Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-12
MADISON COUNTY, TENN.
Heavy RainfalI-Ths wheat Crop
lizard Times" In Earnest.

MADISON COUNTY, March 9.-We had the
heaviest rain. of the seas0n last Sunday
Yesterday aud last night at rained without
interruption for no less an eighteen houTs
This interferes with the arrangements OF
farmers in this part OF the country who were
making preparations TO plant corn. From
las, years experience they have learned that
the early planting is most likely TO strike
the season. The acreage OF wheat in this
section is larger than it has been for many
years. The stand is generally very good,
and l never saw more beautiful wheat al
this season OF the year. Indeed, it is distres-
iHely beautiful. The warm, rainy winter hiss
hurried mp the growth, and il seems to be 3
month ahead of the season. The most san
guine are very apprehensive of failure on
this crop. 1t will be a great misfortune ii
it does fsil, for two reasons. The crop will
be needed as q substitute for corn, and then
our farmers need encouragement in raising
wheat. l fear ii this crop does not yield well
many of them will vow never to SOW
another grain. Our clover was nearly all
killed out by the dry summer. We are SOW
ing again largely. however. 4 quantity OF
oats has already been sown, and some are
still sowing. All my life have heard OF
hard times," and had come to the coneiu-
sion that il was only the chronic cry OF dis
content, but surely the period OF "hard
mas arrived. II Is no HIS II
not poetry. To the worthless, lazy, improv-
ident sons of Incidence, every year bripgs
the cry OF hard times; but this year the
worthy, industrious citizen is feeling the
pressure. There is very little corn in the
country to feed man and beast until the crops
are worked Whites and blacks are alike
destitute. What they are to do is the ques-
ton. This is the unsolved and insotuH,
problem of the hour. Our numerous mIlla,
he Ia Of he Nv
because there is 30 little to put in the hopper.
And in order to make the grain 60 as far az
possible, the old darby stands by the miller
and says: "Boss, l wants it ground exceed
ing tine.'" The merchants are unwilling to
take the risk OF advancing supplies this
early il the season. Neither can the land
owner afford it. 1t will be at least six
months before bread can be obtained from
this years crop.
Burw.II Greer, thrifty colored man OF
this community, was very unfortunate about
two weeks ago. He is q good, industrious
negro, and works on Mrs. Jopston's farm,
about two miles from Denmark He has
accumulated some property and lives COM
fortsbly. Some envious, unprincipled negro
burned up Burwelfs two mules and 100
bushels of corn. The loss was not less than
$500. This was quite severe to 4 good, quie'
colored man, and he has the sympsthies OF
for such wanton, unprincipled incendixrism
except envy aud green-eyed Jealousy.
There is an unusual amount OF stealing
and will doubtless be still more. Stealing
seems to be a necessity. And while necessity
cannot Justly this infraction of the deoa-
logue, it does paLliate the offense somewhat
The poor negroes have neither corn mol
meat, money or credit. By nature and by
habit the negro is improvident and thriftless
He never looks forward to the future if he
can prevail on somebody to advance tor
him" or "run him." Conscience is also at 8
low ebb. Some time last year one of these
sons of Ham stole some corn from Captain
Farmer. The captain caught him with the
corn and gave him a sound thrashing. Han
did not recover for several days. Last week
the identical negro went into the Identical
captains smokehouse and stole some meat
Going out hurriedly he fastened up his dog
in the smokehouse, and 30 he got caught
agsin. Ham goes to Jail this time like O
,hi.e man. His last years thrashing would
not suffice for this year. MALVERN.