The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-04-07
Oakland News.

The rainy season that has lasted
for nearly two months is about over
and we lave promise of fair weather.
Owing to the heavy rainfall many
of our farmers are considerably be-
hind in the preparations for planting.
In the lowland section, known as the
''backwoods" in this township, very
little soil has been broken
The farms located on the two forks
are ready fo1 planting, and corn, po-
tatoes, cane, millet, ETC., have been
planted, and in a few isolated in
stances, cotton planting is progress
ing rapidly.
1t has been many years since Our
farmers have purchased so much
guano. It is this way in communities
adjoining, in Sumter County. This
means large increase in the acreage
Of cotton. It does not hurt tue large
farmer to buy guano at this rate, if
he does not mean to double the acre
age of cotton, but intends his fertil-
izer for other and more profitable
crops. He has advantages that do
not come in the way of the small
farmer he gets his guano with cash
or on such easy terms that the invest
nent is profitable Then he raises
his own meat, corn, syrup, butter and
other necessaries on his farm. Not
so with his neighbor, who is a small,
one-horse farmer, renting laad at two
dollars per acre, gives a lien, and pur-
chases meat at 10 to Is cents per
pound; corn at 81, and other supplies
in proportion. 1t is clearly the duty
OF the farmer to become less planter
and more producer, in the way OF
Giving at home and boarding at the
same place"
There is not an agricultural paper
subscribed for by any of our farmers.
We can never be known as or be
practical, progressive farmers, as long
as we depend upon the threadbare
theories of farming that belong to
twenty years ago.
Our farmers will try tobacco plant
ing again this year, but will be
more careful in the economy of its
culture, curing and marketing than
they were in '96
The fruit crop has been severely
injured by the recent heavy frosts.
Peaches and the first crop of figs are
entirely ruined
The oat crop has developed re-
markably during the past month, and
if we have good seasons large yield
per acre will result.
Gardening, 4 most profitable adj
iunct to the usual farm methods d oes
not receive the attention that is neces-
sary to make It successful. The old
time slip-shod planters method Of
making money from the cultivation
of crops will not do for the present.
One of our mill-owners is endeav-
cring to encourage the culture of rice
for profit and home consumption, by
making his intention known that in
the event of the farmers around him
planting enough area in rice to guar
antee the safety of such venture, he
will put up a rice mill. Our soil is
particularly adapted to rice culture,
especially the lands of the middle
section of the fork, known as the
"backwoods'
Forest fires have done no little
damage to timber fencing and litter.
Hog cholera has stopped its raw
ages for while.
There are few marriages to take
place soon in our community, so
rumor hes Il. Now for surprises.
La Grippe is very prevalent and
there are some severe cases of illness
from it.
Mr.. B. H. Harvin, who is account
ant for the Bridgers & McKeithan
Lumber Company, of Burke, S. c.,
spent TWO days last week at his old
home in Oakland.
Miss L. O. Reames has returned to
this community after an absence dur
in the winter, in Southern Georgia,
where she was called to the principal
ship Of school.
Miss Lille Reese is visiting friends
ii Manning.