The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-12-19
That Stock Law Again.

there are two articles signed respec-
lively Congarce anil Watch, both in
opposition TO stock law.
AS the columns Of your paper are
liberally offered and open to a free
discussion pro and con Of all subjects
involving the welfare Of our county,
take the liberty Of saying few
words on the pro side Of the question.
The strongest evidence in favor Of
such law, is the fact that wherever
it has gore, or been in operation, the
people are pleased with it. The wri-
ter visited Que Of the middle counties
of oor state the past summer and
found on crossing the line, the stock
law in force, and in order TO gain in
formation on tho subject, conversch
freely with persons he pet, rs to its
working. Was told by several that
they were violently opposed to such
u law, and would have voted agaius.
it, but since they had experienced its
effects, would not return 10 the old
system if they could. Some said
they got more milk and butter, had
no difficulty in finding their COWS, as
they knew just where TO go, or send
for them, instead Of hunting the
whole ncight orhood AS they did form
erly. One man on II two-horse farm
expected TO make bale Of cotton on
the ground his fences had occupied.
The argument against the law in that
county, was told, was the same as
that advanced Ivy Congarce and
Watch, the "poor man and the labor
err" which Whitfield down to a point
would be this: "You land owners
must furnish pasturage for oul stock !;
and more than that. you must keep
GOOD fencing around your crops, fol
in autumn when the grass on your
woodland becomes sere and tough,
our stock, both bovine and porcine,
will ma: ifcst wonderful procli>ity
for something more succulent in the
shape Of your green peas, ricc," &c.
That is the argument Of the opposi-
tion in nut she'll, and does not re-
quire "cvery column Of the DEMoCnAr
twelve. years" to express it.
Since the visit to the up:conntry
I have convcrscd with many farmers
Of our county, and found but two op-
posed TO q stock law. In speaking
to one gentleman on the subject, !
casually remarked to him that such n
nciyhbor of his was opposed to The
law. Said he: 81 do not wonder at
it, for his stock pasture on my land"
Watch speaks Of ten head Of cattle,
twenty hogs, ten sleep and ter goats.
I advise him 10 REDUCE the number OF
COWS to onc-fourtA before the advent
of the stock law, for it is surely, if
slowly, making its way down from
the up country. The twenty hogs
will do. Sheep are desirable, but
unless there be very stringent dog
law, and it very rigidly enforced,
Watch would not have many sheep TO
eat opt Of his twenty acre pastures.
! Goats ] consider q nuisance.
! am fully persuaded that stock
law would benefit the whole country.
1t is already necessity i'll some por-
tions Of ST, Matthews, where thcr
have good land but u paucity of tim
ber. It is true, farmer could not
keep as much stock as at present, but
the deficiency in quantity could be
balanced by Improvement in quality.
t,wonld be better TO- be restricted to
sWo good COWS and twenty hogs; than
TO be compelled to build II FENCE
around acrop, when the whole stock
would not pay for the fence if sold at
a fair price, Besides, farmer could
with care, make more, and better
manures with his two COWS, than
! Watch can with his ten, roaming
over the woods.
The idea is to keep no moro stock
than could be supplied with water
from the1well if necessary.
Congaree mentioned "an occasion
al beef" Since Shermnn's raid the
country has never recuperatcd in the
beef line, and occasionals are so few
and far between, that large majori-
ty of farmers, wonld not feel the de-
privation, 1t would nc offset by ad-
vnntagee accrung from the stock law.
/ will conclude by asking tho two
writer's, Congaree and Watch, how
r. 80