The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-03-21
SARGE PLUNKETT.
Watching the Signs of Spring.
atlanta Constitution.

work in earnest to make the crop OF
1894.
The plowboy's voice is heard in the
field, the fresh turned ground draws
the birds from the woods and they
chirp in the furrow behind the plow-
man. All this is spring-like, but We
arc scared to throw up our hats yet.
According to our signs We have two
more SHOWS to come yet. The old
sign that fog in January calls for
snow in March is what we still adhere
to. There were three big fogs in
January and the snow must come in
March. Nor arc the trees budding as
they should. The hickory buds are
not a-swclling, the dogwood blossoms
have not appeared nor the scent Of the
honeysuckle is not upon the ART is
merely a backward season. Lots of
folks laugh at me for saying that the
times nor the seasons are not like they
used to be, but it is fact. A plenty
of old people can remember when corn
was ready to plow the first time in
March. They don't get it planted
now.
AS it is the time just now for far
mcrs to "pitch" their crops | would
like to stimulate them to looking out
for the women's portion. Every wo-
man on the farm should have patch
of her own. Me and Brown have tried
this and find it just the thing to do.
Every boy who was raised on the farm
in old times can remember how proud
he felt over his patch. The slaves
were allowed patch and they felt
like rich folks at gathering time. In
most of families the girls have to
work, more or less, and they should
have a patch allotted them as their
own. Give each patch separate and
you will find that they will be cared
for and will create an interest that is
worth far more than the same amount
of trouble spent any ether way. l
know a family Of girls who make their
own clothes and little pocket money
off patch of this kind and they ap-
preciate it heap more than they would
money just give to them. The coun-
try boy, too, should have his own
patch. know little fellow who
made s14 off of his patch last year and
this spring he is the most cheerful
worker I ever watched. Giving these
patches to the children and women is
really nothing lost to the farmer. The
old man would have to supply what
the products of these patches purchase
any way, and this is the most stimu-
lating and pleasant manner to supply
them.
1t is the hardest thing in the world
for me and Brown to keep from
building castles. But for this We
would advise the young people how
and in what to plant their patch. We
have erected some fine "structures"
in our time, to have them tumble upon
us in the end. Location to market
and the demand must govern in this,
though some times our best laid plans
and most confident calculations fall to
pieces. When We were up at Chicago
and travelled through Illinois Brown
got carried away on the raising OF
frogs. He has ruined a mighty fine
fish pond on the vcnture-the frogs
eat his young fish. He is now trying
to exterminate the frogs, but finds it
hard to do. Let him show himself
over the hill toward the pond and they
raise a howl that-"Brown's coming
Browns coming Better git-git
quick !" With all our uncertainties,
we would like to persuade some smart
girl to try the raising Of silk worms.
We have great faith and are cnthused
upon this subject just now, but we
have had so many hard falls that we
prefer for some one else to try the ex-
pertinent. The silk worm has been
cultivated in Georgia in times past,
and it could be did again, and with
profit, I think. 4 plenty Of mulberry
leaves is all you need as food for these
worms and house suitable could be
rugged up on any farm. The Georgia
experimental station is sending out a
great amount of valuable information
through Mr.. Redding, and | doubt not
but what he could soon inform one
about the production Of silk. The
growing Of mushrooms, too. should be
learned, as it would prove profitable
where a market could be had. Of all
the market gardeners about Atlanta,
I think there is not one who raises
mushrooms. One other thing and
then we arc done advising. The max
ing of cheese ought to be profitable,
and it should be learned. The old
fields of Georgia furnish an abundance
of pasturagc if it were utilized. a
herd of cattle on every farm would do
much toward reclaiming the waste
land. Milk, and even butter, is hard
to handle proftably out from the
cities, but if these could be turned
into cheese it would establish all in
dustry well suited to the cool spring
places on every farm, and the females
of the country would find it pleasant
l.t,