importance and | such possibilities that no man should take its name lightly. It1 requires health, energy, knowl- j edge, sense and grit to be a good farmer. And if any young fel- j low asks my advice about mak ing farming his vocation, I ask him, "Are you man enough? If not, don't; but go and be a law yer or a doctor or a preacher or j something of that sort."?North- j western Agriculturist. A Better Contract With Our Tenants. Working our farms with J "standing wages hands" is fast becoming a thing of the past.! The greater part of our negroes much prefer to work "on shares" as they term it, or to rent the land The majority of our farm ers have been very lax in their methods of making contracts. A mere verbal agreement was entered into, where by the land lord was to furnish so many acres of land to be cultivated on shares, or for so many pounds of lint cotton. Very few land- 1 lords have any definite under standing as to how this land is to be kept up; how fertilized; how plowed and cultivated and what crops were to be planted. The idea has been for the negro to plant and make all the cotton possible and this was all. Now we think the time has arrived for a radical change, and according to our best judgment should be executed something like this: 1. There should be u written i contract. The negro is free and while the majority do nothing but abuse tbis freedom, still we had as well begin to adjust our methods to tbis condition and 1 treat with him as a free agent, but put proper anil necessary re strictions upon him. Noone can enter upon a contract with an other without assuming certain conditions, and these conditions should be clearly set forth and their fulfillment duly demanded. 'J. The preservation of the soil should be deiuan led and a forfeit for all failure to keep up terraces and such safeguards fill- ] ly agreed upon. Some system looking to the rotation of crops should ulso be demanded. 4. Just how much was to be furnished as the work on the crop progressed should also be clearly set forth If any one cau suggest otheror | offer a better form of contract! our columns are open to them. We so often hear men making remarks like these: "I would like to farm if 1 could control labor." ''I cau not get a negro to | take auy care of the laud." "1 cannot make them work like I want to," etc.. aud there is a universal complaint of the un satisfactory condition of negro labor. Now the question arises who is going to rule? If we will tamely submit we will certainly i)u run over. We may have more or less c'ash by undertak ing to have a rat ional agreement, but as we conceive it, tie ours to dictate the term* and then it is left with them to accept or not. The sooner we begin som? ra tional system, the better for both parties. We are fully aware there are many farmers of that forceful character that simply rule on their premises, and they have been enabled to get along well, but others are not constitu ted this way and they suffer. The strong should help the weak, and those who can do without a writteb contract should use one to help their neighbors. All oth er countries have a system and we must have one too, if we wish the best results in our farm oper ations. We admire the example of Mr. J. C. Stribling, of Pendle ton, 8. C. He sayB no tenant can stay on his land that will not agree to sow down one third of his land every year, or carry out a regular three-year rotation of grain, corn and cot ton. This is good business; in the end it will be beneficial to .Mr. Stribling, to his land and to the negro tenant. Of course,our negro laborers are going to get worse and worse each year as long as we submit more and more to their trifling and care less ways. It is simply a ques tion of who is going to dictate-; terms. We do not advocate wronging the negro in any way, but if we are to dwell together in unity and for the upbuilding of our agricultural interest, then we must begin a more rational and exacting system of demands upon them for the proper carry ing out all labor contracts. We call upon every reader of the! Cultivator not to make tradeH for another year without a writ ten contract, and put it in there how they are to improve the! land, about terraces, rocks, stumps, gullies, galled spots and what they are to plant and how they are to cultivate it. It is a littie trouble but it will pay both i ways?it will pay in calling your attention more closely to the needs of your land and it will pay in getting the negro to do some better. We do not claim it will be a "royal road;" there will J be many obstacles to overcome, but it is certainly a road leading in the right direction.?Southern Cultivator. If you have lost your boyhood spirits, courage and confidence of youth, we offer you new life, I fresh courage and freedom from ill health in Hollister'jf Rocky I Mountain Tea. 85 cents, Tea or [ Tablets.?Hood Bros The Labor Question in the South. We 11 nd in an Alabama news- j paper, the Abbeville News, the following paragraph: The present number of farmers in this section will be reduced another year quite largely. We have heard of several who say that they shall undertake to j farm no longer, because they can get no help to either make or gather a crop, and it is useless i to undertake it by themselves, j and will go at something else. I Their lauds they will rent or letj go uncultivated. There is very j little encouragement tothefarm-! er, or the one who has not suf ticient help of his own It is im possible to employ labor for the Barm. I The labor question is always, in farming communities, a ques tion of great interest, and it is especially so in the South. There is this year a erv for more men from every wheat tieid and corn field in the West. Now the cry comes from the cotton regions. There is no question, we think, that before the Southern States can secure the best results there will have to be immigration, voluntary or induced by local organizations. Moreover, there will have to be a recognition of the fact that a! small farm well tilled is better; than a large ferrn half ueglected. j The Southern farmer needs to j increase the product per acre, j per man and per mule. Thereare; regions in the South where large I plantations,conducted like some! great factory, will always hold their own against the small farmer and intensive farming; but these great plantations will have to arrange for a more re liable labor element than they j have yet been able to command, j Experiments have been madei with different classes of labor, and just now the Italian laborer is attracting a good deal of at-1 tention and arousing opposition iu certain quarters. If the Italian j farmer comes froui the agricul-l bural districts of Italy there is' t>very reason to believe that he , will make a good American farm ?r. If he is drawn from the towns of Italy or of America where be has failed tc make a living there s little reason to suppose that! he can make a livingonthefarm. The law* of the United States do not permit the importation of contract labor This would prevent the importation of any large number of foreigners for anv specific work Itut the South needs labor, and the labor of the world needs the land. The ftlture of Southern ag riculture largely depends upon the success of the Southern States in attracting farm laborers, men who want to buy small farms, men who would rent or men who would work for wages One class will seek one section aud raise one crop. Others will be drawn bv other attractions to other sections. Again, the Southern farmer must increase his labor saving implements. tie must use the mechauical devices for the cultivation, handling and harvesting of crops. The greater the scarcity of labor, the greater J the necessity for labor-saving! implements.?Home aud Farm. To The Cotton Farmers. The truth is comingout. There is no bumper cotton crop. It is now doubtful if there will even be hu average yield. Spinner? have big order* and are getting nervous. Sit steady in the boat. Sell your conon sparingly and the victory is won ? I'he CottoD Journal, <>ct. 4, 1906 NOTICE Took up at my house about April the 20, 1906, one white and yellow spotted cow, mark all in right ear, horns sawed off close. One black and white spotted heifer yearling, no mark. Own er can get them by coming after thorn and paying for feed. This September 28rd, 1906. Nathan En?is, R. P. D. No. J, Benson, N. C. I am unloading a car of An chor Brand Lime this week. I will be glad to see those who may need lime. I also have Brick and Hair for sale. XV. M. Sanders. FOR BOTH One disease of thinness in children is scrofula; in adults, consumption. Both have poor blood ; both need more fat. These diseases thrive on lean ness. Fat is the best means of overcoming them; cod liver oil makes the best and healthiest1 fat and SCOTT'S EMULSION is the easiest and most effective form of cod liver oil. Here's a - natural order of things that j ( shows why Scott's Emulsion is j j of so much value in all cases of I scrofula and consumption. More i fat. more weight, moie nourish- I ment, that's whv. Send for free sample. SCOTT & BOWNE, Chemists , W-415 Pearl Street, New York 1 50c. and $1.00 t: tt :* AU druggist* ' New Home Machines I am still agent for the light running Now Homo Sewing Ma chines. If you need one write to me. Mr. J. H. Easom is with me and can carry one to you. J. M. BEATY. Smlthfield. N. C r THERE IS A REASON FOR CHEWING REYNOLDS' SUN .CURED TOBACCO Chewers becoming tired of heavily sweetened sun cured tobaccos caused REYNOLDS' SUN CURED to quick ly win from the old brands of much longer standing the place as favorite with sun cured chewers, because it contains iust enough proper sweetening and fla voring to preserve the quality of the leaf and enhance its goodness, causing a large increase in the demand for sun cured tobaccos. REYNOLDS' SUN CURED is not only pure sun cured, but it is made from choice selections of the genuine sun cured leaf grown where the best sun cured tobacco grows. It is like that you formerly got, costing from 60c. to $1.00 per pound, and is sold at 50c. per pound in 5c. cuts; strictly 10c. plugs, and is the best value in sun cured tobacco that can be produced for chewers. R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO CO. Winston-Salem, N. C. n??i?n iiwm ??? ? INSURANCE! Home People!! v Home Company!! The North State Fire Insurance Co., of Greensboro, N. C.. is backed and managed by North Carolinians, with ? ASHLEY HORNE, President. A policy in this home company is a guarut-ee of Protec ? tion. *iLet me insure your property at once in this strong, conservat've company. Sam T. Honeycutt. Taxes Now Due I will attend at the following times and places to collect the County, State, School and Special Taxes for the year 1906. The privilege Tax on Lawyers, Doctors and Dentists is due and must be paid by November 1st. Clayton Township, at Clayton, Thursday. Oct. 1*. 1906; Cleveland Township, at Old Shelter, Friday. Oct. 19; Pleasant Grove Township, at Cross Roads, Saturday, Oct. 20; Elevation Township, at Elevation, Monday, Oct. 22; Banner Township, at Benson, Tuesday, Oct. 23; Meadow Township, at Peacock'sX Roads, Wednesday, Oct. 24. tientonsville Township, at Bentouville, Thursday, Oct. 25; Ingrams Township, at Four Oaks, Friday, Oct. 26; Boon Hill Township, at Princeton, Saturday, Oct. 27; Pine Level Township, at Pine Level, Monday, October 29. Beulah Township, at Kenly, Tuesday, October 30; O'Neal's Township, at Hare's Store, Wednesday, Oct. 31; Wilders Township, at Archer, Thursday, November 1; Smithfield Township, at Smithtield, Friday, November 2; Selma Township, at Selma, Saturday, November 3; Wilson's Mills Township, at Wilson'* Mills, Monday, Nov. 5. Be sure to pay your tax before Jan. 1st, 1907?Unpaid laxcs will be sent out for collection and will be subject to cost. The books will be kepi open at Smithfield all the time, and taxes for any township may be paid there. J. T. ELLINGTON. Sheriff Johnston Co. Goods at Cost. I have decided to quit the mercantile business and for the next sixty days and longer if necessary I shall sell my entire stock of Dry Goods. Shoes, Hats. Notions and General Merchandise except Groceries at Cost. My stock consists of everything usually kept iu a first-class stock of General Merchandise. I have bargains for all who come and now is the time to come and do your trading. A full line of Groceries all the time on hand. Come to see me. My store is for rent; possession to be given January 1st. JOHIN T. COLE, FOl'R OAKS. N. C.
The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 12, 1906, edition 1
6
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75