State Convention—Grass is King. 
379 
also derive equal benefits from the stock, or other half of the farm, 
which has, in this case, been playing second fiddle to the grain or 
wheat-fields. If, however, this same farmer had devoted the entire 
farm to stock and dairy, and bought his wheat from the nearest 
idiot who is in the wheat-growing business exclusive^, the result, 
under first-class management, would be that the yield or net profit 
(apart from the increase of stock, which, of itself, is worth more 
than the entire profits of the farm under the simple or exclusive 
wheat-treatment) of the whole farm, would represent a sum per 
acre greater than that which is expressed in the estimated revenue 
of a wheat crop of twenty bushels pm* acre, which is only attainable, 
without robbery of valuable constituents in the soil, by a high and 
honorable system of cultivation. 
The wheat-culture of the west, like the cotton and tobacco-cult¬ 
ure of the south, has impoverished the soil and diminished its pro¬ 
ductiveness to a serious degree; but the south had this advantage 
over the west—that one pound of its products would sell in the 
markets of Europe or America for more than could be realized from 
ten pounds of western cereals; and, therefore, with easy access to 
and by river and ocean navigation, could be delivered at any of the 
seaports or large markets of the world at less cost than western 
farmers incur in sending wheat and corn across a single State by 
land transportation. It is far easier to keep the body in health by 
a proper observance of the constitutions upon which it is enjoyed, 
than to restore shattered conditions, by a liberal use of buchu, or 
by compulsory abstinence from strong and nutritious diet. The 
soil seems to possess many of the qualities of human nature; as it 
returns generous benefits for good treatment, and dispenses its 
favors most liberally to its best friends; and, like a genuine Irish¬ 
man, while it literally “ kicks up a dust ” under prolonged abuse, 
especially if kept too long under the influence of rye, hops, tobac¬ 
co, or other exhausting and debilitating aliens to sound agriculture; 
it never seems so lovely and glorious as, when u wearing the green.” 
Land, like man, may lose that tone, equilibrium, or vitality which 
is necessary to imbibe or derive strength from what, under better 
circumstances, might contribute vigor and restore soundness. Dys¬ 
pepsia is only a “ flag-station ” on the road between health and 
death; and the sterility, barrenness, or unproductiveness of land 
that has long been ill-treated, should admonish everyone that 
