The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-12-05
Advantages of the Intensive System.

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Advantages of the Intensive System.
This year has proven beyond doubt
that we should adopt the intensive and
diversified plan of farming we have
been plodding alorg in the way our
fathers successfully pursued during sla-
very times, when they could command
labor, had The virgin soil to till, and then,
tradition says, the net profit was in the
increase of the negro. Things have
changed, labor has to be handled by the
example Of the white man and the soil
almost exhausted. 1t was.a lonely time
indeed about the 1st of June, with no
stand of cotton aud depending on it
almost alone TO pay for everything we
used. I can't conceive of anything to
compare the situation to except in 'S6,
when "the earth trembled."
If we had commenced our farms with
the above advised plans by the first Of
juno We would have had good stands Of
cotton. Why? Because the ground
would have been prepared early and ma
nured, thereby retaining moisture and
giving warmth to germinate seed. Be-
sides, ne wonld have bad other crops.
Tbis lack of system and intelligence has
reduced the cotton crop one.half. But
fortunately the corn crop is good, and if
we can only meet our obligations this
fall the outlook for another year is rather
encouraging, as the buying of corn and
meal runs up our accounts 80 enormously.
The shortage in cotton will be quite
blow, coming at this time, when the far
mers are just organizing and need money.
But let US redeem this beautiful God
favored country of ours, with its lovely
climate and longevity, free American
Government, Inhabited by the most pa.
triotic and courageous people on the face
of the earth, that will grow almost any
thing we need if properly handled. With
these ideas predominant in my mind, I
submit the following to the plough:
Twelve acres of cotton will make say
bales at 10 cents per pound, $3.50; 1872
bushels cotton seed from said cotton at
124 cents per bushel, s23; Z of corn at
124 bushels 10 the acre, at 81 per bushel,
SS7. so; fodder off corn SIS; peas off
same laud planted between hills of corn,
$21; acres Of oats, % bushels to the
acre, 100 bushels at rs cents per bushel,
worth s75; 3 acres of wheat, 10 bushels
to the acre, 80 bushels at 81 per bushel,
worth $50 i acre Of Kafir corn, rs
bushels, at 81 per buahel, worth s75; 2
acres of speckle peas, 10 bushels, at 81
per bushel, worth sl0;1 acre of yellow
peas for rough feed, 4 loads at 81 per
load, worth SIG; l acre of sugarcaDe for
feeding stock, worth $40; l acre of sor
ghum cane, 100 Gallons at so cents per
gallon, worth $50; being in all 81 acres
and only "a 10 be cultivated. From this
plough we have s7325O Of farm produce.
With this farm diversified as it is, two
hands with s25 to hire hoeiHg could work
it we'll and gather it. Two hands and
their board would cost $500, and $25 for
hoeing 1925, 50 for cotton seed to plant,
81 for seed corn, $40 for seed oats, So
for seed wheat, So for seed peas, so cents
for Kafir seed, sos for feed and rent of
mule, and SIS for blacksmith account
and farm implements. This makes the
whole expense Ss49.7o, taken from
from income (s732.50) leaves a balance
of 1882 so in favor of crop.
have not said anything about manure
and its cost. Any farmer can make
enough manure at home, including cot
ton seed, to go over his entire crop if he
will fill and cleanse his stables once
month with leaves or pine straw and put
in rail pen, without covering, and left
oval shaped at top. Such plan will
only let in water enough to cause it to
decay. Now let us compare this crop
with the average. Well, I don't know
how many acres to say, somewhere
between one aud forty, and all in corn
and cotton. Five bales of cotton worth
$500; cotton seed S15; fifty bushels corn,
and fodder off it, worth S55. This makes
the whole crop worth $270.
Counting this crop the same as the
other as to hands, mule, rent, feed, hoe.
ing, farm tools, blacksmithing, cotton
seed and seed corn, will amount to s9S9,
which leaves the crop in debt s6S. The
other gains, $3S2.SO.-VinnsDoro .Nsaos
and Herald.