The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-01-25
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
THE EXPERT ENCE OF FARMERS WHO
HAD COOL ADVICE TO START WITH.

IL EXPERIENCE OF FARMERS WHO
HAD GOOD ADVICE TO START WITH.
Editor Cotton Plant: Enclosed you
will find al article of Mr.. Ellison S.
Kcitt, which l clipped from a recent
copy Of The Register. | think it will
bear publication in your columns. His
experience is SO similar to my own
that | desire to emphasize the lesson
taught by giving endorsement to the
ssttuth of the plan. The father of the
'iwritcr began farming in 1928 without
a foot of land of his own, and by hard
work, good judgment and economy,
making all things needed on the plan
%tation, aid having his cotton as a sur
plus crop, and by having a surplus
every year OF corn, peas, fodder, oats,
wheat, cattle and wool, was in 1861
worth about $3.50, 900. His advice to
me was almost identical TO that given
by Col. Kcitt's father to him. | can,
after an experience of p ycars, testify
to the sDundncss of the advice.
i haye followed ON Il small scale the
advice given except that | nave not
sold cotton when ready for market. |
have lost every year, with one or two
exceptions, on cotton sold, but | am
not prepared 10 say that | really lost.
/ never neglected my farm work to
market my cotton While losing OH
my cotton | was enabled to keep up
with my other interests.
l am satisfied that IN the 80 years |
have not averaged ovcr 6 bales of cot
ton to the pillow. In 1884 | reduced
my co'.on crop, worked by wages
hands, TO 10 acres to the pillow, and
have not planted ovcr II to the plow
since, and never expect to, for the fol-
lowing good reasons:
L. 1 prepare ,bc land better, often
running a grab pillow behind the side
pillow, thus subsoiling, and preventing
the land from washing 50 much and
making more cotton than by the old
plan and reducing the cost.
2. 1t gives me more time to devote
TO my corn and small grain, and time
to plant peas after small gram.
3. l am never rushed except at time
of sowing small grain, and if my better
half wishes to use some OF the pillow
animals, it does not worry ne to stol
pillow for a day Or two.
A.. BY pursuing the above plan
have been able to make a very com
Portable living, and to send five chill
dren 10 college.
Mr.. Editor, this article is not intend
ed fer self laudation, but TO bencii
those just starting III life who are un
certain about the plans to pursue t,
make asucccss Of farming In SLAYER,
times the most successful farmers wer,
those who made their supplies Il
home, and the most successful farmer
since the war are those who max
their supplies at home and keep out o
debt. wEy.n
10 the EditOr Of The Register: ,rll
father of the writer devoted his life 1
agriculture. He made tifty-fivc crops
lie made everything on the plantatio,
consumed on il that it was possible {
make. He made all the grain an,
meat consumed on the plantation an,
always had some to sell lie had
flock of sheep that yielded enough woo
Tor lhc clothes uf all his slaves, whic
were home made The shoes of all tn
slaves were made on the plantation
He always bought hats and caps fo
the men and boys. The writer kne,
nm TO haul his cotton to Charleston
50 miles, IN 1913, and sell 1t al 4 cent
per pound. He was Il successful plan
ter. His plantation vas sclf-supporj
ing, and that was his secret of success
The writer has made forLy-tive crCps
lie has never failed to make som
money each year. He grows as nca
as he can what is consumed on mi
plantation. He does all his bushes
Tor cash. He has no outstanding obi
cations and is on no ones paper as SC
curlty. Standing security has wreckc
more men than any Ole other thing
Avoid 1t rs you would poison. BE Jus
TO all alikc and true to ;hysclf.
III the tanners of the South would b
prosperous and happy, let each on
stilVe first to make all on the farr
they can that is CONSUMED on it IN
some to spare. After that, plant all tn
cotton possible and make every poun
possible. This is the determination @
the wrilcr.
When he started life, his father gay
him the following advice:
always plant for dry weather
Gave good distance. Never plow tn
ground when it is too wet. Nevc
stop plows because of dry weather
you have everything ready 70
market, sell it. Never hold for highe
prices.n
l have done this for fifty years. an,
nave beaten all who held for hiohe
prices. ELLISON s. KrITT
Enoree Plantation, Jan. |.