The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-05-01
The Freeze of 1S49.

10 the Editor Of the Ns,ca and Courier: ::
There were peach blooms in our vicinity
on the last days of January, and all the
indications pointed to an extra early
spring, but the cold snaps Of early spring
have set the crops back, so that but few
corn crops are above the ground, and
what is looks as if it would die. The
small grain was growing prematurely,
but it was also serious by injured by frost
and freezes. What will be the outcome
ofthc present cold, rainy weather remains
to be seen, though it reminds me of what
is indellibly impressed upon my memory
of the same dates forty.one years ago, in
1S49.
1t was an unusually early spring, and
farmers conforming to the usual indica-
tions Of spring planted their crops early.
About the 9Th or 9th of April left home
for Charleston in company with my
brother in.law, the late Major Stewart A.
Goldman, and drove to Columbia, the
nearest point to railroad. We had a
delightful trip. had on spring suit
of clothes and failed to carry an overcost'
On Saturday night we were back in Co.
lumbia, and during the night it turned
cold. We left next morning for Newber-
ry, and about 10 o'clock it began to snow
rapidly and continued pretty much dur
ing the day. 1t was beautiful sight to
see the oak leaves (for they were grown
with snow piled upon them as high as it
would stick. The cotton was up to a
full stand from Columbia TO Newberry.
Above here there was but little up. We
rested for the night at my uncle's, the
late Drayton Nance. When we arose i'll
the morning we found q heavy freeze,
which killed all the vegetation that was
not frost proof This was on the
10th. I arrived at home, in the lower
part of this County, that day finding my
beautiful crop of corn bitten down by the
frost.
I at once resolved to plant the cora
over, and began on a fresh field that
seemed to be killed beyond hope ofre.
covery. By the time we finished this
field we could see the green appearing
above the earth on the rest of the crop,
so we planted over no more, but left it to
come out, which it did, and made a fair
crop. This taught me whatI did not
know before, that it Injuries my young
corn very little to be bitten down, either
by frost or animals, unless the freeze be
very deep one. Our cotton was up in
a few days, while the low.country had to
plant over. For the first time in my life
we got ahead Of them in getting stand
of cotton. About all the forward small
grain crops were killed.
The present small grain crops we're
very promising at one time, but Il fear
but little wheat will be made in this sec
ton, though it shows good deal of i'm.
provement lately. Oats are sorry.
Our farmers have gone to work with
will, and predict the best crops ever
made in Laurens, if the seasons are fay.
orable. We give the Alliance credit for
this new life. The members are doing
their duty by helping each other in a
pecuniary way, and many of them are
paying cash for their purchases. This is
in accordance with the principles of our
Order, and five will only cling together,
as I believe we will, the farmers will
have a bright future ahead.
J. WASHINGTON WATTS.
April II. 1890.