Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-08-20
ALETTER FROM SMlTHVlLLE. MISS.
Smithville. Miss, July 3lst, 1897.

Smithville. Miss, July 3lst, 1897.
EDITOR HERALD
have been reading
your valuable paper for quite number
uf years. but never knew how much
! loved you till since am in this country,
and | expect to read it as long as can
pay for it.
Quite number Of my friends have
written to me i'm regard to this country.
and to give an explicit answer to all
would take much time, so if yVu will
grant me space l will try to write for all
at once.
came here about the first Of April
and after getting all home things arrang-
ed properly,I set about making a crop. |
of course had to take such land as could
get and mostly such that people here
would not have worked. | planted
at least > acres i'm corn all very promis-
| ing up to now, and some made, you will
be surprized to know that planted corn
last Monday the 25th of July, and it will
make corn.
People planted corn here this year as
early a the Doth Of February, and made
good corn. already matured.
age over the old Dominion. Land ss a
rule is level. no rocks and it is pIOduc-
tive. saw land that has been planted
in corn and cotton alternately for every
year for % years, and very little fertl-
lizer used except for about years and
is making 80 bushels of corn per acre.
The climate is pleasant. Hot days here
but there seems to be a refreshing breeze
all the time. | don't mind it a bit more
here than any weather | ever felt in Nir-
ginia. | wO ked most OF the time since
here and worked with more ease because
the labor is much lighter here on ac-
count of the land being so level and
clear of rocks.
We have good water as rule in wells
from y to 100 feet deep. But you can
have an over flowing well at cost OF
less than 500. which is good water |
have seen them run 60 gallons to the
minute constantly. They bore them
from l25 feet to 800. This is a good
fruit country, such as peaches and pears,
apples don't do so well, but | think it Is
mostly because they give their trees no
attention. Black berries in great abun-
dance. Vegetables from the first OF
May to Xmas and turhips and cabbage
live in the garden all winter. They tell
me that stock lives here all winter OH
pasture without being fed. But while
all this Is true, we need more scientific
farming here. If we would plant and
work our corn in Virginia like they DO
here, we would soon get ont Of seed.
Farmers as rule do not work over
/ 70 h.; IN, no
time they fish and hunt, either being
good sport and with some it is profitable.
The people are very social and friendly.
ready to do you any kindness or favor
they can. This being the case, it is
very pleasant to live here, for people
mix and mingle their joys, water mel
ons. fruit, and anything they have. Sc
far have found no big bugs" all on
an equality. heard more good singing
since here than did in Virginia in 6
years. Ihaye been to several all day
slnglngs where the best singers meet
and have their officers, such as president.
vice president, secretary, Sc. They
! sing to twelve o'clock and then have din
ner on the ground, and when dinner is
over they sing till or ) O'Clock. 1t Is
surely an enjoyable place to go,and hear
them a we'll a Join them. Last Sunday
was 1t one and Inever had . better
| day in my life. The singingi Is all sacred.
They commence with prayer and close
| likewise. Therefore | heartily approve
of them Chere are many ether things
of which could speak but fear l will be
too lengthy. But l can say from my
heart. am glad am here for | can live
much easier here than | can in Virginia.
Many people come here who don't like
this country but mostly such that are no
good here or where they come from
| person cannot live here without work.
and il he shows any sign of not working
he soon finds this is not the place for
him. Good land with fair improvements
can be bought at from to 10 dollars
per acre. And 1t will all produce fairly
well, such as corn, oats, cotton, peanuts,
potatoes, Irish and sweet, watermelOns,
the world cannot beat it, rice, sugar cane
as well as our common mOlasses cane,
wheat, barley, millet, Clover, peas,
alfalfa, &c &C., all grown in abundance.
The schools here as far as can see are
better than in Va, because they have
more good teachers, and this Is because
they pay more. A first grade teacher
gets from 40 to $50 per month and many
get more But hear that the examina-
ton is much harder. The Methodist and
Baptist are the predominant churches;
yet there are Cumberland Presbyterians,
| Christian or Campbleites, Episcopalians
&C., in some places. But guess | said
enough for once so | will clese this
missive. Hoping that this may prove
some satisfaction to my many good
friends In Va and with best wishes to all,
| am very truly,