Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-04-15

matte or m alignant diseases. They are suoJec'
Ito rheumatism, pneumonia, pleurisy and catarrhal
diseases during tho winter, owing to the sudden
changes Of weather.
Farming is not conducted on very scientific
principles in this section. There being no rocks,
trees or stumps in this country, it is well adapted
to the use of all agricultural labor-saving ma
chimes, such as the buggy or gang plow, reapers'
mowers, &c. The modern improvements in agri-
culture are not extensively used here 1 have
seen eight yokes of oxen drawing ono plow. This
plow was constructed Ikea wagon, with three
beams and plows attached. These plows could be
raised and lowered at pleasure, by means of
fulcrum and lever.
There was a short crop of wheat made here last
year, and another is expected agnin this year, as
the grass.hoppers destroyed all the wheat that
had come up before they disappeared. The grass
hoppc-s made their ing-ess into Northern Texas
last fall, and destroyed all green vegetation
They came here through the air, and havc been
told the sun was obscursd by their numbers du-
ring the tmo they were coming. They remained
here few weeks, and having destroyed every
thing green, gradually disappeared. The farmers
could not finish sowing their wheat until the grass
hoppers left, as they would ca. the grain before
it could bo plowed in the ground. After the
grass-hoppers disappeared, some of the farmers
finished sowing wheat but it was so late that they
are fearful il has been killed by the extreme cold
weather since Christmas. In all my travels through
this country could not SEQ any wheat in the
fields whore it had been planted. Il travelled
through the wheat section during the first of Feb.)
These fnc prairie lands can bc bought from S3.OO
to $500 per acre, according to improvements. 4
This is not the country for person of small
capital, to 1.-Two sy, with little labor; but to the
capitalist who energy, spirit, ambition, and
ingenuity to develop the profusion latent in this
mos. exuberant soil, it offers the most powerful
inducements.
suppose the country West of the Lower Cross
Timbsrs is also a desirable country, but the in
habitants of this section now subject to raids
from the Indians, who frequently carry off their
stock, commit murder, arson and other trains Of
evils at!which civilized people blush and shudder
There are few garrisoas of U s.troops stationed
On tho frontier, but they are very little protection
to the people. The red skins frequently mako
their raids into the interior without these troops
making any attampt to arrest them. That por-
ton of the State will never prosper, until some
more efficient plan shall be adopted, by the gene
ri government, to protect tho people from the
Indians.
The Grazos R;rcr country frcn the Lower Cross
Timbers South has splendid lard, we'll adapted to
the growth of cotton, but the cereals DO not grow
so we'll here. Out from the river this is also
prairie country interspersel with some timber.
have net been farther South than Robertson
County and know very little Of that portion of
tic State This section rhinestone County, is
near the dividiag line between the grain and cot
ton section, AMI both are cultivated to some cx-
tent hero. These people also raise considerably"
stock.
ta;uk thiI is the most desirable portion of the
State for immigrants from the old States, who
come hero With limited means and wish to live
casv. With little labor maa can raise his
provisions ,f all kinds and sufficient cotton to
purchase his family suppiits. This land produ-
ces from 90 to 20 bushels Of corn, and from
1000 lbs. to 1850 lbs: OF cotton per acre. Land is
worth from 50 10 $40 per aero here. improved
unimprovel lands can be bought cheaper There
is sufficient timber here for fencing purposes.
This will undoubtedly be a prosperous and desi-
rablc scc,icn in few years. as the Texas Central
Railroad will soon be running through here, and
the country in Texas always prospcrs where the
people can have IN easy outlet to market and
communication with the outer word.
Texas is certainly an ovcr-ratcd country, andi'
will not do to believe every pen and ink sketch
you may see concerning it. 1t seems enticing in.
deed (after reading fattcr;ng account Of the
stae) to view it with tho minds eye, but there i:
not SO much pleasure in the reality. Persons
coming here must not expect to find tho lEldorado
nor gardens OF Eden ready made for their rccep
ton. A great many people come here with theii
expectations 100 high, and are disappointed and
dissatisfied Persons from me old States will
meet with many petty annoyances and inconvc
nienccs here, which they will scon become accus
tou.cd to, if they nre determined to remain. Texas
is undoubtedly u great country, but man, tc
succecd and prosper here, must work, and wori
faithfully too. If he is content to merely make
support be can do that with very little labor
The people generally Of Texas have very little
energy, ngcnuity, or enterprise, and are for the
mos. par. careless, lazy and iudocnt. Most o
them in the up-country are satisfied to make I
few hundred bushels OF corn Or wheat and little
cotton, and let their net proceeds be derived from
their stock, bo that much or little.
We need industrious, enerprising, perseverint
men here to develop the resources of this country
The peop!c live very common owing altogether t
their Incidence and Indifference. The fewcst nsm
Der Of them have any milk or butter during th
winter, simply because it would be little trouble
! to keep up their cows ard feed them. bav
stopped with men in my travels who owned from
OOC to 5000 head of cattle, and they did not evcl
have milk to put in their coffee. Some of then
put up butter during the summer for winter use
but it is so rancid cannot eat it. These people
ara great coffee drinkers andhaye it at every meal
and frequently between times. Corn bread, ba
con and beef is their principal diet. Flour bren'
is very little used among the poor class. The.
pay very little attention to garden vegetables, no,
withstandins in some sections they could have
fine gardens as you will find anywhere. Irish AM
sweet potatoes grow very fine, and are cultivate'
to some extent
The majority of the people here have neye
considered then selves settled for life, and hav
not turned their attention to tho improvement o
their farms, nor the adornmcnt of thcir houses
yards or gardens Tho houses generally are @
] logs and some Of them are very inferior. Tn
! average intelligence of the people horo will com
pare favorably with that Of tho older States, bu
YOU will not find the education, refinement an
polish of manners among the masses here, tina