The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-05-23
Belton Items.

Saturday we visited quite number Of
cotton fields. Mr.. J. T. Rice kindly &C.
companied as. By his familiar acquain-
tance with the different farms, their own
ers various methods, and his own thor
ough knowledge of farming, we were
greatly assisted in our investigation of the
gloomy reports alluded to last week, and
most pleasantly entertained in the mean
time. He does not yield to the tempta-
ton offered by the sunny days in March
and plant, but invariably awaits the we'll
advanced season on account of land being
low, damp ond cold. The dry weather
this year has been against him, so his crop
il rather below than above the average in
this section. For this reason we preferred
looking through his fields. Everywhere
we went there was a good stand, save in
some red clay, basin-like spots, where
water etanding all winter had closely
packed the soil. These he was doubtful
about and replanted. We think, however,
that after the ground becomes moist
double stand will be the result. Much of
the crop has been reduced to the proper
stand, and the plows are now closely fol-
lowing the hoes. A glance at the fields of
]. W. Poore, A. j. Stringer, !. T. Cox. E.
B. Rice, Mrs. A. l. Brown and Miss Nora
gave only additional evidence against
evil reports. Mrs. Brown can justly claim
to be in the lead. The finest cotton we
saw was hers. All the crops were too
good to warrant the unfavorable state.
ments that farmers were allowing them.
selves to believe true. What woeful tales
some told and long faces they wore! First
planting was lost, seed rotted in the
ground the second the frosts and cool
winds had tagged with possum ears, and
crippled with rheumatism and sore shins;
the third was exhausted in raising crop
Of corkscrews. Worst of all, the oil mills
had ground up the balance of the cotton
seed, and there were none with which to
replant. We confess to feeling little
alarmed, and began to think of the expe-
diency of looking about for district
where cotton seed meal and bulls would
not have to be placed on the list Of desserts
for the "barn-yard saints" Sunday din
ner. Such an arrangement would too
severely interfere with our bill Of fare,
as ne, like the saint" prefer to dine
without meat. It is of no concern to us
whether piggy is at hand on slaughtering
days, or is off practicing "root hog or
die" We will take the milk and butter,
and hand over in exchange the meal and
hulls. We were much relieved to find,
at the end Of our inspection, that Bolton
farmers have more promising prospect
than is usual this early in the season.
Mr.. A. r. Campbell sent in stalk of cot
ton with squares on it. Can anybody
beat it? Corn is growing beautifully.
Occasionally we stumble upon a water
melon patch. The best of those was that
of Mr.. j. r. Rice's. He is more consider
ate than many farmers in this crop. Un-
willing that some honest ~ neighbor
shall be so solicitous for the safe keeping
of the melons as to watch them by moon
shine, he plants enough to enable him to
make so liberal distribution among his
neighbors, that when they have finished
scraping the rinds, their greatest care will
be to ward off the "goblins" il the night
mares that cause more anxiety than the
pricked feet and broken shins resulting
from voluntary sonambulistic strolls over
briar hedges and scare.crow vines. By
midday we were tired and hot, and for q
moment stopped at Mr.. Rice's residence
to enjoy the refreshing lemonade which
Miss Daisy quickly prepared for us.