The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-03-29
HE THINKS IT WILL PAY,
Biz Money Invested in Small FARM.
From the Yorksiils Edq,tiref.

Biz Money Invested In Small Fariii.
From, the YorkYtue E,iq,tirer.
For years after the war, the cultivation
of cotton in this country was profitable
business. Notwithstanding even loose
business methods and unnecessary ex-
travagance on the part of the many, the
margin between the cost of production
and the selling price of cotton, was sufi'
cient to warrant a reasonable profit. In
Aueuced, however, by the laws Of supply
and demand, the margins of profit have
each year been growing smaller and
smaller until the business of raising cot
ton has been 80 thoroughly disorganized
that radical change in the agricultural
methods of this country has become i'm
perative. Though they constantly see ii
and feel it, great many people are una
Bile to bring themselves to realization
of this fact. Their fathers once got Is
cents pound for cotton; they them
selves have received from Is to 20 cents,
and they cannot understand how or why
this condition of affairs could ever have
been changed. Under the old condition
of affairs, cattle, stock, hogs, grain and
grass could not only be ignored but held
in contempt, and reluctant to forget the
good old days that we're, many of oui
people are exceedingly slow to look with
favor now on the things that they were
then taught to despise.
But, however slow, the time is coming
when these despised things of old must
again be restored to high favor. Under
the changed order of things, it is clear
that agriculture in this country must be
reduced to q science. TO make it pay,
it must be given the same amount of time
and intelligent attention that is devoted
to any other business. It has become
necessary to utilize any and everything
that is possessed of any elements of util-
ity, and those farmers who watch up
their business the closest and turn to the
best advantage every hour of their work.
ing time, will be the ones who will real
izs the greatest measure of success.
The old days of cotton and corn-tbat
is, the days when it was the principal
concern of the farmer to set his crops
with view to securing maximum
amount of cotton with minimum
amount of corn-hsve passed away.
Successful farming of to day requires
first, the home production of every nee
essary possible for which money would
have to be paid cut were it not produced
at home; second, the production of all
possible surplus for conversion into mon.
ey.
We have no doubt but the best thought
of our people will soon be concentrated
in these lines, and for this reason the
ideas and experiments of the pioneers
are Of especial interest. One of the fore.
most, boldest, and most progressive of
these pioneers, is DR.. John @. Black, of
Blacksburg. He is Of the firm conviction
that he can make good living out of his
farm without raising any cotton what
ever, and has entered upon the prosecu-
tion of his ioes in way that commands
admiration, and at the same time the full
confidence of those who are familiar with
his operations. The doctor has already
done enough work and spent enough
money to show his earneetness in the
matter, and We are sure that short out
line of his plans and achievements will
prove of interest to our readers. A repre-.
sentative of the Enquirer visited him re-
Gently for the purpose of getting this in
formation, and here is the story:
AT THE DOCTORS HOME.
I had informed DR.. Black of my desire
to take a look at his operations on the
evening before. he very courteously
granted my request, assuring me that he
would give me all the information in his
power, and the next morning called for
me at the hotel in a pretty little ph@ton,
drawn by pair OF beautiful black Shet.
land ponies, neither of which we're more
than 4S inches in height. After brisk
drive of q few minutes, We arrived at DR..
Blacks residence in the outer edge Of
town. The doctors residence is hand.
some one story brick structure of ample
proportions, situated in the centre of a
spacious yard, around which there are
numerous outbuildinga for the various
purposes required by the business in
which he is engaged.
Annexed to the front of the DOCTORS
residence is beautiful conservatory,
filled with all manner of rare plants and
flowers. a few yards to the right of the
house is water tower and windmill. In
the rear is an alright dry cellar for stor.
ing garden products. Farther on is q
large garden, and adjoining it quite an
extensive little vineyard. Down gen
tie iucline to the left of the house, and
perhaps 200 feet distant, is the engine
house, silo, carriage house, barn, COW and
horse stables, aud chicken yards, etc.
Across the road from these buildings
there are number of pig pens and big
COW pasture:
THE ENGINE AND MACHINERY.
Alighting from the pbaton, Dr. Black
first conducted me into bis engine house.
The building is perhaps eight feet wide
by twenty or twenty five feet long. Iu-
side is small grain mill, feed cutter, a
circular saw and two horse power kero-
sene engine. ut is out of the question,
said the doctor, "to attempt to run q
business of this kind without some good,
reliable power. The windmill won't do,