The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-06-03
MISSISSIPPI CORRESPONDENCE.
TYHo, MARSHALL County, MISS,
May %, 1869.

|
Editor IntelAigencer Permit me to send you a
short report of the crops and prospects of farm
ers in this part of our Southern land. I left An
derson O. H. on the 9th last Jaauarya and reached
Tyro on the 18th, safe and sound, after very
pleasant trip. found almost every farmer INK
ious to employ hands, none being fully supplied,
and very many entirely without Every one
seemed surprised that there were so few freedmen
to hire, and such very small number endeavor-
ing TO secure homes and employment for the year.
Where they have all gone to we can't tell, but
they are becoming quite scarce in this part of the
world. heard on old farmer remark not long
since, etha. this county alone needed five thou
| sand hands" This gentleman knows something
| Of the wants Of the people, and 1 have no doubt
| his estimate was below the mark, foe there are
hundreds of asres of good land lying out aud
growing up in weeds and briars thss would pso-
duce fine cotton and corn if well cultivated Peo-
pie, too have concluded 10 plant smaller amount
to the band and cultivate i. better than they have
done heretofore. Many are experimenting with
guano this year, something they have never been
able to do before; some are procuring improved
farming implements; some sub-soiling their
land, '.a small portion, as an experiment"
This all looks encouraging, but We have had
most unfavorable Spring for farming operations,
and crops are more backward than were ever
known in this country before. Continuous rainy
and cold weather kept the farmers back, and the
few who succeeded in planting early have to plant
fov fbo ri of tim
crop in this vicinity is under ground, not up The
cotton that is up looks uncommonly unpromsing,
and is dying very fast, owing to the cool nights,
suppose.
Our corn crop is looking well, and 1 hope will
continue so. think the people intend to cuti-
fear the crop planted is rather smaller than usual,
and if better culture does not fill our cribs, corn
will be scarce another year.
Wheat has been greatly damaged by the contin-
uous wet weather, and looks unpromising. Half
crop is hardly expected Some fields are blasted,
and look yellow at distance. This will be
great loss to this county, for the wheat e1-
pected to help out the corn, and large crop was
planted last fall.
Now, Mr.. Editor, this is rather a gloomy &C.
count of our crops, but it is no worse than it
really is. We are going bravely on, however, and
are doing our best, and l hope as the weather
grows warmer our prospects may brighten, and
the poor farmer encouraged.
And now, Mr.. Editor, let me say q woru to the
many friends have in old Anderson, with whom
it is impossible for me to correspond in the usual
way have written to but few Of them, but
still remember them, and would write to each one
had the time. Won't some Of you write TO me !,
have not heard from home in month, and were
it not for the weekly visits of the Lntsltgencer,
would die with the blues. Mr.. Editor, try and
get some of my old friends to me. If you can't
do any better, get some of the girls to write.
jont know but had rather hear from them, any
how. l will at least promise to answer their let
ters.
Now, Mr.. Editor, to you and to them, I send
fond greeting and kind goodbye
ALFRED T. JONES.