The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-12-22
FARM IMPROVEMENTS.

!
like the writer, in all panics or depres-
sions that affect business IN general,
noticed that the value Of farm property
was the last to show it effects, but when
it did fall it was The last to react when
reaction took place? And Why is it so?
Simply because active business is moro
sensitive to reactions than passive bust
ness like farming. For the last few
years all business has been very much
depressed and values have fallen, cspe-
cially farm lands, so much so their value
is but nominal, and to-day farm proper
ty is at its lowest figures. Reaction has
taken place in city and town property.
and their values are rapidly Increasing,
and why Is it so? Because the owners
such property are wide awake and
alive to their interest and boom it mp, as
the commercial and financial barometers
indicate This rise in values in cities
and towns, ii permanent, in time, will
have its effect on country property, for
prosperity, like dcpreSsions, has its in
tiuence on all surrounding interests; and
as prosperity brings money into active
circulation, the amount OF money raises
the value Of all kinds OF property
throughout the country. $ such, it
bel:oo7es the farmers to begin 70 put
their long-neglected farms in order and
dress them up, for Appearances add
much to values, and has much weight IL
influencing purchasers. All buildings
on the farms should undergo repairs
and renovation, and where buildings and
sheds have been neglected for stock,
they should be built In short, the
outfit should be complete: and paint and
whitewash used to make everything look
neat and nice. And so it should be with
fencing. Have as good fencing and
gates as one can afford, for al such adds
to the value OF the farm. There Is .
time 70 do all this kind OF work anG i'm
proyementS when it will not interfere
with field work, and it will be time well
employed and in the end prove most
profitable.
Then comes field improvements and
proper culture. As one rides along the
roads AMI sees the fields quilted and
washed, the impression made, IS, ':hcre
is farm going to ruin and waste; there
can be no profitable farming done on
such farm" and whore briers and
bushes have taken die fields the same
impressions are also made, and the con-
clusions are perfectly correct; fer where
gulies, briers and bushes prevail no
profit can arise from such q state Of
things, and if even should there be a
sllfiiciency of other land to cultivate, to
admit Of this waste OF land what an ug gly
appearance it gives to the farm, such
yawning gullies and unSightly roughs.
Now, what should be done? First, ter
race all the hill lands and slopes so as to
stop washing and gullying, and ii there
are flat lands that hold water ditch them
of, and when that is done, the plow and
harrow must do the rest and diversified
farming follow; and let grain, grass and
stock be the basis on which the farm
must be built up. Our greatest trouble
now is fencing, for timber isvery scarce,
which makes fencing more expensive
than we can undertake to have properly
done. SO why not abandon fencing and
keep up stock; for wherever it has been
adopted it has proven very satisfactory,
and has rid tie farmer OF al expense i'll
trying to keep up fencing which proved
Intellectual and waste of the little tim
ber left US Let property be ever so
valuable, if neglected and suffered to
run down, it will depreciate il value and
oftcntimes We see property sold above
its value, owing to neat and comfortable
bu4-- Gand good fencing being placed
on it. Attractivencss Las much or more
to do with the value Of a farm than the
value OF the land; as such, We say to
the farmers, go to work and improve
your farms and whether yon wish to sell
or not it will enhance their .::.:lue.
JOHN II. Dent.
Care oprtng, Ga