The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-26
A Tale of two Farmers
One Raised Corn and Grew
Rich the Other Stuck to
Cotton and had to
Sell Out.

To the Editor of the News and Cou-
rier: /: hope | may not be considered
intrusive. but you are trying so hard to
forward the interest of the people, that
do not think you will objec: to re-
ceiving facts from responsible par
ties when 90 your lines You may
make any use you please Of this letter.
% Tuesday, the 4th of this month
I was tending to some business iu
Mr. Thorpe's store in Aiken. A
farmer came 10 to whom | was intro
duced His name is Mr.. Silas Yaoce.
Becoming interested in the conver-
sation. l remarked [ feared the
farmers would be carried away with
the present prices of cotton and you'd
increase their planting, and ruin them
selves That, correctly Informed, there
was now an abundance of corn and
bacon 10 the country aud what cotton
they had sold was clear gain. lie then
told me that in 1867 he had gooe into
the pine woods with a wife and three
children. and had one plough He
plauted only corn and potatoes, raised
a few hogs and chickens, and had COW
or two. There was neighbor who
ran II plouyhs and raised nothing but
cotton, and bought all Of his provisions.
That uelgbbor would 20 out and sit 90
the stump of a tree and watch him
plougiog and tell him that he would
starve if he planted only corn. His
answer would be. You will see :"
He kept 90 planting corn and raising
provisions. Soon he Increased his force,
plaoted more coru, raised more hogs
and cattle. and after a while raised a
little cotton, which was clear gain, for
he cad nothing to buy but sugar, tea,
coffee aud -four. He made all else on his
pine wood farm.
Time went on ; bis neigbbor kept on
planting only cotton and buying every
thing else, and in 12 years Mr.. Vance
brought him out, for be had totally
failed. Mr. Vance paid s2,500 cash
and four years credit for the remaining
$4,000, which be paid in time. He has
bought other land. Has raised seven
children-swo SOUS are married and
settled on their places, each sou as we'll
off as his father. He owes DO man a
dollar, has we'll stocked farm, plenty
of provisions, and some few bales Of
cotton just for ready money, but be and
his sons from 1867 till now, never iu-
duced by high prices or distressed by
low prices Of cotton, have kept on this
one policy Of getting all the provisions
out of the land that it cau produce
and raising all and more meat than his
family needed.
1t seems to me that this is an object
lesson to meo who 60 ir for cotton and
neglected the other part. Aud it does
seem to be suggestive to many young
man who has nothing to do. and wastes
bis time looking for a SIS a month
place, which large number Of other
idle men are trying to get. If Mr..
Silas Vance can 60 into the woods. not
far from Aiken, young mau, With a
young wife and three children, driving
only one plough, and with energy and
economy and perseverance, can do this,
raising as his staple bog and homiuy,
why can't hundreds of others do the
same?
Mr.. Vance was content to work
hard and make small surplus, but was
always sure 6rst of having provisions
for his family aud enough to feed his
stock.
If this is Of any use, use it.
A TooMER PORTER.