The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-12-09

cllltate ana naSCen 1eT aCt3luIHeut VI d
prosperity and happiness more exalted,
more general, and more permanent, than
has ever been witnessed within her bor-
ders. That the Legislature will cheerful
ly co operate in all legitimate efforts to
bring about this desirable result-the i'm
provement of our agriculture-i cannot
permit myself to doubt. The formation
of societies of practical farmers, meeting
together periodically, to communicate and
| contrast the results of their experience and
experiments, adds the additional stimulus
! of emulation to efforts OF improvement
and excellence. 1 would suggest that an
appropriation be made, to be apportioned
among the different Counties which may
raise an equivalent sum, to be distributed
as premiums to those who may excel in
the different branches of their profession,
but particularly in the deep and thorough
breaking up and pulverization of the soil,
which is of primary Importance, and to
the neglect of which much of our waste
of labor and of land may be attributed.
The substitution of thorough tillage for
the superficial scraping and scratching OF
the soil now so generally practlced, IS the
6rst step to improvement and success, and
this truth cannot be too forcibly impressed
upon the minds of the farmers, and espe-
cially of those who have but recently
become proprietors or occupants of land
on their own account. This will make
many an acre now thrown out as "old
fields, productive and valuable, and ena-
bic the thrifty and industrious farmer to
procure homes at comparatively small
expense, the products of which will con-
tribute materially to the support of their
families. Some legislation seems to be
necessary for the prevention OF the burn
I ing of the woods, practice not only dan
| gerous in itself, and injurious to timber,
fencing and the soil, but largely RESPONSE
BILE for noticeable changes in our climate,
for the increased lateness and severity OF
seasons, and fol the long and exhausting
droughts, which are yearly becoming
more disastrous. History, both ancient
and modern, contains many examples of
the pernicious results of denuding coun-
try of its timber; and by men of intelli'
gence it has been deemed that the too
general telling of the woods is the most
destructive among the many causes of the
physical deterioration of the earth. Its
mischievous effects in our own section are
already observable, not only III our pro-
tracted droughts and late spring frosts,
| and IN the washing out of the soluble
portion of our soil, but in the drying up
of springs and rivulets, and the destruc-
tioa OF orr upland pastures, many of which
during the summer months afford neither
water nor herbage for cattle. In the
State of Iowa the planting of trees is en-
couraged by law by which the farmer is
released from taxation for ten years on
one hundred dollars valuation for every
acre of forest trees planted; ana for each
acre of fruit trees planted from a taxation
of fifty dollars valuation for five years !;
and similar provision for fruit trees and
hedges along the highways.
Sheep husbandry is an important source
/ of wealth to the farmer, for which we
have many facilities and advantages. Fhe
principal obstacle to its successful pursuit
is the multitude of dogs by which many
neighborhoods are infested. 1t may be
we'll to inquire whether the numbers of
these pestilent ours may not be advanta
geousiy diminished by holding their own
ers to a strict accountability for the often
ces and depredations committed by them;
and, as there is seldom necessity for more
than one about dwelling, salutary in
fuence may be exercised by imposing dis
eliminating tax on all above that number,
increasing the ratio Of taxation with each
additional dog; thus, for second dog in q
family, two dollars for a third, three
dollars; and 80 proportionately. This
would have a tendency to reduce the
number of dogs, and to economize the
amount of food now wasted on them,
while it would enable the breeders of
sheep to increase the numbers of that
valuable animal, and thus to substitute
producers of food and clothing for con-
sumers and destroyers of both.
THE RIVER FISHERIES.
AS valuable adjunct to agriculture in
the production of food, l deem it my du.
" to call your attention to the impor-
lance of adopting measures for the resto-
ration of our river fisheries. 1t is within
the recollection of many when the Savan-
nab, the Santee and the Pee Dee, and
their numerous tributaries, yielded annu.
ally generous tribute Of savory and nu-
trilious food from tho swarming fisheries
along their shores, and when shad were
sold in Columbia market at twcnty for a
dollar. Now they are seldom seen unless
brought from distance, and are sold at
ten times the former prices, placing them
beyond the means of the poor, to whom
they were an every day article of cheap
and wholesome food, and limiting them,
as luxury, to the rich. From the great
er number of our rivers they are com.
pIetely banished. Of the truth of this
statement, and of the cause of it, Iquote
the following testimony of highly in
tellgent and influential gentlemen, who