Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-01-09
For the Yorkvllle Enquirer.
FAIRFIELD CORRESPONDENTS.


Messs Editors: 1t may seem late day to re-
port local items in regard to the crops of the past
year, but the years operations are drawing to a
close and we give few notes in reference to them.
In our vicinity (more properly "Brice's Store"
than Youngesvile; though the latter is the nearest
post offce) the number of field laborers is but a
small fraction less than before the war. This re-
mark applies to 1866, to which VIC allude for the
sake of comparison, as well as to the present year.
The crop of cotton made is about twice as large as
the crop of last year, and half as large as that Of
1860. The corn crop is less than an average OF
years before the war, and perhaps, double that Of
last year. though it is difficult to state the exact
ratio; for while e'o did not buy corn this year,
others did not mako enough last year to serve them
till the end of this year. Some men have had to
buy corn this year who have been farming forty
years, and never bought bushel before. know
of but one case in our community where lien was
given on the growing crop.
About the usual quantity of land has been seeded
with wheat though abouta month later than usual,
in consequence of the difficulty in gathering crop,
heavy by comparison. A few are still putting in
wheat The weather has been very favorable fol
this grain The quantity raised here, is usually o.
bout three or four bushels per head of the popula-
tion.
Lands rent from two to five dollars per acre.
Very little land has been sold since the war. A
few lots, of from fifty to one hundred acres, have
been bought at ten dollars per acre. We hear oi
some, little farther off, selling at six, by the will Of
both parties. It is frequently remarked on ''sale
day." that 'and rents higher than it sells" )" The
truth continued in this remark, is easily accounted
for. Few men who have haen purchasers, are in,
clined to buy teoer are able to buy, and when one
buys plantation that has been used, or rather a.
bused under the old system, he gets much that is
worse than valuelcss, much that is of no value un
til it is improved at considerable additional cost,
and little that is ready for cultivation, yet he pays
for every acre. When he rents, he generally pays
for what he can use the rent is to be paid from the
crop to be raised upon it, and necessity makes q
man act as though he were hopeful for one year.
Pork is raised sparingly on the larger plantations
less than formerly on the smaller and less bacon Is
used generally. We are becoming more economi-
CAL
DECEMBER, 26--The weather is very warm.
Christmas is over The holidays are very quiet.
It is frequently remarked that mirth and jollity,
once the accomplishments of Christmas, are giving
place to sobriety. The reasonis obvious. A large
class are now encountered with cares that formerly
had few others are busy planning and projecting,
who formerly could do these things beforehand.
All are concerned about settling for the past, and
contracting for the coming year.
Iyet remember, with pleasure, my feelings on the
evening of the 25th of December for long period,
including the latter part Of boyhood and the first Of
manhood. 10th to part with the day to which
had long looked forward with so high anticipations,
would SEEK about sunset, some retired spot and
there indulge in calm sweet melancholy that made
me love to linger gazinga the eastern twilight, till
darkness made me tear myself away.
DECEMBER, 3l-Weather not so hot as 26th,
27than 2Sth-mixed rain and seet falling started
out on business connected with the transition state
Did not think that the weather would be so bad,
but proceeded, and soon found myself encased in
| "a coat of mail that need not fear,
| The downward point Of many spear"
My beard was like that of q statue; but in three
hours reached comfortable fire, melted off, en-
oyed the intercourse of my friends, transacted my
business, and returned home on January lst, 1868.
Found thirty-six pounds of tea from the Great A,
merican Tea Company awaiting my arrival for dis,
tribution it costs from sl.Oo to $3.50 per pound
Expense of delivering IA cents, and is pronounced
by the best judges elegant. This company is nc
humbug. If the young nen choose to visit the
young ladies of our community, at tea-time, they
will get secondary treat in the shape of a cup Of
tea They have acted handsomely in this respect
for the last two years, and have taken quite num-
Der of our young ladies, but we have few more
left 'of the same sort.
Closing for the present, I promise you some fur,
thcr dottings when anything of interest occurs.