The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-09-29
WOMEN AS FARMERS.

Navarro before the DattnnS trencn nOSts
at Ivry.
WOMEN AS FARMERS.
4 Few Of Them Who Are Succeeding in ASrs-
culture in ihe South.
(F.om the Philadelphia Tiznes.)
It is not in the West alone that women
are successful as farmers. In the South
they are engaging in this business, and
some are doing well. At 4, in my
own county, on the Eastern Shore OF
Maryland, at least four ladies are en-
gagged in agriculture, and if they are not
growing rich il. these days Of low prices,
each is making good living in an inde-
pendent way and doing quite as well as
her neishbors, the gentleman farmers
around her. Three OF these ladies are
widows, living in the country that they
may raise their children away from the
temptations and confinement OF Life in
town. The husband of one OF them died
in debt, but the earth had not settled
above him before his brave little wife
had resolved to keep the farm and try to
pay that money, and in eight years, by
close management, she has done it and
now has the place and the stock clear,
and under her care her boy and girl are
growing up in health and usefulness on
it. Another has been widow longer
time; from tie farm which her husband
left she has educated her children, giving
them advantages beyond the public
schools Of the country, built an excel
lent house, improved the land, and now
with one Of the most desirable places in
the neighborLood, as age creeps On, she
is resting somewhat, while the sons
whom she has reared cultivate the land,
and one daughter has charge of the dairy
and another the poultry. ''They have
managed as well, if not better, tlan their
husbands possibly could have done" be-
ing the verdict Of the entire ncighbor-
mood. Another of these women farmers
has never married. When her parents
died, leaving to their SIX daughters but
one small farm, she, then in very early
womanhood, instead Of selling out and
taking her younger sisters to town to
learn trades or stand in stores, and so
become more easy victims to the con-
sumption of which their parents had
died, bravely took up the burden OF
managing the farm and keeping them on
it, and brarely has she succeeded; and
now when most of them are useful wives
il other homes, she still lives in homely
comfort at the old place, keeping its
freside bright for those of her sisters
who, by reason of widowhood or other
changes, may wish to come back to it.
Did the mother of the Gracchi accom-
plish more? While these women all give
their personal attention to the details of
their business, and attended to poultry
aid dairy themselves, they have not at
tempted the cultivation OF the Land, de-
pending on hired labor to do that.
Doubtless they have many cares and
anxities, know many weary hour; but
in what way can q support be made with
out care and weariness, especially If there
should he children to raise:
I have no argument against the West.
It's abundant opportunities make 1t a
land OF delightful promise, but this sec
ton offers immunity from the long wiz
ters of the West, with their long-con-
tinued snows-which must be serious
bucbear to the woman who wishes to
atte4d to the feeding OF her stock
abundant transportation, convenient
markets, and more abundant labor. 1t
is true the negro is not SO relichlle as the
white man Of the North and West, buI
he caa be hired for half the money and
is not near SO exacting in his require
ments. AL through Southern Maryland
ard Virginia, indeed ell Of the Southern
States, IS much land which cen be
bought very Low. many places with
buildings on them. Il IS true when the
price is low the land is generally thin
and the buildings out Of order; but the
land improves readily under kind treat
ment, and Whitewash and general
cleaning up soon make a wondrous
change in a neglected old place, as /
know from personal experience. These
places are inviting fields for fruit and
vegetable raisi;ccss; dairying, bee and
po2ltry keeping Or general farming, and
UIEISlN tIliNsIASS IiStiSt ~ Wv
farmer IS on the ground and at work.
In addition to those mentioned there
IS a widow over in Dorchester VITO has
planted her land in peach trees and IS
said to be re&ping good income from
it. Further up the peninsula are two
unmarried sisters, who are known as
peach farmers. Down IN Somerset three
ladies', who love flowers, are raising
roses and other plants for sale, and
doubtless many others iii through the
Soutl,. are making a support from land,
! noticed i1 late paper the advertise
ment of lady III Virginia who has eggs
for sale. I suppose she is so1..c energetic
woraan who has gone into the poui;iy
business. know Of bright little wo-
man who engaged = that business in
Mississippi some years ego aud lid well
at it until q covetous bachelor n the
neighborhood persuaded her to give ii
up to marry him. Let ne not be under
stood as advising al women who must
earn money to turn farmers. Ear from
it. Those who have not love and fitness
! for it Will be very apt to fail, just as
mary men who attempt it fail; but those
IT, Il, 1a,-t