The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-09-29
WOMEN Az FARMERS.


WOMEN Az FARMERS.
Few of Them Who Are Succeeding In Agrl-
culturc In tho South.
(From the Philadelphia Timcs)
1t is not in the West alone that women
arc successful as farmers. In tho South
they are engaging in this business, and
some are doing well. At A, in my
own county, on tho Eastern Shore Of
Maryland, ut least four ladies are en-
gngcd in agriculture, and if they arc not
growing rich in tin csc days of low prices,
each is making good living in an indc-
pendent way and doing quite as well as
her ncighbors, the gentleman farmers
around her. Three of these ladies are
widows, living i'll the country that they
may raise their children away from the
temptations and confinement Of life in
town. The hu uiband of one Of them died
IN debt, but the earth had not settled
above him before his bravo little wife
had resolved to keep the farm and try to
pay that money, and III eight years, by
close management, she has done it and
now has the place and the stock clear,
and under her care her boy anu girl are
growing up i'll health and usefulness on
1t. Another has been II widow Il longer
tlmo; from the farm which her husband
lett she has educated hor children, giving
them advantages beyond the public
schools OF the country, built an excel
lent house, improved tho land, and now
with one of tho most desirable places in
the nelghborhood, rs 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. ''rhcy have
managed rs well, if not better, than their
husbands possibly could have done" be-
ing the verdict of the entire ncighbor-
mood. Another of these women farmers
has never married. Whom 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, bravoly took up the burden of
managing the farm and keeping them on
1t, and braNcly has she sllccccdcd and
now when most OF them are useful wives
III other homes, she still lives in homcly
comfort at the old place, keeping its
ltircsidc bright for those of her sisters
|
changes, may wish to como buck to it.
Did the mother of the Gracchi accom-
phsh more? While these women all give
their personal attention to the details OF
their business, and attended to poultry
and 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
anXitles, know many weary hour; but
III what way con support be made with
out care and WEAKNESS, especially if there
should be children to raise?
have no argument against the West
it's abundant opportunities make it q
land of delightful promise, but this sec
ton offers immunity from the long win
ters OF the West, with their long con
tinucd snows-which must be serious
bugbcar to the woman who wishes to
attend to the feeding of her stock
abundant transportation, convenient
markets, and more abundant labor. 1t
Is true the negro is not 80 reliable as the
white man Of the North and West, but
he can he hired for half the money and
is not near so exacting in his require
monts. All through Southern Maryland
and Virginia, indeed all of the Southern
States, is much land which can be
bought very low, many places with
buildings on them. 1t 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
mont, and whitewash and q general
cleaning up soon make wondrous
change in neglected old place, as l
places are inviting fields for fruit and
ypnptahIn roiaipn 1oiryinn 1,oa ranl
poultry keeping or general farming, and
already the advance guard of the woman
farmer is on the ground and ut work.
In addition to those mentioned there
is n widow over in Dorchester who has
planted her land in peach trees and is
said to be reaping good income from
it. Further up the peninsula are two
4 unmarried sisters, who are known as
peach farmers. Down in Somerset three
ladies, who love flowers, are raising
roses ard other plants for sale, and
doubtless many others all through the
South are making support from land
noticed in q late paper the advertise
ment of lady in Virginia who has eggs
for sale. ] suppose she is some energetic
woman who has gone into the poultry
/, business / know of a bright little wo-
man who engaged in that business in
Mississippi some years ago and did well
+. at it until covetous bachelor Ia the
neighborhood persuaded her to give it
up 70 marry him. Let mo not be under
stood as advising all women who must
earn money to turn farmers. Far from
J it. Those who have not love and fitness
J for it will be very apt to fail, just as
: many men who attempt it fail; but those
who read sFarmer Finch" in one of last
; Nnnra HnrIar,a hnNa sAan hnxsL snn a,,n.