The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-07-30

escape from the main shaft. It was all VIC
could do to save ourselves. Woodland was
standing in the water up to his waist when
l last saw him. 1t was sure death, aud l
had to knock out the dead eyes MS told
you. Hc knew MS we'll as it was over
with them. l shall never forget the look
on his face or the sound of his voice when
he told US to save ourselves, though the
very act was to insure his death.
AaRIouLruRE IN THE PIEDMonr REGION.
piedmont, s. c., July 10, 1880.
Editor Register: The protracted drought
is affecting seriously the corn crop of this
region. The small grain crop was short
but the hay crop pretty good.
The farmers in this belt do not seem to
realize the valae of an oat crop; they say
that they have tried the red oat unsuccess
fully, but We are inclined to the opinion
that tho failure was owing to tho "modus
operandi," rather than the variety. 1t has
been always so much the custom to plant
oats as n mere makeshift, on the poorest
land often, and in the carelessest way, that
no value has been attached to the product.
"What is worth doing is worth doing WE'LL"
is as applicable to oat culture as to any
other crop. No man should expect to 'get
blood out Of q turnip." IF you want to
make oats, select the soil best adapted to
the plaut-don't be afraid of its being too
rich-and "put it in" carefully and early
enough to stand the Winter. If it grows
too rapidly it is a very easy matter to Craze
it down with small animals There is q
great saving of labor ia growing oats; it is
also valuable supplement to the corn crib
Corn is a costly aud exhaustive product
And it should also be borne in mind that
all crops which grow during the Winter
protect the land from washing away, and
hold in reserve, fer future crops, the soluble
aud valuable salts which are leached out by
the Winter rains.
The pea crop does not receive tithe of
the care it deserves. Independent of its
value as food crop, which can be grown
with very little labor, it can be made to
play very important role rs fertilizer.
Tho experiments carried on for years by
DR.. Ravenel and others have demonstrated
tho fact that the pea is invaluable as a fer
tilizer.
Mr.. Edmund Ruffin, in his Agricultural
Survey, pronounced the pea the clover of
the South, and, when Ee returned to Vir.
ginia, began series Of experiments with it,
which have been successfully conducted
by his son since his fathers death. The
objection which has, under the old regime,
been urged against the pea (the difficulty
Of turning under heavy pea fallow) has
been removed by tho proof that che pea
vine, when allowed to mature, aud to be
chilled even by frost, loses none of its vir-
tues Us fertilizer. The dead vine contains
oil the salts locked up for future use, the
water only has been lost. No farmer should
cultivate crop of corn without peas. If
he is afraid that the peas will injure the
corn then let him SOW ut the last ploughing,
aud if his land is rich enough to make corn
he will have luxuriant coat of pea. vines
to tara under as fertilizer. As an ameli.
orator Of the soil for any crop, or fertili-
zer for wheat or oats, there is nothing which
can be compared to the pea vine for cheap.
| ness.
'Aate Bellnm," this region of country
was wcll supplied with domestic animals
The cattle ''grazod upon a thousand hills
in the Summer, the mountain sides being GOV.
cred with wild pea-vine and native grasses
Every farmer had O small herd which he
drove to tho mountains for Summer grazing
"a few mares aud colts. Corn aud grass
enough was grown in the valleys to Winter
than; all Of which went on foot to market
The war has left its desolating track even
here. There are few cattle, horses, sheer
or hogs: but cotton, by the help Of artificia Al
fertilizers, has crept up to the very base o
tho mountains, and farmers buy their bacon
-four, and sometimes their corn, from the
| West.
All along tho Air Line, even North ol
it, in Oconee, Pickens, and over iu Georgia
in White, Habershan, Hall. franklin
where ante betian, cotton was never though,
Of, you will now see il growing luxuriantly
The best samples Of cotton are said 10 come
from this belt-siLply because II is pc,
--is grown BY white laborers, CAREFUL,
worked aud handled, Tho fact is demon
strable that the largest proportion Of the
belt is grown by white labor, and the saut
may bo also said Of Texas. With prope,
culture, and implements adapted to tn,
South, the white man may soon be indepcnd
ent OF Sambo, 50 far as cotton is concerned
-~VOX IN ColumJia Register.