Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-02-03
For the Keomcc Courier.
PESDLEroN, Jan. 2G,

whether or not they shall continue the use of
commercial fertilizers, at the present and
prospective price of cotton. | propose to
contribute something, in addition to my for.
mer communication on that subject, to your
columns.
| said, in the article referred to, that it,
with the application of manure, your land
will, in its increased production, pny for the
manure over aud above its natural produc
ton; or, without manure-or words to that
effect, the article is not before met would
b. safe aud paying Investment. Because,
in the use Of permanent manurcs, your land
is left improved Instead of being in some de
gree exhausted, as it must be BY the rroduc.
tion Of every crop without the application Of
manure. And you have, in addition to your
increased cotton crop, an additional supply
of cotton seed to apply to your next cotton or
other crop as manure. And every practical
farmer knows its value, either on cotton, corn
or wheat. never could spare it to my COWS
my land claims all have to spare.
Since writing the article referred to above,
! have read number Of certificates from re-
liable and respectable planters, from which |
ain forced to the conclusion, that with the use
of reliable fertilizers, at even t,co cents, will
pay for the Investment, in addition to what
our best lands will produce without them.
Companies Offering fertilizers for sale have
reduced their prices, as they think, q hardly
think cnoush,) in proportion to the decline in
the price of cotton But, Mr.. Editor, what
shall VIC say of the noble, generous hearted
railroad companies ?-thc Greenvillc and Co.
lambia Company especially, who have prom.
isci great things on purchasing the stock for
almost nothing, and have performed mono of
them. In Georgia, the railroad companies
carry fertilizers for half the price, or less, of
othcs articles But, our G. and 9. Company,
especially, instead Of reducing the freight in
proportion to the reduction in price, have
seized upon the occasion and raised their
freight two dollars on the ton, making our
freight now to Pcndeton eight instead of six
dollars per ton as heretofore. The South
Carolina Railroad, VIC understand, has not
risen in former prices, nor has she fallen as
she should have done, with due regard to the
interests of the agricultural community, from
whom she derives principally her support
But, Mr. Editor, have extended my pre-
)iminary remarks much further than was in
tended when took my pen in hand to ad
dress you, and, more especially, to transcribe,
FOR the benefit of our farmers and planters,
an article on the subject Of manures, from
number of the Boston Journal Of Chemistry,
loaned me by friend. The editor of the
Journal is az fit on the subject, having had
mnny years Of observation, and extended
practical experiment in the employment of
fertilizers.
EXTRACT.]
"To THE PooR FARMER.-It is difficult
- repress feeling of indignation, when we
learn of the numerous ways and methods by
Whiah hus5andmen are cheate ], confused and
hindercd in their work They are defraudcd
ny those who furnish them with fertilizing
agents, and those who purchase farm pro-
ducts; they.a are confused by the conflicting
statements of those who presume to advise re
gardng the best method Of cultivating the
soil, and hndcred by being lead to try expo.
riments which can only result in failure It
is true indeed, that all the industrial classes
are deceived and annoyed, more or less in
their dealings and intercourse with men; but
it is certain that the farming community ex.
periences more losses and annoyanccs than
any other class. Every wide awake farmer
is naturally desirous Of increasing his crops,
and hence he is ready to listen to advice or
engage in undertakings which appear plaus-
BILE or hopeful. He is ready to resort to any
expedient which will enable him to restore
fertility to his fields. Hence he becomes an
easy victim to charlatans and cheats
"Our thoughts have been more especially
drawn in this direction by some recent inves.
,igations into the character of certain agents
largely used as fertilizers, which has hitherto
passed unsuspected through the channels of
trade.
"Jnle,ched wood ashes, when pure, are of
the highest service to farmers and gardeners,
and they are diligently sought for by almost
evory ono who has lands. to till. Hitherto.
as they have come into market, the quality
has hardly been made subject of inquiry; but
,nanifestly, they should no longer pass unchal.
lcnged. Specimens ofdryashos, sold as those
I Of wood, have recently been brought to us,