Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-10-16
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FOR TIE COURIER.

mr. Etttfor In your Issue OF tho Zd IN
stant, | find n communication purporting
to be a "rcport ofthc committee on the cost
of producing corn and wheat" OF this
committee | know nothing farther than
sec from the Chairman, but presume that
there arc others; and that they were, per-
haps, appointed by the Walhalla Agricu-
tural Society AS | am a citizen of Pick
ems, and have an interest in common with
ali the good people of our fertile and grandly
picturesque and healthy district, and rs I
conceive that the report of this Committee
is erroneous, and calculated rather to lessen
than strengthen our bonds, cannot refrain
expressing my disopprobation of the cir
culation of such "pupcrs." had an idea
that the chief end of an agricultural socic-
ty was, to raise the district in the estima-
tion of outsiders, upon truthful representa-
tion of her farm products, stock, &C., re-
porting alone, that which was worthy
But to the report, its errors and conhictions.
First, we would ask the learned Chair
man by what scale of computation he makes
800 bushels of corn at 40 cts, S400. Sc
condly, how docs he make 5 bushels of
corn, at 70 cts, $500; and, thirdly, does
the corn on that so acres cost moro or less
than SO cents? If his figures are right,
then we need not send our children to teach
CTS who persist in using Smith, Fowler,
Looney on Smile, as the basis of their cal
culations. "The fault, dear Brutus, is not
in our books, but in ourselves"
The committee elaborate lcarncdly and
eloquontly, as to the destruction of our
"forcsts and groyes;" forgetting, perhaps,
just above, having given RS to understand
that upon that 80 acres, hands and an
ovcrsccr were employed! Only 10 acres
per hand, allowing the oversccr to walk
around with his hands folded, when less
than 20 acres per hand is small work. No
need, then, in that quarter, of the warning
"Woodman, spare that tree" So much,
then, for the errors and conAictions.
AS to the amount of corn per acre raised
upon our lowlands, the committee is, [ think,
about correct, but the calculation for prep
aration, If they do not mean us to rndcr-
stand clearing out and out is far too large
If merely cutting briars and sprouts, and
plowing in winter or spring one dollar and
fifty cents is high compensation. The
wheat crop in our district, as in all other
places, is uncertain; but havo never seen
the average put SO low as bushels per
acre be 'Nrc. / am inclined to think that 10
bushels is small average. find that in
some sections of the district, the crop is of
ten from 20 to 40 bushels per acre. think
as high, within 2 years past, as Al bushels
was reported to the Waihaiia Agricultural
Society, and within the same length of
time, as high as 06 bushels of corn was re-
ported as raised upon one acre, without cx-
ira pains or manure. Why need Seneca
CO., N. Y, Buncombe, or Charleston be cit
cd to US, when with their hest fertilizers,
and extra culture, but little more than this
has been raised? The oat crop, as set down
by the committee, is perhaps a fair average.
L lind that tho committee say nothing
about the fodder, as grown on that so acres.
Perhaps they are Of the opinion that it was
worth it to gather it. Grant it, but with
the same argument, would it not have been
cheaper to have bought the corn, wheat and
oats In our district many peas are made
--suihclent, on many farms, to fattcn their
pork, or nearly so. The way they arc usu-
ally cultivated, with the corn crop, nothing
is counted for the culture. This item, and
the fodder, should have been takon by the
committee. But they may say none was
raised: tholr may be said it was bad
farm to report upon. AS to the time the
hands may have been employed after the
gathering of the crop, nothing need be said
as all know the price of labor In Pickens,
and but few physicians bill. s'
The committee find, from an old and val.
liable work, note nearly out of print, the
"Patcnt Office Report,n that Gwhere the
greatest amount of labor is applied, there
is the greater yield" i must say to them
that if for nothing .elso in theirable lereport
! / am obliged, on my own account, for this
valuable discovery. 1t is reasonable, lucid
and plain-but cannot say that was aa
long aware that most things in this sphere
come TO us, only SIS the result Of diligen
and nnreinitted labor
! afn aware that much Is yetIto be don,
before we can stand at the head of the olde
Iegricultural districts, but shall not com
promit that We have less of the clements {,
| give us that place, than they, when tha
incentive of industry takes hold upon u,
1 al. II q 4