The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-19

vens.l
Crops and Freedmen.
A correspondent OF the Laurens-
vile Herald. who has been travelling
IN the up-conntry Districts, sends to
that paper the following notes as to
the crops and the working of the
freedmen:
One morning, last week, I took
the road leading from Laurens C.
Fl. to Rabun's Greek Church, thir-
teen miles from tho Court House;
from there ] struck for Anderson's
Store, and there across the country
to Reedy River. and passed into the
neighborhood of Cedar Fails, on the
West side Of Reedy River. I spent
whole day in that section of tho Dis
trict-Greenvilie ie-and saw a large
number of the citizens from both
sides Of the river, and up in the Sec
ton watered by some creeks that
empty into Reedy River, not far dis
tant above Cedar Falls. conversed
freely with them all, and made special
inquiries into the matter of crops
and the conduct of the freedmen and
the general condition Of the country.
l then passed across the river at the
ridge above the falls, and came down
on the Eastern side OF the river, until
l again came into my old route at
Anderson's Store. found that the
farmers were generally disappointed
i'll respect to the wheat crop, as they
now think the wheat will be much
better than was anticipated some
weeks hack; the rust has not injured
it scarcely, but the heavy rains and
hard winds have prevented the heads
from filling out to some extent But
on the land sowed it is thought, by
nearly all, there will be from half
to u two-thirds of a full crop. 1t is
thought there will probably be suf-
ficient to supply the country, but
none for exportation
The corn crop it is necessary to di-
vide into two sections, in order to
examine it satisfactorily-into up
land and bottom corn. On the up-
land, the corn is generally looking
"ell--has good, healthy appearance,
and IS evidently growing rapidly.
but it is from twenty days to two
weeks behind ordinary years; the late
spring and the long continued rains
this spring have operated against it,
but the hot sun of the last few davs
has improved it materially.
The bottom corn is ''nowhere:"
the heavy rains have caused the
streams to overflow their banks, and
have kept them so wet that the corn
can't grow, and tho bud worm has
cut down the corn so often that some
persons have planted their bottoms
three times l saw some bottoms
where there had not been a furrow
run ia them -lncc the corn WIS
planted, and the corn and wees were
III IL perfect mass OH the ground: and
the season is how So far advanced
that IT is thought highly impossible
THAT a crop could be made on the
bottoms. even if the rains should
Cease The conclusion is, that there
Will be 40 corn made to spare, and il
is even doubted if there will be enough
made to supply tho country. Corn
- now worth 81 per bushel. and I
should not be surprised If i should
be 50 next fall.
The cotton crop can DO disposed o!
i'll few words. 1t is very small, and
a great deal of it is abad stand, owing
10 old seed aud the wet, cool wea
thcr. Some farmers have become so
discouraged by the appearance of the
cotton that they have plowed it up
and planted corn. The oats crop is
onl$' tolerable. The oats We're badly
killed out by the late frosts. and q
z Cd many fields will not be cut at
AL. but will be given up to stock.
Iha freedmen are generally doing
t"lerably well, but not working with
the activity and zeal Of former times;
but the opinion of every one I met
III this District is, that they are doing
a great deal better since the garrison
has been removed. They are more
contented, and more willing to labor.
and there is Il great deal more hurmo-
ny between the two classes. II would
be much to the advantage OF the
whole conntry if those in authority
would understand this.