The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-04-23
FARM TOPICS.
A Revival OF Interest in England In tho
Employment OF Limo for AgrIcul- +,
tural Purposos-A Suggestive
Experience.
no" Severe Training Prolongs tho L,fe
OF tho Ensilage
without SiIos.
A SUGGESTIVE EXPERIENCE.

At time when thousands are wish
ing for some work that will make them
independent of tho chances attending
employment in the shops or Mills, the
experience of "gcntlcman who was
very poor as reported by tho 14mcri-
can grange Bulletin. may offer u suo-
gestion full of comfort. 1t presents q
plan by which thousands may help
themselves materially without at once
abandoning their present occupations,
II they Lave them, before they put
themselves into position to throw aside
all other work for fruit growing.
There need be no fear that the market
Will he overstockcd with fruit, for the
world has never seen the time when
good, fresh fruitS were not salatle at
fair PRICES for any length Of time. The
eX"crlcncc related was that of one who
lived near town Of about 1902 pco-
pie. adjoining which were many rich
farms, and land was plenty, the rent
being about $5 per acre. His first
move was to look up reliable nursery
from which to purchase the necessary
planes. This done, ami all arrange
ments made for a supply Of the best
varieties of Strawberries, raspbcrries,
b:ackbcrrics, and grapes, the next step
was toward securing the land. Being
short of funds the rule was to start at
first on a small scale, SO three acres of
good land was leased for a term of six
years and the rent for the first year
$l5-paid in advance.
Then he pOrtiOncd off the following
number of plants to set out the three
acres: One acre was to 20 in straw
| berries, one in blackbcrries, onc-half
| in hlnnl-
rcd raspbcrrieS, and the rest, onc-fourth
of an acre, To grapcvncs. Our friend
had no horses so he hired the ground
broken i'll the fail. When spring ar
rived the land was plowcd again, we'll
| narrowed, and marked out for the
plants. These were very carefully
planted ut the proper distances, and
then came the work of tillagc.
An occasional days hire for n man
and horse did the heaviest of the work,
| while his own arms and Il good, bright
hoe tended the remainder. Between
the rows of all the plants, excepting
the strawberries, garden truck was put
in and tended along with the small
fruits. When fall came the plants
were found to have made a very fine
and healthy growth, and there was a
splendid crop Of vegetables also. Part
had been already harvested and dis
posed Of at good advantage, while
the remainder was ready for a like dr.
posal. Enough had been realized in
| this way to Nay another years rent in
advance, buy few berry boxes, and
have a liltlc left
In the village there was an enter
prising grocer who had been q keen
observer of our friends fruit-garden,
and he made advances toward sccurin o.
the crop for sale. He would sell the
fruit at commission of Is per cent on
each dollars worth if tho grower
wanted cash, or would pay full Value
dollar for dollar if goods were taken
in payment for berries. There would
be only the Strawberries to put in mar
ket the second season, but our friend
had planned SO well rs tovarieties, and
given them such attention, that the
acre patch would yield handsome
crop.
A horse and light spring wagon were
purchased on time, and then the sec
ond years tillage was easily done; be-
sides, conveyance was prepared for
the transportation of the berries.
Three young girls were engaged to 90
the berry picking, which with his own
| hS'l' wan HtiiiiSitll. bclOIc INC ntnG
came for harvesting the crop there
were many weeks allowed for cultiva-
lion, which WIS done mostly by horse.
No culture being needed for the straw
berries, the two remaining acres of
other fruits could be easily handled
and kept in good shape. To bo sure
there were many other matters to at
tend to, such rs cutting back the rasp-
berry canes, making berry boxes, Gull
turc being the greatest esscntial.
In the latter part OF May the berries
began to rip n, and soon the berry
picking came on in earnest. All this
time the other plants were making a
line growth and were not neglected.
The acre of strawberries turned out
splendidly, the total number of quarts
being 1900 and over. The first brought
70 cents quart, then fell to Is, then
to l23 and finally to 10 cents a box.
All this was very satisfactory, and next
year another strawberry crop and full
crop from the other plants. This is
the way one man started, and he grad
ually increased his fields until now he
has twenty acres in small fruits alone.
Any other man can do just as we'll and
perhaps better.