The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-09-24
Fup HE HERALD.

TH st.t. Planters 3f H"Wbrriy.
MIR EDlToR-I have been planting in this
County for twcnty-one years, and there never
was in that time such failure in crops. The
oat crop was i fair one, but so small in area.
it amounted 10 but litllc-the wheat crop was
next to nothing, and the corn is complete
failure. There Will not be enough made to
feed man and beast as they should befed ur-
til the lst ofJanuary next, The cotton crop
will fall short Of last years crop L; least one
four,h-many will not make this. If half as
much The calamity is upon us and the
question is what arc we 10 do? Shall we
sell off at present prices what little cotton we
will make and pay i; all out for bread and
meat, and go on eacI year in the same way?
There is in my opinion but one Way out OF
the present difficulty. Sell off what cotton
you arc compelled 10 let go, and hold the
rest, Is the price will be forced up by the
scarcity. The crop is failure, hot only here
but throughout the cotton belt. 1t Is impoS-
Sible to make cotton crop with the fall o..
rain we have had during the past year, and
particularly during the cotton making season.
I was told by friend not long since, who
kept an accurate account of it, that it Was
forty eight inches from 1st September, 70 to
1st of September, '73. We have been unable
to stand i. here where Our lands require
great deal of rain in summer. South and
and West of us tile rains have been death 10
the crop, producing rust, rot, catterpiars,
and boil worms. These pests are most disa5-
trous this year, as there is very little early
fruit, and the crop will be very short.
Now to the main question, how to get out
Of the difficulty. First, gather all the forage
you can-the crop of hay Is fine. If you
keep your racks filled with it you Will not
need SO much corn during the winter Look
TO your barley lots at once. Put in one half
acre for each work animal, commencing
now and sowing one lot every two weeks ur-
ill December. There is 10 feed equal to bar
ley in the Spring for work animals. There
is nothing they are so fond of. BY sowing
succession Of lots you can use it from March
to June, then thresh out and use it as corn.
Next put in four acres OF oats, one half black,
the other red or white. for each animal
This will come in when the barley gives out,
and if we'll done and harvested properly will
make next years crop with very little corn
for the work teams. Next put in one half
acre Of wheat, if you can, one acre will
be better, to each laborer on the farm. If
we'll put in we will soon have very little else
to do as there is but little to gather, i: will
well nigh feed the people on each place, with
good gardens and turnip patches, &C.
Do these things and you will save your
teams running through the mud and clay
this winter and next spring to Newberry,
wearing themselves ont hauling corn. Be-
sides you will be able TO hold some of your
cotton and get good price for il, and best
of all the money will be yours when you get
it, to be applied as you wish in material in
provemcntS or otherwise. am not simply
writing these things, shall practice them as
far as can.
Iremaiu yours, very respectfully,
ELLISON S. KETrT.