Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-12-19
DAVID DICKSON.

SOME PRACTICAL VIEWS ELECTED FROM THE
GREAT FARMER, PERTINENT TO THE PRES
ENT TIMES.
Editors Chronicle and Constitutionalist
Thinking brief respite from the monoto-
ny of dull town would be both healthful
and pleasant, your correspondent planned
and executed, during the present week, a
visit to Mr.. David Dickson, of Hancock
county, Georgia.
Mr.. Dickson has long been considered the
c.. rlartar in tho Gonth--Ho hoo .D~--l L.
way 10 that proud distinction, not by long
spun theories, peddled out in journals and re-
views, but by the demonstration Of practical
success, which is, after all, the true test Of
merit.
Mr.. Dickson is remarkable man, consid
cred almost from any point of view. His
physical organization is texturally fine. His
appearance is striking and commanding. He
would arrest the eye in any assemblage of
men. He has the broad, honest, intellectual
face of the genuine Anglo-Saxon, of which
race he comes. His cast of mind is hardy
and practical, as, is evinced by the great
prominence of the perceptive organs. He is,
eminently, man Of affairs, viewing all ques.
tions in the light of reason and common
sense.
Mr.. Dickson is one of the few planters of
the South who has kept up the large farming
operations of ante bellum days; and notwith-
standing the striDgency of the times and re-
cent seasons of drouth, has managed to make
money on every crop he has ever grown, with
the single exception Of the present year: His
entire farm, covering an area of 10000
acres, presents everywhere the appearance of
thrift and enterprise, in striking contrast to
the dilapidated and effete plantations contig-
uous to it. His fences appear in good re-
pair; neat and commodious cabins dot his
place from centre to circumference. Water
gins and saw mills of the most approved pat.
tern are whirled by every stream that waters
his domains. Ponds Give in number), abound
ing with fish and constructed at total cost
of $4,000, upturn their silvery faces from
between the hills, and in the expressive lam
guage of Byron, Warm up with their still
ness, to forsake earths troubled waters for
purer spring." All of these objects, COM
binng the useful and beautiful, render ride
through Mr.. Dickson's farm most delightful
and Interesting pastime. Your correspond
ent had the pleasure of this jaunt in company
with the proprietor, and took advantage of
the time and occasion to ply him with the
following interrogatories
"Mr. Dickson, you are the only planter in
the State who has farmed on an extensive
scale that has managed to keep up. What
do you attribute your success to ?"
"Well, I don't know, unless it is to 6nan-
ciering. 1 make calculations and steer clear
of what don't pay"
"Do you expect to make large gains now
as you did years ago?'
"Oh, no. 1t is out of the question for
farmer to make money now on hired labor.
There is too little margin between the price
of labor and the price of the products of that
labor The price of labor and other neces-
sary expenses aggregate, in most instances,
more than the entire product of that labor
will bring. expect to get my rents"
"What is your plan of renting
"Well, furnish the land, the agricultural
implements, the horse and its feed, together
with two-thirds of the guano. The renter
furnishes the labor and feeds it., and one-third
of the guano. At the end of the year take
two-thirds of all the crops, and give the la.
borer onethird. In other words, rate the
land at one.third, the horse and its feed and
the agricultural implements, blacksmithing,
&C., at one.third, and the labor at one third
and rent upon this principle. l think this is
the fairest system of renting that can be de-
vised."
"Who gathers the crop?"
"Of course the laborer does the gathering.
I calculate that in as part of the labor. One
Of my hands not long ago gathered his third
of the corn and left my two-thirds standing
in the field. At the end of the year, he came
back to rent again. I told him no, he had
dug his own grave. Yes, sir, the laborer
must perform the whole of his contract, which
includes the making and gathering of the
entire CROP"
"What is the plan you would advise the
farmers to pursue another year?"
"In the first place would advise them to
increase the capacity Of their lands. Rich
land is the best labor saving machine l
know of for the present generation and for |