The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1886-05-21
flor the Asheville CITIZEN.
! AFFAIRS In THE FLAT CREEK
SECTION.

MrMroRD FARM, N. c., May 16, 'S6.
Messrs. Etiitors:-I viii give yoi few
4dots'' from Flat Greek; the farmers gen.
eraIlE getting on finely with their crops,
q goodly number are getting ready to set
tobacco, but the plants are generally
small and seem to be on the late order,
besides the flea bug is working heavily
on the plant beds, those covered with
canvass are troubled as bad, if not worse
than those in the woods covered with
bush. / think this is caused on account
of the canvass beds being as "a general
thing In the open fields; / also find in my
travels over this part of the country that
there will not be over half of the tobacco
planted this season as last, and 1t may
turn out that there will not be one-third
planted. as mg opinion is thatwe will
not have the very best season to plant
sout the crop, and other conside derations
that SO many of our farmers got such low
pfices that they are so disheartened that
Soy do not care to plant much tobacco
aEnefs Of this sslinitY are cemiqg
more to their senses, more corn, wiissAe
and more something to eat, and less and
better tobacco. claim it will ruin any
class Of farmers in the end who depend
on some other section for their corn,
bacon and other supplies which can and
should be raised at home. We also have
a class of farmers who trade too much on
time in the stores, buying too many articles
they could do without, and save many a
dollar to pay for a home or something
else that they need worse. We can never
be a prosperous people until We give up
the idea oftrading so much on time, as
lit is called. How can we educate our
children unless we lay up few dollars
for that purpose? There is too much ex-
travaganee and not enough of economy
used in building up the country. in way
of good churches and school houses. Our
people will have to study their interest
in different way, if we become more
prosperous in this part of the country.
Every man who tills the soil should
study how to lay up few dollars every
year, instead Of going in debt, and not
getting out. claim from an experience
of several years that small crop of to-
bacco well cultivated will pay better any
year than a large one. I have been
engaged in the culture of tobacco for a
number OF years, one among the first to
ever ship a tierce of tobacco from the
COuuC11 duu nave 10dEuSQ d STcd6 USdl
from experience. have planted large
crops and have always made more clear
money on small crops of tobacco. The
sooner our planters come to the conclu,
sion to plant less tobacco and make il
better, and raise every thing they con.
sume the bette. for all concerned. ]
learn through reliable source that
Douglas Weaver, Esq, planted last week
one acre of tobacco, the first setting
have heard of, and that the bug is des
troying the plant on the hill; this haE
never occurred before in this section.
fear the farmers will have great trouble
In getting the present crop out.
Miss Casa Bishop, late of Spartanburg
S. c., has opened school at Oak Grove
in this neigifborhood under very favor
able auspices. Miss Bishop is most ex
cellent teaeher and graduate of the Fe
male College at Greenville, s. G.
II This Il q good school for young ladies
| and it is the determination of the patrons
of this school to make it a success. di
not know of finer opening for gooc
school in all this country than Oal
Grove. Respectfully,
S. A. HARRIS.