The Cecil Whig., 1883-01-06
Iht }.]toplts e ulun'n
For The Cecil Whig.
WHISPERS FROM THE PLAINS
CHAPTER Y.

Fruit growing is attracting oonsidera
Bile attention among our farmers, the soil
being we'll adapted to the growth of all
kinds of fruits and vegetables. There
are many young and thriving apple Or
chards on the Plains. Peaches have also
been grown successfully for many years.
Mr.. S. X. Blake has been rarely fortu-
nate in raising this fruit. He planted
new orchard of peach trees, last Fall, Of
several hundreds of the choicest varieties.
Mr.. d. NJ Hanna assisted him in the
work He is said to be an expert in any
kind of farm work. The early settlers
of the Plains planted extensive apple or
ohards. Some of the remnants of these
cid orchards are visible to this day. while
others are gone root and branch. In
field where Mr.. Henry Booth cut one of
the heaviest crops of wheat last harvest
apple orchard. Now not even y stump
remains to obstruct the steady movement
of the reaper. The apples i'll those days
were equal if not superior to any raised
at this day. The Summer and Fall ap-
Piles were known as the Summer Queen,
Bearmine and Ramho and later varieties
as Pennock, redstreak or redromanite.
carthouse, greyhoase. grindstone. lady
finger. wine sap. and host of others
any or all of which were better than any
of the varieties now known by new fan
gled names. gotten up designedly to de-
cieve and swindle the farmer. Years
ago. a gang of these swindlerS went
around grating new tops on the old ap-
pie trees, taking the gratis out of one
orchard and putting them in another,
representing they had brought the CRAFTS
with them of some extra kind. They
managed, however, to kill good many
valuable trees. In the long ago. when
apples were plentiful large quantities OF
cider were made. There was cider mill
upon the farm where &. c. Weaver now
resides. and numbers of barrels tiled to
the bupg would sometimes be left lying
around over night. The spirit Of mis-
chief prevailed in those days, as well as
at the present. Some of the young men
noticing those barrels reasoned among
themselves and spoke one to another
after this manner: :" Let Us cabbage one
of these barls as contraband goods and
| appropriate it 10 our own Individual and
Collective riSe." They did so and hid il
away in the night time. sec,eting it in Il
| sa place. which they visited thereafter
nishtl, till the contents were all gone
aud then drew it forth aud placing it. in
Il conspicuous place. inscribed upon one
end the p"us request:
| You d.. not know where have bin
Now take me back and ill me agin.
Who the parties were that did this thing
| We suppose remains a secret to tins da,
But let us leave the things of the past
and come down to the present. We have
heard of field days. but Christmas da,
was high old field day to the people of
the Plains and surrounding county
The rumnr had gone out that Il grand
pigeon aad glass bail shooting match was
! to come off on that day upon the westrI II
border of the Plains. between the Valley
boys and the crack shots of the Plains.
| The Valley was represented bv William
Mahoney. l., wis Mahonev and Will Gihe-
son, aud the Pains by W. II II 1T, John
| Holt aud Father B,ny from lie banks +
l-lllle Dill hul. MUCH lnteieSI was
| manifested in this match. Several hun
dred people were present to witness the
contest. The first act on the programme
was pigeon shooting between the above
named teams. But, sad to relate, the
Valley boys won the day. bringing down
every bird. while the majority of tn.
birds of our team were killed by out
siders beyond the circle. The next act
! appeared to be promiscuous shooting OF
! glass balls. That over. We thought from
the large number Of brethren present
taking an active part that the exercises
would close with prayer and the beuedic-
tion, but 10! and behold IA big fat goose
was brought forth and shooting for the
same began in earnest. Brother jackson
Jane won it and carried ii home. and fol
all we know is keeping it tn this day.
HE-EtUb