Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1885-09-24
have found cut the best distance to

Another tang we notlceo. Was tnls'
During the last stages of cultivation,
they only plow alternate rows, e1-
p aiming that there was less danger Of
injury by cutting roots, &c, than te
plow every row. They also have a
patent Landslide to their common plow-
stock; TO keep sweeps from running
too deep. Nearly all corn and cotton
had a higher bed than we usually see
here. And another admirable thing
isthe bitches on high, dry upland
much Of it /: evidently better drained
than great deal Of the Ridge land.
Every two Or three hundred yards
there is ditch, kept nicely cleaned
out, 4 to 6 feet deep. These bitches
are only seen on the best cultivated
and most highly manured farms,
whose owners are the pioneers in find.
ing out the necessity for and inaugu.
rating this Improvement.
We believe, from what was told us,
that much land on our Ridge would
handsomely repay the cutting Of
bitches, to get rid of surplus water in
spring, and during rainy spells in the
summer. With peas, rotation, more
guano and proper attention to drain
age. we cappot see why nearly all the
land from Ieesville to below Trenton,
should not in few years equal the
best we saw in Marlboro. The Marl.
boro farmers use from 200 lbs. to 300
lbs. per acre, and work their land for
wages; and that they are making
money, is shown by the appearance
Of their houses and outbuildings, their
horses ana Venlclee.
While we have made reference to
the Ridge lands, because the condi'
tions are the same-level and sandy,
with clay subsoil close by-there is
no doubt that many Of our level clay
farms above the Court House, would
also be benefited by these bitches
and with a proper rotation, thorough
preparation and heavy manuring
would soon eclipse the Ridge, and
Marlboro too.
1t so happened that all of the dele.
CATION are farmers whose lands are
broken and hilly. To thoae of ON
brother farmers who are thus situat
ed, and they are largely in the ma
jority ir our county, we desire to say
that we are not altogether discour.
aged; nor have we broken the corn
mand not to "covet our neighbor's
land" too often. Those level, easily
cultivated farms in Marlboro, and
along the C. G. g. A. R. +. are very
beautiful, and desirable to make corn
and cotton on, and to cultivate, but
they are not adapted 10 stock ralping
They are dependent upon wells fol
water, and sometimes they are un
healthy. BY te,Tacing and rotation
by,rcst and more n,.taa,e'c, By discard.
ing the ruinous renting system, man
aging our farms in person, aud seek
ing to learn how 10 improve rather
than 10 wear out our lands, they car
be made rs valuable and desirable al
any in the State. We feel that. oul
hilla have their usca and advantage
ous features; md they only require
to be managed nationally TO show thei
intrinsic value, and to become again
as they were in the past, the most fer
tile and productive in the county
Any one acre Of average land among
US will srl port more cattle and sheer
than two of these level, sandy acres
and after all, nosystem Of agriculture
has ever pro: en- permanently success
full without ptock raising as basis
We can practice mixed hu.bandry
Which is more pleasant and just az
profitable as one dependent upon till
age alone; aud we must learn to de
it ere We can hcpe to prosper, or SEE
our landa improving in fertility and
price. Our farming hitherto hat
been running in old ruta, and heer
conducted by rote; and a continuance
of such Procrustean methods can only
result il disaster and bankruptcy
Why so low have thought it worth
while to lend their efforts to bringing
about a change and seeking new
departure, is mystery. We do hope
that this lethargy and indifference
will not much longer remain a re.
proach to our county. We had sew.
eral very plain hints to invite the
State Agricultural Society to hold its
next summer meeting in Edge6eld,
but we felt ashamed to have them
come here, and see how lacking in
progress our people really are.
B. R. TILLMAN,
o. F. CHEATHAM,
w. E. PRESCOTT.