Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-09-18


ron rnS AnuKvuLs rekss.
Cowssauer, September 10, tses.
Mn. Epron: nuring the past week
have fulfilled the various appointments
made through the columns Of tho District,
papers, as Canvasser Of this Congressional
District. Whether I have "aided or abet.
ted" tho cause of Democracy, the 81 ofI
November next must tell.
In my i,inernncy saw mud heard much
Ses ss ii plseter, both favorably
as4k5x sejbieed to see genes-
IBijsS sisona aapi ipcane 10 tie
opinion two-,hi,ds Of a good crop will be-
made. Preparations were being made for
largo crops Of small grain; much moro
Sorghum aud Imphee was seen than
anticipated; and but seldom did I see
remunera,ive crop of corn. Is It not amaz.
ing that our planters are so welded 10 this
everlasting corn crop, that they will sink
money year By year attempting to grow i,
when aIl nature, the land, seasons and tie
yield tell them il is not the forage crop
adapted TO this latitude? Land that will
not average eighteen bushels Of corn per
acre sinks the planter money if grown in
corn. One'third goes to the laborer, one
third to the mule for the next year, and
all the other third (if less than eighteen
bushels per acre be madc) is consumed in
wear, and tear, and rent, and tools. and
seed, &c. How many uplund plantations
in Abhcville District average eighteen
bushels per acre? Not one.
l may be asked, what substitute do you
proposes Twill venture 10 suggest one
for my fellow-planters, and If my advice
is followed, and with ordinary seasons, if
the result is not more profitable than tho
present corn crop, will pay the difference
For each plo" anima! on the plantation,
select half acre of stiff red land or strong
grey land. Enrich this half acre with
commercial manures, or stable manure, or
cow-house and pig-pen manure, or the
scranings Of The woodward. .ash-Eonpers.
each half acre, and cross plow it, and if
possible subsoil it by the 18th October, and
then SOW, plow in, and harrow or brush,
one bushe Of clean barley to each half
acre. AS soon in March as the grain is
high enough to cut with pocket knife, 90
TO work on it. Before the mule or horse
has consumed the cutting from the half
acre, that first cut will bo high enough to
cut again. Before jointing it may be cut
all over twice, and then allowed to head
:and ripen, when harvesting will probably
yield twenty or thirty bushels per acre. IF
cutesit once, forty bushels may be lar-
vested. The grain soaked overnight, in
salt water, is fed as a substitute for both
corn and fodder. The green barley is
equal TO feed of fodder and one-fourh
or one-third Of the usual corn feed. Try
1T, one and all Of you.
/ have no barley seed for sale.
Throughout tho entire circuit of the
District which I made, saw but twelve
new rails, and they we:e split from old
field pine saplings, aud put on top of a
rotten fence TO keep out stock that sup
posed had begun jumping. Nor did see
clean fence corner or rebuilt fence, and
much to my regret, dilapidalion seemed to
be the order of the day.
Why is this, fellow planters I'll tel!
you. 1t is because you have entered into
the copartnership business in making your
crops with an inferior race Buy your
labor asyou would your sugar and coff, e,
and you will always find tine to repair,
rebuild>snd renew.
j hSuhopod, Mr.. Editor, that last sale.
day would have given US a Panter's Asso-
citation in the District that could and would
have secured unity of action on these and
other matters of vital Importance to them;
butnot so.s Our planters appear to be de,
termined 10 carry the busl,el of meal in
one end of+the Tag and rock in the other
awhile longer. Yours truly,
= D. WYATT. AIKEN.
Legislative Il