The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-08-29
AGRICULTURAL.
FOR THE JOURNAL.

Mr.. Editor: 1t will, perhaps, interest
those who had the pleasure Of hearing the
admirable address Of Col. D. w. AIKEN, on
the 10th ult., to learn something of the con-
dition of his farm, and to ascertain whether
he puts in practice his own ideas. My OBJ
ject is two-fold: first, to give weight to what
he has said-secondly, to show that success
is competent on his line of argument. 1t is
a delicate matter to obtrude on the public
too much of the personal, for if there is any
thing run to death nowadays, it is its toa-
dying tendency. But when useful infor-
nation may be impaired, and thought stimu-
lated, good purpose may be subserved,
however close it may trench on the personal.
Happening, few days since, to be in his
neighborhood, Col. Aiken invited me to his
place, at which | arrived after an hours ride
from Cokesbury, about sun-down. Passing
along the route, my attention was directed
to number of good farms, with fine grow
ing crops, but no sooner did I approach his
house than saw around me, on either side
of the road, signs of. progress and improve
ment. These impressions were strengthen
ed next day and the succeeding, by an in
spection of his premises and farm. His
stables for his horses and COWS are models of
comfort and usefulness, combining all the
essentials for making and saving manure,
together with air, light and warmth for the
animals. His sheep pens are spacious and
most capitally arranged, with feeding places
in sufficient number for his now large and
increasing Aocks. His place for threshing
his grain is admirably fixed, and so situated
that the straw, as it falls from the machine,
is salted and packed away on either side,
for winter forage. His crib is model in
its way, also, and the bountiful supply Of
oats, barley and rye stored away in it betoken
the success of his small grain theory, while
his mules and horses Indicate their fattening
qualities His hogs have no special cover
ing. They can take refuge under his crib
in winter His breed is, the cross between the
Berkshire and Essex. He has Il Berkshire
boar, year old, imported from kentucky,
att cost of fifty dollars, when three months
pig. 1t is large hog, and promises to be d
monster He believes this cross is the hardi
est and best, their roofing and rough-and
tumble capacity being greater. lie has
about fifty head of cattle, as large number
as he cares to keep, owing to the difficulty
of feeding them during the winter, selling
them off when they increase beyond that
figure. His stock are cross Of Devons
Durhams with pure Ayrshrcs, and one Al
derney, (given him by Rev. Mr.. Boinest just
before his death He is now crossing them
with the Brahmin, having purchased, a few
months ago, fine bull from DR.. Peters, oi
Atlanta His Durham bull he then swap
ped with Mr. W. Watts, distant neighbor
for two Durham heifers His flock of sheep
now numbers one hundred and fifty, and are
crossed with the Mcrino, with sprinkling
of the pure Merino, there being no other
bucks than the pure Merino, it is becoming
better and better each year. Ho imported
from Pennsylvania two young bucks, which
he keeps in field to themselves, with thirty
of his choicest ewes. Several Of his neigh
bors and himself have dubbed together and
deputed Mr. Wash. Watts (who is reputed
to be authority on Sheep to go to Pennsyl
yania and purchase five hundred head of Me
rinoes this fall. They can be laid down al
cost of from five to six dollars head. As
q wool sheep, their reputation is the best
and when four or five years of age make fine
mutton. Their wool "a sample Of which
saw has peculiar greasy feeling about it
1t commands from forty to sixty cents in tho
market. IF my memory serves me Alright
Col. Aiken's last shearing brought him two
hundred and fifty dollars, and he did moi
sell the whole Of it. They are hardy and
easily minded AS fertilizers, they are in
valuable. He showed me land that had been
exhausted twenty FIVE years ago, that by
penning his sheep on, he had, in one season
brought to bear fine clover, and afterwards
good crops of barley and oats. During tho
summer, he pens his cattle and sheep on his
poorest lands Convenient to'his house, and
after mapuring spot, he breaks it up, turn,
ing under the coat they have deposited, and
then moves them to another. When he haa
four or five acres thus prepared by the Both
July, or 1st of August, he prepares them
thoroughly, and plants his turnips, which he
raises in great abundance for his cattle and
sheep during the winter. His average feed
for his cattle is one bushel Of turnips per
night to each, his sheep in proportion, CIV
ing them besides, an abundance of straw or
hay. It was refreshing sight to see his
stock-minders driving them up just before
sundown. The rich golden butter, and the
fine kids he gives his guests, bear evidence
to the utility of fine stock. He has but few
horses, among them couple of very good,
substantial two-year olds. His plantation is
divided off into separate farms. which are