The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-07-10
Marshall County.

The county of Marshall touches Tennes-
see on the north, and lies just south of
Shelby and Fayette counties in that State.
1t contains about 700 square miles of terri
tory, and population of upwards of 80, =
600, about equally divided between whites
and blacks. Having outlying spurs of the
Cumberland mountains traversing it, it is
mainly high and healthy region, no cpl
demic diseases having ever prevailed there.
SOIL.
The soil is mostly light, sandy loan
mingled with clay. The subsoil is mostly
clay, though in some places it is sand, The
valleys of the numerous creeks have soil
more or less alluvial.
TIMBER.
Black oak, red oak, post oak, blackjack,
chestnut, hickory, and other woods, are
found on the uplands. On the lOWlandS,
white oak, black walnut, elm, maple, sweet
gum black gum, hickory, poplar, buckeye,
plum, cherry, ash, and other woods. The
hazel, haw, black berry, dewberry, straw
berry, whOrtleberry. and other wild fruits,
are common on upland and lowland.
BOUNDARIES.
Talahatchie river waters the southern
boundary of the country. 1t is not now
Eavigated, although steamboats, formerly
assembled it as high as Wyatr near the south
ern corner of the county. 1t has numerous
tributaries flowing into it through the
county. Among the creeks whose waters
flow into Tallahatchie are Snow, Tippah,
| Chewalla, Spring, SaIlee, Oakchewalla, and
Black COldwater river rises in the north
east, and flows west ward through the coun-
! ty. Numerous creeks flow into it, among
the more important of which are Redbank,
| PigeonroOst and Cuffeewa- The county is
well watered.
THE NEW ORLEANS, CHICAGO AND ST. LOUIS
RAILROAD,
passes through the county from north to
south. Holly Springs, Waterford and Hue :
sOnville, are towns in the county on the line
of that road. The projected road from
Memphis to Selma will traverse the county
from west to east, crossing the other at
Holly Springs. This road is graded be-
tween Memphis and Holly Springs, dis
lance of forty-tive miles.
PRODUCTIONS.
The farm productions are mainly cotton
and corn. Peas, grains and grasses however,
do we'll. Glover, orchard, herds, blue, Ber-
muda, Lueerne, and other grasses, are sue
cessfully grown, though on small scale as
yet. The Bermuda is the only grass which
can be grazed in midsummer without risk OF
destroying. Oats, wheat, rye, barley. and
millet are successfully cultivated. L know
a small lotof clover and orchard grass that
has been regularly cut for eight years with
out replanting, and looks well. And
small field of Bermuda that has been cut
not less than three times a year for fifteen
years, in succession. On the best lands cot
ton will produce about $50 or 300 pounds
lint per acre, and corn about 40 bushels.
FRUITS.
Peaches, pears, apples, plums, cherries,
apricots, and other fruits grow and produce
in profusion. Peaches are especially fine.
In 1877, | gathered my first Amsden peach
June 9TH this year, 1881 gathered the first
May 18th. Many persons have enter ed
largely into the culture of fruit near Holly
Springs; and profits are very large and GER
tain. Grapes, straw berries, raspberries,
blackberries, and other small fruits, do well.
STOCK RAISING.
There are not many fine horses or fine
cattle. 1t is, however, fine stock region,
and few enterprislng farmers are taxing
an interest in improving the breeds. There
are some pure blood Jersey COWS, and many
graded ones. Swine are mostly of good
breeds, and do well. Sheep raising is also
quite profitable. There is, as yet, no cheese
or butter making, except on small scale
for the Holly Springs market.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
The free-Schools are numerous, well sup
ported and fairly successful, although they
are not OF as high a grade as it is hoped
they viii be. There are also a number Of
private high schools of the best description.
In Holly Springs there are Two girls col
legeS, well supported, one of them Protest
ant, the other Roman Catholic. Churches
of the various denominations are mum err
Gus.
There has not been developed much man
ufacturing enterprise. This is largely due,
however. to the high rate of interest
brought by loaned money. Eighteen per
cent. per annum is not uncommon. have
known u struggling wood factory TO pay
two per cent per month. There are q mum
Der of earthenware factories, several wag-
on factories, Gone Of them on q large scaie.)
numerous Touring mills, and some less inn
portant enterprises.
NEWSPAPERS.
There are two weekly newspapers, the
South and the Reporter.
CULTIVATION OF THE TOLL.
As rule. farm work il done in a slovenly
manner. TIE area of land improved and
made more fertile year by year, Is exce~d-
ingIy small. Most farmers prefer taking
five acres for making bale Of cotton rather
than undertake to make one acre make three
bales. The science ct enriching il I'M
known. and manures are not valued or
taken care Of. The countYsc0uld be made .
garden spot.
VALUE or LANDS.
Lands vary in value. according to quality,