The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-03-25
LETTER FROM MIR. KINARD,
He Gets After the Editor for Some of
His III ieadings-POints Well Taken,


Ninety-Six, S. c., March %, 1896.
Editor Press and Banner:
The head lines placed over my article In
your paper In February, think, calls for
reply from me.
If my Interpretation OF the head lines be
correct. you state the facts given by me may
apply to farming In Texas, but not applicable
To this state aud our county.
Now, Mr.. Editor, you not being we'll &C
Quainted with the lands around Ninety-Si u
and their productiveness, and having on youl
mind the immediate vicinity around Abbe
Vile when you penned those head lines, you
need to be excused.
can't see how a man who can get up such
a good county paper as the Press and Banner
could fail tose the practicability OF the facts
given by me.
was not after just blowing Off and making
statements al raudom. / said corn could be
grown at actual cost OF 25 cents per bushel
wheat and peas at an actual cost OF 80 cents
per bushel, etc., and l repeat the statement
here.
will not ask you for space to go through a
theoretical statement giving figures In this ar
tce but only give fact or two which ought
TO satisfy all on this point. If necessary
can show by cost Of preparation and cost o
production that the statement is true, but
believe after you think little you will admit
The correctness Of the statement.
Do you believe it cost Mr.. Drake more than
2j cents per bushel in fertilizers, labor. feed
etc, when he made more than two hundred
~
Others have grown large yields OF corn per
acre.
Don't you know that by preparing corn
land In the fall and winter, and proper prepa
ration and planting In Spring and managed
with judgment In Its cultivation a large
yield of corn could be made? That 1t could
be made at the price given above?
If you still doubt the fact, how do you ex-
pect the poor farmer 10 pay for his guano and
come out next fall on AZ and cents cotton?
Don't you know South Carolina has pro-
duced more corn on one acre than any State
In the Union?
Don't you know further that our State has
produced the largest yield of tobacco per acre,
not even excepting Kentucky?
don't believe weare behind on wheat, peas
and oats or even In hog. If we will give up
State can be made to produce corn at 25 cents
or less, and wheat and peas At 30 cents, and
other crops In proportion. We could soon
double the productiveness OF our lands and
astonish the farming interests Of our State.
We will learn this lesson when other coun-
tries with Texas, make cotton enough to ga T.
isfy the demands of the world in that article
and perhaps not before.
believe we can grow oats on our Cam bridge
lands at an actual cost Of ten cents per bushel.
wish our solid farmers would take up this
line OF thought and give their Views and ex-
periences on the different crops grown by
them. OF course what l say does not apply
to hill sides that were run In cotton for IA CEN
Jury and have been long since carried away
by rains (for want OF proper care) down in
flats and river beds. The great bulk of our
lands can be made. to yield crops as / state
above.
would not make an extravagant statement
that would misleud single poor farmer for
pay. but ! do want wlde.awake class OF
farmers, who will think and plan with their
eyes open that our county and State may yet
produce what we consume, and sell cheap
enough so our people can realize profit on
the farms. We can't afford 70 stop short OF
this.
Now, Mr.. Editor, must understand you 10
say Texas may grow these crops al the prices
named In my article, but not Carolina?
Would you have our people to understand
that they may compete with Texas raising
cotton but not in grain?
Do you believe our farmers can make better
success by buying such an enormous amount
of guano and competing with Texas In grow.
ing cotton?
Our people started to hauling fertilizers In
January and are hauling yet at this writing
This guauo will have TO be paid for and II
will cost the country a great deal and the
practical question Is, will II pay the farmers
Will II better the condition Of the country?
We can't improve our lands by buying
guauo, nor can be better the condition OF the
country. We tried IL for many years. We
must Improve our lands by sowing peas and
other crops.
l must close for l might want to write again
Henry ]. kinard.