Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-08-20
horses, the driver standing erect on the top

| Next came the twO.horse corn planter Ihe
driver is seated as if on salky, but not so
high and another man, seated still lower,
does the dropping by means of a small lever
moved back and FORTH The corn falls into
burrows made by sharp runners that expand
into an open forlied shape in the rear. And
the covering is done by broad metallic wheels
that follow. This machine plants two rows
at once and does it far better than the old
hand process, provided the dropper is an
adept at the business. 1t is surprising how
exactly straight such dropper can make the
cross and much depends on this in the after
! culture.
THE CULTURE.
After planting the harrow was again used,
the seed being beneath its depth; and then
the corn plow, costing about $25. This con-
sists of a tongue, an axle, two wheels, two le-
vers attached loosely to the axle, each lever
forking into two downward prongs, on each
of which is adjusted shovel-four shovels in
all-and handle is adjusted to each lever
by which to direci and CONTROL the shovels.
The pow is drawn by span Of horses, one
on each side of the row. Plates of sheet iron
are adjusted between the shovels and the corn,
as Tenders to keep off the dirt from the small
corn but when the corn gets strong enough
to bear the dirt the tenders are taken of.
This plow, as you will perceive, makes four
burrows at once blowing row thoroughly at
every pass. In our smooth prairies there are
neither roots stones, nor other obstruction-
nothing to do but 60 right on. Hence man
can make large show Of work in a day, es-
pecially after the corn has become strong
enough rot to be injured. In one week my
son and his man with their two plows plowed
over the sixty.two acres once, and eleven acres
of it the second time. On one day they plow-
ed sixteen acres, and on another day eighteen
acres
PROBABLE YIELD.
The corn now looks very promising all over
this region; but it is yet too soon to count
bushels, except with wide margin of perad-
ventures. Should those marauding locusts,
that devastate the Northwestern border, be
sent upon US, wo to US! Should storms of
wind or hail beat down the towering corn, the
calamity would be sad. Or should all unu-
sually early frost he sent before the corn ma.
lures, that might injure the quality. Should
kind Providence ward off such calamities a
large yield may safely be looked for; but
were YOU to pass round amongst the farmers,
asking for their expectations, you would elicit
great diversity of guesses. One man would
try to keep within bounds by naming forty,
forty-6ve, or fifty bushels, as all average yield
per acre. Another would say fifty bushels at
least. And one of still more sanguine tenn
permanent, would name sixty bushels just as
confidently.
THE HUsKING
Will he heavy job on hand when the time
comes, provided no misfortune comes our way.
The farmers will need to employ good sup
ply of help, or there will be cold fingers before
all comes in. have now responded to your
inquiries as best l could giving the esti.
mates of other men in regard to probable
yield. But you had better come back about
the middle, or last Of October, and see for
yourself-would not wonder you would make
brisk husker.
We are now in the midst of wheat harvest !;
and since am the only clad" about the place,
it devolves on me to hurry away to the men
with.fresh water frequently. In view of this
fact, you need not be surprised to find this
communication rather disjointed.
Yours fraternally,
s s. RAISTON
Correspondence Of the Yorkville Enquirer.
LETTER FROM THE BLACK HILLS.
BLACK HILLS EXPEDITION, Aug. 2.
When l last wrote we were within sixty
miles of the Black Hills, but owing to the
unevenness Of the country we did not get into
the Hills until FIVE days after my letter was
written.
From what we have seen of the Black
Hills we are pretty we'll convinced that many
exaggerated stories have been told and misrep.
reservations made by the Indians in regard to
this region. Boundless forests of massive
pines have dwindled down into Insignificant
scrubs, such as grow in the old fields Of York
county, rarely exceeding twelve inches in d.
ameter. Grass in the valleys is good, but the
hills are bare. Springs of water are numer-
Gus, and water abundant but it is so strongly
impregnated with minerals Of various kinds
as to be almost entirely unfit for use, either
to drink or for culinary purposes. lnvalids
might appreciate the water, but soldiers suf.
feriug from thirst certainly do not. On the
10th, we found large spring of ice.cold
water, which had d delightful taste while
drinking it; but the moment one stopped
swallowing it very disagreeable and bitter
taste was left in the mouth, and in short
while thirst was greater than before drinking.
The mystery was easily explained. Beds Of
gypsum could be seen all along the bank, and
in some places it formed the entire surface of
the ground.
We were forced to camp at this place, as
our teams were unable to proceed further
without rest, the day having been very hot,
and the ground over which we had travelled
exceedingly rough, while it was uncertain
when we would next reach water.
The next days march proved to be long,
dry and hot. The lips of the men were
parched to such an extent that the slightest
movement of the mouth would cause the lips
to crack and bleed At the camp from which
am writing we have clear, cool water-pure
and with agreeable taste; but many of our
men are sick from the effects Of the water
drank the day previous. We remained at
this camp day to rest our animals, and to