Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-07-19

fence, and made a pasture for themselves. A
mighty revolution of thoughts and feelings IN
one short year, was that! But this year they
ara happy in having the great enclosure ex-
tended far beyond them. And many such
like cases have We.
|, Is. When moving for the change many, OF
US held it as theory that the stock law would
enable many to hold on to farms from which
the old fence law was about to drive them.
Now we are happy to know that we we're net
mistaken. Almost every neighburheod fur
nishes one or more cases to the point: Take
one as fair sample !: Nj H.;owns abont sixty
acres. He had cut his last rail tree to repair
bis fencing. His neighbors-tbe brothers
CHAD talked the matter over, not very Sc.
cretly, that he could not ."hold the fort pueh
longer !" that the place would be Of very little
use to any one who did not have adjoining
land that they wonld get it at last and divide
it in certain manner between themselves.
But the stock law came to the rescue of H.;
aud the brothers G., who favored the law,
have candidly acknowledged that "that game
is spoiled. .,..l ,sI.a
On the same principle, the law facilitates the
dividing up oflsrge old farms, now unwieldy
and Improbable to their owners. Many. Of
these have several hundred acres Of cleared
land, all in one body and skirting around
this, in one place, thirty; in another Fifty; in
another seventy and in another one hundred
acres of woodland. These, with some. Of the
old field, could be readily sold under the fence
law system. But the owner cannot do that,
because it would render more than half of his
land, practically, worthless. The stock law,
however, has begun change already. There
are men who prefer an exhausted old field
that is pretty level and clear of stumps and
stones-to the best heavily timbered forest.
There they can use the improved implements
of culture And they claim that with the
same outlay Of labor, they can pay for their
fertilizers and lay up more money than they
could clearing land, rolling logs, and burning
them for dozen Of years, hitching on roots,
and hoeing around trees and stumps. Hence,
there is arising class of enterprising farmers
who, if not able to buy plantation, Will buy
field. Now, far less Importance is attached
to having land all in one body than was for.
merly, if only there is road from one place
to another.
6. As to the grasses, I have this to say: /
have rode about little this spring and sum
lner, and being one of the pioneers in the grass
business, / have noticed carefully the clover,
millet and lucerne (Which is the best of all
the forage plants) that have been sown; and
I feel that hazard nothing in saying that
for every acre FIVE or six years ago, there. are
twenty now. 1t is true the stock law has
made these necessity. But human nature is
curious thing. It is hard to get up out of
the old ruts Ourjudgment may be we'll con.
vinced that some change should be made;
still, we need something to push US little be.
fore we will move. Ten years ago there were
very few among us who did not say that we
ought to SOW clover, and peas, and corn, and
such like But nine-tenths of our farmers did
not do it. 1t was so much easier to run in the
old rut. Now, however, since the change has
forced them out of it, no one regrets having
made grass lot of any kind. All say it is
the best investment they have; and many
wonder that they did not get at it before.
7. Asto the improvement of stock, it is too
soon for marked results. But even those who
oppose the change unite with others in the
opinion that, as the matter Is now completely
under control, it will be as easy and far more
profitable to have good stock than bad.
There are yet many things which would
like to say but this communication is already
so long that you will never read it, unless you
are an enthusiastic stock law man. I would
say, however, don't be discouraged. You will
he sure to get it, though you may he defeated
the first trial We were at the first election;
and in some of the townships at the second. 1
never knew anything more unpopular, when
first mentioned; never, anything to make
friends so fast. Were it at all practicable.
would be much pleased to spend few weeks
in my old mother State and help to canvass
for this thing. was identified with the
movement here, from the first. and wrote sew.
eral articles for the county papers. have
studied the subject. think 1 understand it.
Tfyou cannot carry the State, 60 it by coun-
ties you cannot carry county. 60 into it
by townships Take old rails and fence a sin
gle township, if two or more cannot go togeth-
er. You will never have the fence to repair.
The adjoining townships having seen the work.
ing of it for one or two years, will come in.
1t worked so here. Yours truly,
A. Ransom.