The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-10-21
A PRACTICAL FARMER.

A SENATOR WHO RAISES CATTLE AM
noes, CORN AND COTTON, AM
OWNS FOUR THOUSAND ACRES OF
LAND.
A correspondent of The News ana
Courier recently visited the plantation
OF that hustling farmer and public-spir-
tied citizen, Capt. James II. Dcugla SO,
who IL the Senator from Union Coun-
ty. His country place is some twelve
miles west of Union court house, and
is near Tiger River. Along the roads
the crops were in pretty bad looking
shape, the cotton was small and not so
well fruied as usual. Only now and
then could good field of corn be seen.
just before and after crossing Tiger
tho crops began TO show more healthy
condition, and the ground seem, d to
be much richer. On the road to Capt.
Douglass's place is the old Gist home
stead, which is fine old brick build
ing, surrounded by beautiful grove
Of oaks. In fact the trees are 80 thick
that only an indistinct view of the man
sion can be had from the public road.
1t is pity that il is so, as this is by
long odds the finest residence along
the road.
Senator Douglass was found super
intending tho gathering of his fodder
crop. lie has two mammoth barns,
and they will be packed to the raflcrs
with fodder, while the lower part will
be filled with corn, and there are tat
hogs enough to fill his meat house when
killing time comes In his river bot
toms is his com crop, where he has
ninety acres OF as fine corn rs can be
seen anywhere; he will make between
twelve and fifteen hundred bushels on
these bottoms. He has the same num-
be, of acres in cotton on his plantation.
BESIDES his corn and cotton crop, he
raises plenty of peas, oats, wheat, cane
and everything necessary for home use
that he can raise. He says he has
never in his life had to buy pound of
meat for his own use, but always raises
this al home. He works wage hands
entirely. of which he has lalgc num-
Der Oh his various plantations. lie will
not allow any of his hands to give lien
for supplies. If they are Obliged to
have them at the beginning he ad-
vanccs the money.
Capt. Douglas says the great trouble
with the farmers of the country is thas
they depend too much upon the cotton
crop, and will not raise their meat and
bread at home. He says it is easy
enough to do it. lie has done it even
since he has been farming, thirty odd
years. lie has not only raised his hog
and hominy, but has made money fam
ing, and has continued to buy lands
until he Is now one Of the largest land
owners in the county.
He owns something over 900 acres
Of land, which includes several large
farms. The ninety acres on his home
place planted in cotton he expects to
yiel,l sixty bales of cotton. lie has
| some of the finest bottom lauds on the
Tiger River, reaching five miles along
the river banks.
The Senator has a beautiful home in
The town of Union, where his family
lives, but he spends most Of his time
he cannot be contcntcd unless he is
personally experimenting his farm
work. Here ls an illustration of sue,
ccssful farming. Should hls methods
be adopted the farmers would soon b,
in better shape.
Mr.. Brncc Alycrson, omc of Uniot
County's most successful farmers, wa:
in town Saturday, and exhibited
couple OF the largest cas- of c,,rn eve
seen hcreahOut. Each one of the ears
he says, will shell one quart of corn
lie says hr has three acres of it, an,
while the whole crop will not averag
as large ears, he says it will make ;
very large yield. II is a new kind .
corn he IS experimenting with. Th
ears will measure twelve inches long
The grains are very long. He is wei
pleased with his three acres, and viii
plant it next year.