The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-05-22

-. .-., -. ,.ppGr Caro-
., Il. ~, the middle counties 81, III
the lower counties 95.
PASTURES.
Since the adoption of the stock law
IN South Carolina much attention has
Dcen given to pastures, and various
grasses suited to this purpose arc
cultivated to limited extent. AS the
law first went into operation i'm tho
northern counties the pastures have
been more extensive there and the
experiments more numerous. Native
grasses, however, still form the great.
cr part of spring pastures. Barley
ana rye arc very generally sown fol
early pasturing; the former is con-
sldercd the most valuable for work
animals, and rye is preferred for cattle
sheep and hogs. A mixture of bar
Icy, rye and oats is not uncommon.
a correspondent states that he kept
one COW for four months-Januarv,
February, March and April-on three
ana a half acres sown I'm rye, and she
had no other food, and kept him we'll
supplied with milk during tic entire
time. Ked and white clover, orchard,
kentucky blue, Bermuda, tall
meadow oat and velvet grasses are all
successfully cultivated in the northern
counties for spring pastures. Lucerne is
very popular; it is said to be as nu-
tritious as clover and stands drought
better. The Kentucky blue grass has
within the last few years made its
appearance in many sections Of the
State, and grows luXuriantly, furnish
ing splendid spring .pasturage for a
short while, but it is soon killed bv
the hot sun. All things considered
the bermuda is regarded as the most
satisfactory for all sections of the State
and it is being "sct" in many coun-
ties. A correspondent says of this
grass: ut comes early, remains until
December and furnishes good grazing
all the WHILE" The natural pastures
consist chiefly of the wild clover in the
upper counties, the cancbrakes and
Japan clover in the middle section and
the wire grass, swamp canes and salt
marsh OH the coast. The broomscdec
grows in all the counties and is good
grazing.
1t estimated that cotton planting is
fully two weeks behind an average
year, and planting will not be com
pleted before the middle of May. The
crop has been been injured by cold
rams, and in many sections replanting
| will necessary. In the middle section
OF the State there is complaint of seed
fotting in the ground, and i'm the
lower counties the land was packed by
heavy rains and detective stands are
the result. The young plants were
injured by frost on the 9th of April,
/ a scarcity Of seed is reported in sew
eral localities, caused, principally it is
supposed, by the large consumption
OF seed by the cotton seed oil mills.
1t Is estimated that the acreage will
be decreased one per cent, and this
estimate holds good for the whole
State. The reports show that 81 per
cent. of the crop has been planted: 28
per cent. is up; and the condition, as
compared with last year, is 70. 1t is
estimated that 4 per cent. less fertil-
iZers have been used on cotton this
year than last, and that 20 per cent.
OF the crop is fcrtilizcd with home
made manurcs.
1t is estimated that the acreage I'm
corn has been increased 2 per cent.
This is an invariable rule; q decrease i'm
the cotton area shows corresponding
increase In the area devoted to corn.
n largo proportion of the bottom
lands has not yet been planted, and
The crops on these lands that had been
was injured by the spring floods. The
development Of tho plant has been
checked by the cold, wet weather,
ana the young corn has been injured
by birds and worms. The general
condition, including stand, of the crop
compared with last year is 88. Fifty
1lVe per cent. Of the crop is fcrtilized,
ana one-half of this amount is fertil.
lZed with cotton seed and homemade
manures.
The acreage in rice it is estimated
mas been decreased per cent, and
the condition is reported at 81.
SUGAR CANE AND SORGHUM.
The area in sugar cane has been de-
creased per cent, and the condition
IS reported ut 88. The area in sor.
ghum has been decreased 2 per cent,
and the condition is reported at 90.
TOBACCO
ls cultivated to q very limited extont.
lhc reports show an increase of 8 per
cent in tho area given to this crop.
LABOR.
Owing to the short crops of last
year many negroes who had been run.