Claiborne guardian., 1881-06-29

acre, while well arranged and i'm
proved farms are to be had a
prices ranging from IS TO $10 ne,
acre.
But few farms have gins on them
The old house may be standing, bu
the custom of the country is to pat
ronize public gins, one 81 which i.
10 be found in every community OF
ne'ghborh0od. This is true of all
the hifi parishes. Only the largest
planters gin at home. SO u person
who wishes TO buy an improved
place III Blenrille need not expect
to find a gin.honse on the prem
ises.
FARM IMPROVEMENTS.
The character of improvements
on farms in Bienviile does not differ
III any way from those in other
parishes. The mild climate enables
farmers 10 dispense with many
buildings required i'll the Eastern
and Western States. While 1t
wonld be better to house all cattle
IN The winter, but few ito So.
The commodious, handsome and
weit'cOnstructed barns SO common
further north are never seen here.
10 the shame Of the people, it may
be written, The cribs. stables etc,
are but shantics. Many farmers
nave only an open shed 1T their
stock iHelosHtc. Horses and mules
stand aud feed in tie open air from
one years end TO another. They
are slowly awakening TO Il knowl.
edge of the fac, that the successful
farmer will house his sturk ~
comfortably as he does his family.
Dwelling houses are usually of logs,
either hewcd and dressed square,
or simply split, one.haif the log
being left round and the bark
removed. Fences are usually after
the oil Virginia style. ten rails
high, siaked aud iidclrd. This is
the hind oi Improvements settlers
VIII find most usual. OF course
there are many houses of lumber.
They are the exception.
PRoBtCriVENESS OF THE SOIL.
y farmer here usually calculates
that he will make from 800 to 1000
pounds OF seed cotton To the acre
aud from ten to twenty bushels of
corn. OF course there are farms
upon which larger crops may with
Reason be expected. as there are
lands which yield less. But this is
the average. The soil III some
localities seems 10 be Il pure sand.
In and around the court house
town, Sparta, sCch iS the character
pi the soil. Yet with abundant
rains 1t produces well. The finest
garden the writer has seen III the
State was that of Mr. Frllz Schepn,
pnr OF the leading merchants. The
surface ot ihe garden seemed TO be
pure White sand, Yet it grew mag.
potatoes, cabbage, lettuce,
peas, etc. However, it was well
In the northern part of the parish
his heavy sand Is hot ionnd 10 any
great extent la that locality it Is
Of chocolate color, and is very
All vegetables grow we'll; peas,
potatoes, peanuts, the chuta, etc,
are IA certain crop, Grain is not
extensively cultivated, yet occasion.
ally a farmer may he found who
grows his own oats, wheat and rye.
Ii is usually better TO purchase flour,
As wheat is at best but an uncertain |
crop.
All fruits, grapes, strawberries,
and blackberries thrive
N tins part Of the Stale. Sudden
changes OF temperature which tar.
uers have not yet learned to pro.
vide against make the peach crop a
very uncertain one.
All through this portion of the !
State grapes OF every variety grow
uXnrihntly, yielding bonniiiully.
WheD Nicholas Longworth, the
pioneer in grape culture and wine
III and near Cincinnati,
Ohio, began his vineyards, he pro,
,ured from Bienvillc aud Claiborne
several varieties of the wild grape.
Forty years ago the forests here
were filled with many kinds Of this
delicious fruit. Even now there are
ocalIties III every parish where
immense quantities may he had for |
he mere labor OF gathering.
The parties who procured the cut,
ing or roots from Mr.. Longworth
NrIe informed that be made valna,