Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-19

EAMS MILK una k1uAsCIs
A few days ago had the pleasure Of in
specting the farming operations Of Mr..
Thomas E. Blackshear, near Townsville,
whose successful enterprises have more
than once been alluded to in your columns,
and especially his "twenty-acre strawberry
| field, }" now so well known through the State.
| and his connection with the most extensive
propagation OF the famous LeConte pear
conducted anywhere in the country. Both
these interests are receiving his usual
attention, which means all that he can do
for them with mature judgment, keen
penetration, ample means, and in
domitable energy. He is Lot a sanguine
mar, and does not manifest great enthusiasm
over any OF his enterprises or experiments,
nor is he ever suddenly carried away by the
hsttery or enthusiasm OF others. He quiet
ly makes up his mind, then ventures upon
his own Judgment, and patiently awaits the
result. His success shows how far that
| Judgment is to be trusted. We have never
seen more thrifty looking nursery trees,
even of the extraordinary LIE Conte pear,
which far outstrips all other branches Of its
family in vigor and rspidity of growth. The
strawberry field is simply a beauty, even at
| this late season. 1t looked as green
| as In the early spring, and the
greater portion of it contains the
largest and thriftiest strawberry plants l
ever saw raised without the use of fertilizers.
Il 4aa hot ba
of this field had not cost him exceeding
sixty dollars during the year, and we found
| it in excellent condition throughout, with
very few runners, abundant stooling and
/ root growth for the coming crop. III 1t
| ''hits'' the season next spring, he will make
| q crop of strawberries that has never before
been heard of In Georgia, and probably do
as much mischief to others as good to him
| self. Nevertheless, all who will plant and
| cultivate strawberries In that section with
| the same perseverance and intelligence as
Mr.. Blackshear, will as certainly equal bis
success.
In other departments OF the farm he is
| equally as successful as in fruit-groWing.
During the last spring made some refer
ence to his "neW departure" IN corn grow
ing on his Florida plantation, which turned
him out a fine harvest, with less labor than
| usual, and frequently advised the adoption
Of his time for planting field peas as the
surest for full crop. On the pea question,
desire now to state that Ii | had en-
tertained any doubt about the correctness
of his observations for the success OF his
| experiments, they would have been dtspell-
ed on this visit to his Georgia farm. He
showed me field peas in every stage,
from the bloom 10 the ripe peas, and several
varieties in comparison, and do not re-
member to have seen so much fruit to the
quantity of vine before. 1t Is evident, there
fore, that his plan of planting field peas as
late in summer as will permit the maturing
OF a crop before frost, is the best possible
| time for planting where fruit is the object.
| This time must be chosen according to the
variety Of the peas to be planted, bearing In
mind that some varieties grow and mature
much more rapidly than others; but ali the
commonly known varieties may safely be
| planted IN this section, beginning early in
August and closing the month with the
| quickest maturers.
On Mr.. Blackshear's farm l first saw the
| Econch" pes, SO much esteemed In South
| Florida. He had them in wide rows between
his nursery trees as an experiment, not
having planted them before. They were
the richest looking, most vigorous and pro-
| life vine growers OF all the tribes l have
yet seen. The vines were fiat upon the
| ground, which they entirely covered as
| densely as any sweet potato could hope to
| do under the greatest fertility, and having
| apparently, at the time of my visit, attained
only about half their growth, had already
covered a space about twelve feet wide to
| the row.
at oEce decided that where vines were
the object In pea planting for improvement
| of the soil, the "conch" must take the place
OF all others in this section. As did not
see it In fruit | cannot now speak OF its
merits as bearer, though it is reported
| from Florida to be prolific and palatable. As
a forage plant It must certainly stand very
| high in yield per acre, and is presumably as
nutritious and valuable for stock food as
other pea vines. MIR. Blackshear believes in
| the intensive system" as far as 1t is pTGctt-
| cable and no further. 10 this end he fol
| lows one crop with another as rapidly as
possible, and endeavors, by fertilizing, to
leave his land in better condition after
each crop. l noticed that for winter
| grazing he had drilled mixed oats
| and rye between the rows in pea field,
| which were already up and ready TO occupy
the soil as soon as the ripening pea crop
| was removed.
| A fertilzsd sweet potato field especially
attracted my attention. A white, smooth
species Of the yam, planted from the vines
little late in the season, seemed to be dis
| t nguishing themselves as strangers to Thom-
| as county soil, and on examination of the
| bursting ridges | found them already
| crowded with very fac tubers. Ia justice
/ to the native fertility or the soil, it must be
/ said that only about one hundred and ff
pounds of commercial manure had been
| used to the acre, ana yet this so-called ''old
| WORKOUT land' is bearing a crop of sweet
potatoes that will surprise any one who
| will take the trouble to examine it. l
found the ridges cracked open from hill to
| hill everywhere examined In about a
| dozen places, and could reach down with
finger AID twist out the largest tubers. The
method Of fertilizing sweet potatoes, as
| pursued by MIR. Bl&ckshear, is evidently a
| correct one, and worthy Of remembrance by
less experienced growers. He does not
| pillow OUT deep burrows and bury the manure
/ out Of reach OF the vines, as so many have
| done in the past, II they are not doing so
| yet but he makes his beds and deposits
| the fertilizer in them Immediately beneath,
and In easy reach of the newly planted
vines. They can then take hold Of It at the
very start, and thus make rapid growth
| from the beginning.
Having surveyed his orchards, his nur
| series, bis strawberry, pea, potato and other
| fields, some handsome jersey cattle came
under review, a heifer that would be a
model in any we'll illustrated agricultural
magazine, and a mixer that one could
scarcely lind words OF praise sufficient to
/ lavish upon her utilitartan symmetry and
| excellence. OF course, such cattle afford
an abundant supply Of rich milk and butter
for the family, beside representing one Of
| the most important factors IN the fertilizing
resources of the farm. "S0ft eyed" grace
full creatures, as some Of them are, and the
very picture Of prosperity and thrift in their
brown, sleek fairness, they also greatly en-
| nance the landscape view, at rest in the
cooling shade, or moving gracefully about
upon the green grass of the lawn.
| After spending couple of hours 10 field
and outdoor observations and examination
/ of the master, upon his plans and methods
of operation, accepted an invitation to
test the quality Of his Jersey buttermilg,
and proceeding to his handsome residence
/ nesting in the shade of a beautiful grove,
| had the pleasure of a social chat, in
which the accom- plished mistress Of this
model farm bore a conspicuously pleasing
part, and who not only gracefully refreshed
us with a drink of the richest, cool, fresh
| buttermilk, but permitted me to examine
| the contents OF her dairy, and there learn
| what inferior butter we usually find
in the markets, even at its best, and
| what poor material many well-to do people
use who suppose they are doing Every
| well" No artificisl ''coloring" was needed
for her butter. The bright golden color,
the grainy, rounded globules, the richly
fresh and fragrant odor, all combined to
proclaim the fine Jersey stock and the skill
full management of the mistress OF the dairy.
October II, 1882. L. Z. b.
A long, long list OF the best doctors in our
land boldly decIsra to-day GsThe only cure